Professional ice hockey team season
The 2020–21 Buffalo Sabres season was the 51st season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970.[1]
On December 20, 2020, the league temporarily realigned into four divisions with no conferences due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing closure of the Canada–United States border . As a result of this realignment the Sabres played this season in the East Division and only played games against the other teams in their new division during the regular season..
With an 18th consecutive loss on March 29, 2021, the Sabres equalled the NHL record for the longest losing streak in a season , tied with the 2003–04 Pittsburgh Penguins .[2]
On April 17, the Sabres were eliminated from playoff contention after a 3–2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins , extending their playoff drought to ten seasons, tying an NHL record .[3]
Off-season [ ] The Sabres introduced three new jerseys for the season. On August 11, 2020, the Sabres revealed their new uniforms, which was an updated version of the team's original jerseys. The team reintroduced their original royal blue, gold, and white colors, which was worn by the team from 1970 to 1996.[4] Adidas "Reverse Retro" jerseys for all 31 teams, which feature throwback uniforms with a modern twist.[5]
Standings [ ] Divisional standings [ ] Source: National Hockey League
[6] Rules for classification: 1) Fewer number of games played (GP, only during regular season); 2) Greater number of regulation wins (RW); 3) Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime, excluding shootout wins (ROW); 4) Greater number of total wins, including shootouts (W); 5) Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded; 6) Greater goal differential (GD); 7) Greater number of goals scored (GF)
e – Eliminated from playoff contention;
x – Clinched playoff spot;
y – Clinched division
Schedule and results [ ] Regular season [ ] The regular season schedule was published on December 23, 2020.[7]
2020–21 game log
January: 4–4–2 (Home: 2–3–1 ; Road: 2–1–1)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
1
January 14
Washington 6–4
Buffalo
Hutton 0
0–1–0
0
[8]
2
January 15
Washington
2–1
Buffalo
Ullmark 0
0–2–0
0
[9]
3
January 18
Buffalo
6–1
Philadelphia Hutton
0
1–2–0
2
[10]
4
January 19
Buffalo
0–3
Philadelphia
Hutton
0
1–3–0
2
[11]
5
January 22
Buffalo
3–4
Washington
SO
Ullmark
0
1–3–1
3
[12]
6
January 24
Buffalo
4–3
Washington
SO
Ullmark
0
2–3–1
5
[13]
7
January 26
NY Rangers 2–3
Buffalo
Ullmark
0
3–3–1
7
[14]
8
January 28
NY Rangers
3–2
Buffalo
OT
Ullmark
0
3–3–2
8
[15]
9
January 30
New Jersey 3–4
Buffalo
SO
Ullmark
0
4–3–2
10
[16]
10
January 31
New Jersey
5–3
Buffalo
Hutton
0
4–4–2
10
[17]
February: 2–6–1 (Home: 1–4–1 ; Road: 1–2–0)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
—
February 2
Buffalo
–
NY Islanders Postponed due to COVID protocol.[18]
—
February 4
Buffalo
–
NY Islanders
Postponed due to COVID protocol.[19]
—
February 6
Buffalo
–
Boston Postponed due to COVID protocol. Rescheduled for March 27.
—
February 8
Buffalo
–
Boston
Postponed due to COVID protocol. Rescheduled for April 13.
