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1995–96 Buffalo Sabres season

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NHL hockey team season

1995–96 Buffalo Sabres
Division5th Northeast
Conference11th Eastern
1995–96 record33–42–7
Home record19–17–5
Road record14–25–2
Goals for247
Goals against262
Team information
General managerJohn Muckler
CoachTed Nolan
CaptainPat LaFontaine
ArenaBuffalo Memorial Auditorium
Average attendance13,378
Minor league affiliate(s)Rochester Americans
South Carolina Stingrays
Team leaders
GoalsPat LaFontaine (40)
AssistsPat LaFontaine (51)
PointsPat LaFontaine (91)
Penalty minutesMatthew Barnaby (335)
Plus/minusMike Wilson (+13)
WinsDominik Hasek (22)
Goals against averageDominik Hasek (2.83)
← 1994–951996–97 →

The 1995–96 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' 26th season in the National Hockey League. This was the team's final season at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, their home arena since 1970. They moved to Marine Midland Arena, which is now known as the KeyBank Center. However, the Sabres failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 1987.

Offseason

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (August 2023)

Regular season

The Sabres had the most power-play opportunities during the regular season with 477.

Season standings

Northeast Division
No. GP W L T GF GA PTS
1 Pittsburgh Penguins 82 49 29 4 362 284 102
2 Boston Bruins 82 40 31 11 282 269 91
3 Montreal Canadiens 82 40 32 10 265 248 90
4 Hartford Whalers 82 34 39 9 237 259 77
5 Buffalo Sabres 82 33 42 7 247 262 72
6 Ottawa Senators 82 18 59 5 191 291 41
Eastern Conference
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 Philadelphia Flyers ATL 82 45 24 13 282 208 103
2 Pittsburgh Penguins NE 82 49 29 4 362 284 102
3 New York Rangers ATL 82 41 27 14 272 237 96
4 Florida Panthers ATL 82 41 31 10 254 234 92
5 Boston Bruins NE 82 40 31 11 282 269 91
6 Montreal Canadiens NE 82 40 32 10 265 248 90
7 Washington Capitals ATL 82 39 32 11 234 204 89
8 Tampa Bay Lightning ATL 82 38 32 12 238 248 88
9 New Jersey Devils ATL 82 37 33 12 215 202 86
10 Hartford Whalers NE 82 34 39 9 237 259 77
11 Buffalo Sabres NE 82 33 42 7 247 262 73
12 New York Islanders ATL 82 22 50 10 229 315 54
13 Ottawa Senators NE 82 18 59 5 191 291 41

Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast

bold – Qualified for playoffs


Schedule and results

1995–96 regular season
October: 3–7–0 (home: 2–3–0; road: 1–4–0)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
1 W October 7, 1995 3–1 @ Ottawa Senators (1995–96) 1–0–0 Recap
2 L October 9, 1995 3–5 @ Boston Bruins (1995–96) 1–1–0 Recap
3 L October 13, 1995 1–4 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) 1–2–0 Recap
4 L October 15, 1995 3–4 New Jersey Devils (1995–96) 1–3–0 Recap
5 W October 18, 1995 4–1 Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) 2–3–0 Recap
6 L October 20, 1995 1–3 New York Rangers (1995–96) 2–4–0 Recap
7 W October 22, 1995 5–2 St. Louis Blues (1995–96) 3–4–0 Recap
8 L October 24, 1995 0–3 @ Dallas Stars (1995–96) 3–5–0 Recap
9 L October 27, 1995 4–5 @ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96) 3–6–0 Recap
10 L October 29, 1995 3–6 @ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96) 3–7–0 Recap
November: 7–4–2 (home: 4–1–2; road: 3–3–0)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
11 W November 1, 1995 2–1 Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) 4–7–0 Recap
12 T November 3, 1995 3–3 OT Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) 4–7–1 Recap
13 L November 5, 1995 3–4 Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) 4–8–1 Recap
14 W November 8, 1995 7–2 San Jose Sharks (1995–96) 5–8–1 Recap
15 L November 11, 1995 1–4 @ Florida Panthers (1995–96) 5–9–1 Recap
16 W November 12, 1995 6–4 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96) 6–9–1 Recap
17 W November 15, 1995 2–1 Dallas Stars (1995–96) 7–9–1 Recap
18 W November 18, 1995 5–4 @ New Jersey Devils (1995–96) 8–9–1 Recap
19 W November 19, 1995 6–0 Ottawa Senators (1995–96) 9–9–1 Recap
20 T November 24, 1995 1–1 OT New York Islanders (1995–96) 9–9–2 Recap
21 L November 25, 1995 3–5 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) 9–10–2 Recap
22 W November 27, 1995 2–0 @ St. Louis Blues (1995–96) 10–10–2 Recap
23 L November 29, 1995 3–5 @ New York Rangers (1995–96) 10–11–2 Recap
December: 6–8–1 (home: 4–5–1; road: 2–3–0)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
24 W December 1, 1995 2–1 Hartford Whalers (1995–96) 11–11–2 Recap
25 L December 2, 1995 4–6 @ Boston Bruins (1995–96) 11–12–2 Recap
26 L December 7, 1995 3–7 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) 11–13–2 Recap
27 T December 8, 1995 2–2 OT Washington Capitals (1995–96) 11–13–3 Recap
28 L December 11, 1995 1–6 Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96) 11–14–3 Recap
29 W December 13, 1995 4–3 Colorado Avalanche (1995–96) 12–14–3 Recap
30 W December 15, 1995 5–4 New York Rangers (1995–96) 13–14–3 Recap
31 W December 16, 1995 3–2 @ New Jersey Devils (1995–96) 14–14–3 Recap
32 W December 20, 1995 2–1 Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) 15–14–3 Recap
33 L December 22, 1995 2–3 OT Boston Bruins (1995–96) 15–15–3 Recap
34 W December 23, 1995 4–2 @ Ottawa Senators (1995–96) 16–15–3 Recap
35 L December 26, 1995 3–6 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) 16–16–3 Recap
36 L December 27, 1995 3–4 Ottawa Senators (1995–96) 16–17–3 Recap
37 L December 29, 1995 2–5 Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96) 16–18–3 Recap
38 L December 31, 1995 2–5 New York Islanders (1995–96) 16–19–3 Recap
January: 4–7–0 (home: 3–1–0; road: 1–6–0)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
39 W January 5, 1996 3–1 Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) 17–19–3 Recap
40 W January 6, 1996 7–6 @ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) 18–19–3 Recap
41 L January 10, 1996 1–4 @ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) 18–20–3 Recap
42 L January 12, 1996 1–3 @ Calgary Flames (1995–96) 18–21–3 Recap
43 L January 13, 1996 4–5 OT @ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) 18–22–3 Recap
44 L January 17, 1996 0–1 Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) 18–23–3 Recap
45 W January 24, 1996 4–2 Hartford Whalers (1995–96) 19–23–3 Recap
46 L January 26, 1996 0–1 @ Washington Capitals (1995–96) 19–24–3 Recap
47 L January 27, 1996 3–6 @ Florida Panthers (1995–96) 19–25–3 Recap
48 L January 30, 1996 4–5 OT @ New York Islanders (1995–96) 19–26–3 Recap
49 W January 31, 1996 6–1 Florida Panthers (1995–96) 20–26–3 Recap
February: 6–3–3 (home: 4–1–2; road: 2–2–1)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
50 L February 3, 1996 2–4 @ Boston Bruins (1995–96) 20–27–3 Recap
51 L February 4, 1996 2–5 Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96) 20–28–3 Recap
52 W February 7, 1996 2–1 OT Boston Bruins (1995–96) 21–28–3 Recap
53 W February 8, 1996 2–1 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) 22–28–3 Recap
54 T February 10, 1996 2–2 OT @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) 22–28–4 Recap
55 T February 14, 1996 2–2 OT Los Angeles Kings (1995–96) 22–28–5 Recap
56 T February 16, 1996 2–2 OT New Jersey Devils (1995–96) 22–28–6 Recap
57 L February 17, 1996 1–2 OT @ Hartford Whalers (1995–96) 22–29–6 Recap
58 W February 21, 1996 6–3 Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) 23–29–6 Recap
59 W February 23, 1996 7–2 Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) 24–29–6 Recap
60 W February 25, 1996 6–1 Florida Panthers (1995–96) 25–29–6 Recap
61 W February 28, 1996 3–2 OT @ Ottawa Senators (1995–96) 26–29–6 Recap
March: 2–11–1 (home: 0–5–0; road: 2–6–1)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
62 T March 1, 1996 3–3 OT @ New York Rangers (1995–96) 26–29–7 Recap
63 L March 3, 1996 0–3 Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) 26–30–7 Recap
64 L March 6, 1996 2–5 @ Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) 26–31–7 Recap
65 L March 8, 1996 2–3 OT @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) 26–32–7 Recap
66 L March 10, 1996 4–6 @ San Jose Sharks (1995–96) 26–33–7 Recap
67 W March 13, 1996 6–2 @ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96) 27–33–7 Recap
68 L March 15, 1996 1–3 Calgary Flames (1995–96) 27–34–7 Recap
69 L March 16, 1996 1–2 @ Hartford Whalers (1995–96) 27–35–7 Recap
70 L March 18, 1996 2–3 @ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) 27–36–7 Recap
71 L March 22, 1996 1–4 Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) 27–37–7 Recap
72 W March 23, 1996 7–5 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) 28–37–7 Recap
73 L March 27, 1996 2–4 @ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) 28–38–7 Recap
74 L March 29, 1996 5–6 OT Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) 28–39–7 Recap
75 L March 31, 1996 5–6 Boston Bruins (1995–96) 28–40–7 Recap
April: 5–2–0 (home: 2–1–0; road: 3–1–0)
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Recap
76 W April 1, 1996 6–4 @ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) 29–40–7 Recap
77 L April 3, 1996 1–5 Washington Capitals (1995–96) 29–41–7 Recap
78 W April 5, 1996 4–3 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96) 30–41–7 Recap
79 L April 6, 1996 0–3 @ New York Islanders (1995–96) 30–42–7 Recap
80 W April 10, 1996 5–2 Ottawa Senators (1995–96) 31–42–7 Recap
81 W April 13, 1996 3–2 @ Washington Capitals (1995–96) 32–42–7 Recap
82 W April 14, 1996 4–1 Hartford Whalers (1995–96) 33–42–7 Recap
Legend:

  Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Player statistics

Scoring

  • Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
  • † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sabres only.
  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sabres only.
No. Player Pos Regular season
GP G A Pts +/- PIM
16 Pat LaFontaine C 76 40 51 91 −8 36
12 Randy Burridge LW 74 25 33 58 0 30
26 Derek Plante C 76 23 33 56 −4 28
3 Garry Galley D 78 10 44 54 −2 81
43 Jason Dawe RW 67 25 25 50 −8 33
10 Brad May LW 79 15 29 44 6 295
44 Alexei Zhitnik D 80 6 30 36 −25 58
36 Matthew Barnaby RW 73 15 16 31 −2 335
27 Michael Peca C 68 11 20 31 −1 67
13 Yuri Khmylev‡ LW 66 8 20 28 −12 40
28 Donald Audette RW 23 12 13 25 0 18
19 Brian Holzinger C 58 10 10 20 −21 37
21 Mark Astley D 60 2 18 20 −12 80
41 Dave Hannan‡ C 57 6 10 16 2 30
17 Brent Hughes LW 76 5 10 15 −9 148
34 Mike Wilson D 58 4 8 12 13 41
18 Michal Grosek† LW 22 6 4 10 0 31
22 Charlie Huddy‡ D 52 5 5 10 −5 59
24 Dane Jackson RW 22 5 4 9 3 41
32 Rob Ray RW 71 3 6 9 −8 287
8 Darryl Shannon† D 26 2 6 8 10 20
25 Rob Conn W 28 2 5 7 −9 18
8 Doug Bodger‡ D 16 0 5 5 −6 18
33 Scott Pearson LW 27 4 0 4 −4 67
15 Dixon Ward RW 8 2 2 4 1 6
6 Doug Houda D 38 1 3 4 3 52
5 Craig Muni‡ D 47 0 4 4 −12 69
4 Bob Boughner† D 31 0 1 1 3 104
39 Dominik Hasek G 59 0 1 1 6
38 Jay McKee D 1 0 1 1 1 2
00 Martin Biron G 3 0 0 0 0
1 John Blue† G 5 0 0 0 0
37 Curtis Brown C 4 0 0 0 0 0
4 Grant Jennings D 6 0 0 0 1 28
37 Barrie Moore LW 3 0 0 0 0 0
45 Scott Nichol C 2 0 0 0 0 10
76 Wayne Primeau C 2 0 0 0 0 0
31 Steve Shields G 2 0 0 0 2
30 Andrei Trefilov G 22 0 0 0 4
9 Vaclav Varada† RW 1 0 0 0 0 0

Goaltending

  • † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sabres only.
No. Player Regular season
GP W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
39 Dominik Hasek 59 22 30 6 2011 161 2.83 .920 2 3417
30 Andrei Trefilov 22 8 8 1 660 64 3.51 .903 0 1094
1 John Blue† 5 2 2 0 137 15 3.52 .891 0 255
31 Steve Shields 2 1 0 0 32 4 3.19 .875 0 75
00 Martin Biron 3 0 2 0 64 10 5.05 .844 0 119

Awards and records

Awards

Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League
(in-season) 		NHL All-Star Game selection Dominik Hasek

Milestones

Milestone Player Date Ref
First game Mike Wilson November 18, 1995
Steve Shields December 23, 1995
Martin Biron December 26, 1995
Bob Boughner February 3, 1996
Barrie Moore April 5, 1996
Jay McKee April 10, 1996
Scott Nichol April 13, 1996
Vaclav Varada April 14, 1996
1,000th game played Charlie Huddy March 8, 1996

Transactions

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (July 2010)

Draft picks

Buffalo's draft picks at the 1995 NHL entry draft held at the Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 14 Jay McKee  Canada Niagara Falls Thunder (OHL)
1 16 Martin Biron  Canada Beauport Harfangs (QMJHL)
2 42 Mark Dutiaume  Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
3 68 Mathieu Sunderland  Canada Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
4 94 Matt Davidson  Canada Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)
5 111 Marian Menhart  Czech Republic HC Litvínov (Czech Republic)
5 119 Kevin Popp  Canada Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
5 123 Daniel Bienvenue  Canada Val-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL)
7 172 Brian Scott  Canada Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
8 198 Mike Zanutto  Canada Oshawa Generals (OHL)
9 224 Rob Skrlac  Canada Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

See also

Notes

  1. Shannon wore number 29 in his first two games.

References

  1. "1995-96 NHL Summary".
  2. "1995–1996 Conference Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  3. "1995-96 Buffalo Sabres Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  4. "1996 NHL All-Star Game Rosters". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  5. "1995-96 NHL Debuts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  6. Bailey, Budd (March 8, 1996). "COUNT ON IT: HUDDY'S SET TO HIT 1,000". Buffalo News. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  7. "1995 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
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