—
February 11
Washington –
Buffalo
Postponed due to COVID protocol.[20] [21]
—
February 13
Washington
–
Buffalo
Postponed due to COVID protocol. Rescheduled for April 9.[21]
11
February 15
NY Islanders
3–1
Buffalo
Ullmark 0
4–5–2
10
[22]
12
February 16
NY Islanders
3–0
Buffalo
Hutton 0
4–6–2
10
[23]
13
February 18
Buffalo
1–3
Washington
Ullmark
0
4–7–2
10
[24]
14
February 20
Buffalo
3–2
New Jersey Ullmark
0
5–7–2
12
[25]
15
February 22
Buffalo
2–3
NY Islanders
Ullmark
0
5–8–2
12
[26]
16
February 23
Buffalo
4–1
New Jersey
Ullmark
0
6–8–2
14
[27]
17
February 25
New Jersey
4–3
Buffalo
OT
Hutton
0
6–8–3
15
[28]
18
February 27
Philadelphia 3–0
Buffalo
Hutton
0
6–9–3
15
[29]
19
February 28
Philadelphia
3–0
Buffalo
Johansson 0
6–10–3
15
[30]
March: 1–13–2 (Home: 1–4–1 ; Road: 0–9–1)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
20
March 2
Buffalo
2–3
NY Rangers Hutton 1,800
6–11–3
15
[31]
21
March 4
Buffalo
2–5
NY Islanders Johansson 0
6–12–3
15
[32]
22
March 6
Buffalo
2–5
NY Islanders
Hutton
0
6–13–3
15
[33]
23
March 7
Buffalo
2–5
NY Islanders
Johansson
0
6–14–3
15
[34]
24
March 9
Buffalo
4–5
Philadelphia SO
Johansson
2,838
6–14–4
16
[35]
25
March 11
Pittsburgh 5–2
Buffalo
Johansson
0
6–15–4
16
[36]
26
March 13
Pittsburgh
3–0
Buffalo
Hutton
0
6–16–4
16
[37]
27
March 15
Washington 6–0
Buffalo
Hutton
0
6–17–4
16
[38]
28
March 16
Buffalo
2–3
New Jersey Johansson
1,800
6–18–4
16
[39]
29
March 18
Boston 4–1
Buffalo
Hutton
0
6–19–4
16
[40]
—
March 20
Boston
–
Buffalo
Postponed due to COVID protocol.[41] [42]
30
March 22
Buffalo
3–5
NY Rangers
Tokarski 1,800
6–20–4
16
[43]
31
March 24
Buffalo
2–5
Pittsburgh
Tokarski
2,800
6–21–4
16
[44]
32
March 25
Buffalo
0–4
Pittsburgh
Tokarski
2,800
6–22–4
16
[45]
33
March 27
Buffalo
2–3
Boston
Ullmark 2,191
6–23–4
16
[46]
34
March 29
Philadelphia
4–3
Buffalo
OT
Ullmark
0
6–23–5
17
[47]
35
March 31
Philadelphia
1–6
Buffalo
Ullmark
0
7–23–5
19
[48]
April: 6–8–2 (Home: 3–5–1 ; Road: 3–3–1)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
36
April 1
NY Rangers 3–2
Buffalo
OT
Tokarski 0
7–23–6
20
[49]
37
April 3
NY Rangers
2–3
Buffalo
SO
Ullmark 302[50]
8–23–6
22
[51]
38
April 6
Buffalo
5–3
New Jersey Ullmark
3,600
9–23–6
24
[52]
39
April 8
New Jersey
6–3
Buffalo
Ullmark
0
9–24–6
24
[53]
40
April 9
Washington 4–3
Buffalo
Tokarski
—[a]
9–25–6
24
[54]
41
April 11
Buffalo
5–3
Philadelphia Ullmark
3,250
10–25–6
26
[55]
42
April 13
Buffalo
2–3
Boston SO
Tokarski
2,191
10–25–7
27
[56]
43
April 15
Buffalo
5–2
Washington
Tokarski
0
11–25–7
29
[57]
44
April 17
Pittsburgh 3–2
Buffalo
Tokarski
—[a]
11–26–7
29
[58]
45
April 18
Pittsburgh
2–4
Buffalo
Tokarski
0
12–26–7
31
[59]
46
April 20
Boston
2–0
Buffalo
Tokarski
0
12–27–7
31
[60]
47
April 22
Boston 5–1
Buffalo
Tokarski
0
12–28–7
31
[61]
48
April 23
Boston
4–6
Buffalo
Luukkonen —[a]
13–28–7
33
[62]
49
April 25
Buffalo
3–6
NY Rangers
Tokarski
1,800
13–29–7
33
[63]
50
April 27
Buffalo
1–3
NY Rangers
Luukkonen
1,796
13–30–7
33
[64]
51
April 29
Buffalo
2–5
Boston
Luukkonen
2,191
13–31–7
33
[65]
May: 2–3–0 (Home: 2–0–0 ; Road: 0–3–0)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
52
May 1
Buffalo
2–6
Boston Luukkonen 2,191
13–32–7
33
[66]
53
May 3
NY Islanders 2–4
Buffalo
Houser 0
14–32–7
35
[67]
54
May 4
NY Islanders
3–4
Buffalo
SO
Houser
0
15–32–7
37
[68]
55
May 6
Buffalo
4–8
Pittsburgh Houser
4,672
15–33–7
37
[69]
56
May 8
Buffalo
0–1
Pittsburgh
Houser
4,672
15–34–7
37
[70]
Legend Win (2 points) Loss (0 points) Overtime/shootout loss (1 point) Postponement
Player statistics [ ] Skaters [ ] Goaltenders [ ] † Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Sabres. Stats reflect time with the Sabres only.
‡ Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Sabres only.
Transactions [ ] Trades [ ] Waivers [ ]
Free Agents [ ] Signings [ ] Draft picks [ ] Below are the Buffalo Sabres' selections at the 2020 NHL Entry Draft , which was originally scheduled for June 26–27, 2020 at the Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec , but was postponed on March 25, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic . It was held October 6–7, 2020 virtually via Video conference call from the NHL Network studio in Secaucus, New Jersey .
Notes:
The San Jose Sharks ' second-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as the result of a trade on October 7, 2020 that sent a second and fourth-round pick both in 2020 (38th and 100th overall) to San Jose in exchange for this pick.[80]
The Dallas Stars ' seventh-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as the result of a trade on November 10, 2018 that sent Taylor Fedun to Dallas in exchange for this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).[81] 2018–19 NHL season and 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs combined[81] References [ ]
^ National Hockey League (2010). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011 . Triumph Books. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-60078-422-4 ^ "Buffalo Sabres' winless streak hits 18 games after collapse in third period against Philadelphia Flyers" . ESPN.com . March 29, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2021 .^ "Penguins hold off Sabres, run point streak to five" . NHL.com . April 17, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2021 .^ "Sabres bring back beloved royal blue, charging buffalo uniforms" . NHL.com . August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020 .^ "Reverse Retro alternate jerseys for all 31 teams unveiled by NHL, adidas" . NHL.com . November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020 .^ "NHL Hockey Standings" . www.nhl.com . National Hockey League.^ "2020-21 NHL schedule announced" . NHL.com . December 23, 2020. Retrieved December 26, 2020 .^ "Washington Capitals - Buffalo Sabres - January 14th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Washington Capitals - Buffalo Sabres - January 15th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - Philadelphia Flyers - January 18th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - Philadelphia Flyers - January 19th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - Washington Capitals - January 22nd, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - Washington Capitals - January 24th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "New York Rangers - Buffalo Sabres - January 26th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "New York Rangers - Buffalo Sabres - January 28th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "New Jersey Devils - Buffalo Sabres - January 30th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "New Jersey Devils - Buffalo Sabres - January 31st, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Sabres game at Islanders postponed due to NHL COVID-19 protocol" . NHL.com . February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021 .^ "Sabres games postponed through Monday due to NHL COVID-19 protocol" . NHL.com . February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021 .^ "NHL postpones additional Devils, Sabres, Wild games due to COVID-19" . NHL.com . February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021 .^ a b "NHL announces updates to regular-season schedule" . NHL.com . February 16, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021 .^ "New York Islanders - Buffalo Sabres - February 15th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "New York Islanders - Buffalo Sabres - February 16th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - Washington Capitals - February 18th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - New Jersey Devils - February 20th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - New York Islanders - February 22nd, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - New Jersey Devils - February 23rd, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "New Jersey Devils - Buffalo Sabres - February 25th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Philadelphia Flyers - Buffalo Sabres - February 27th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Philadelphia Flyers - Buffalo Sabres - February 28th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - New York Rangers - March 2nd, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - New York Islanders - March 4th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - New York Islanders - March 6th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - New York Islanders - March 7th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - Philadelphia Flyers - March 9th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Pittsburgh Penguins - Buffalo Sabres - March 11th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Pittsburgh Penguins - Buffalo Sabres - March 13th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Washington Capitals - Buffalo Sabres - March 15th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - New Jersey Devils - March 16th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Boston Bruins - Buffalo Sabres - March 18th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Bruins have two games postponed; four players added to COVID-19 protocol" . NHL.com . March 19, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2021 .^ "NHL announces updates to 2020-21 regular-season schedule" . NHL.com . March 28, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021 .^ "Buffalo Sabres - New York Rangers - March 22nd, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - Pittsburgh Penguins - March 24th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - Pittsburgh Penguins - March 25th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - Boston Bruins - March 27th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Philadelphia Flyers - Buffalo Sabres - March 29th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Philadelphia Flyers - Buffalo Sabres - March 31st, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "New York Rangers - Buffalo Sabres - April 1st, 2021" . NHL.com .^ Anstey, Evan (April 5, 2021). Only hundreds watched Sabres beat Rangers on Saturday . WIVB-TV. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
^ "New York Rangers - Buffalo Sabres - April 3rd, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - New Jersey Devils - April 6th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "New Jersey Devils - Buffalo Sabres - April 8th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Washington Capitals - Buffalo Sabres - April 9th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - Philadelphia Flyers - April 11th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - Boston Bruins - April 13th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - Washington Capitals - April 15th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Pittsburgh Penguins - Buffalo Sabres - April 17th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Pittsburgh Penguins - Buffalo Sabres - April 18th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Boston Bruins - Buffalo Sabres - April 20th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Boston Bruins - Buffalo Sabres - April 22nd, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Boston Bruins - Buffalo Sabres - April 23rd, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - New York Rangers - April 25th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - New York Rangers - April 27th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - Boston Bruins - April 29th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - Boston Bruins - May 1st, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "New York Islanders - Buffalo Sabres - May 3rd, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "New York Islanders - Buffalo Sabres - May 4th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - Pittsburgh Penguins - May 6th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "Buffalo Sabres - Pittsburgh Penguins - May 8th, 2021" . NHL.com .^ "2020–21 Buffalo Sabres Stats – Skaters" . NHL.com . Retrieved May 9, 2021 .^ "2020–21 Buffalo Sabres Stats – Goalies" . NHL.com . Retrieved May 9, 2021 .^ "Sabres acquire Eric Staal from Wild" . NHL.com. September 16, 2020.^ @BuffaloSabres (October 7, 2020). "We have acquired the 34th pick from the @SanJoseSharks in exchange for the 38th pick and the 100th pick in the 2020 #NHLDraft" (Tweet) – via Twitter . ^ "Johansson traded to Avalanche from Sabres" . NHL.com. March 20, 2021.^ "Sabres acquire draft picks in trade with Canadiens" . NHL.com. March 26, 2021.^ "Sabres acquire 3rd-round pick from Panthers for Montour" . NHL.com. April 10, 2021.^ "Sabres acquire Bjork, 2nd-round draft pick from Bruins for Hall, Lazar" . NHL.com. April 12, 2021.^ "Sabers claim Caggiula off waivers" . NHL.com . April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2021 .^ "Sharks Conclude 2020 NHL Draft with Nine Selections" . October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020 .^ a b "Stars acquire defenseman Taylor Fedun from Sabres" . November 10, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2018 .
^ a b c Spectators were in attendance, but the exact number was not reported.
Founded in 1970
Based in Buffalo, New York Franchise History Personnel Arenas Affiliates Media Culture and lore
1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
North West Central East See also
