1980-81 Buffalo Sabres Game-by-Game Results
National Hockey League (NHL)
Team Record: 39-20-21 - 99 points
Finishing 1st in the NHL's Adams Division
Postseason: 4-4
Lost NHL quarter-finals
Preliminary - Defeated Vancouver Canucks 3-0
Quarter-Finals - Lost to Minnesota North Stars 4-1
Coach: Roger Neilson (39-20-21)
Location: Buffalo, New York
1980-81 Buffalo Sabres StatisticsTeam Record: 39-20-21 - 99 points
Finishing 1st in the NHL's Adams Division
Postseason: 4-4
Lost NHL quarter-finals
Preliminary - Defeated Vancouver Canucks 3-0
Quarter-Finals - Lost to Minnesota North Stars 4-1
Coach: Roger Neilson (39-20-21)
Location: Buffalo, New York
1980-81 Buffalo Sabres Roster
The Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League ended the 1980-81 season with a record of 39 wins and 20 losses and 21 ties for 99 points, finishing first in the NHL's Adams Division. The team compiled a postseason mark of 4-4.
The Sabres netted 327 goals and allowed 250. Danny Gare scored 46 goals for Buffalo, while Tony McKegney, Ric Seiling and Andre Savard each tallied 30 or more, too. John Van Boxmeer accounted for 51 assists. Don Edwards earned 23 wins in front of the net for the squad, and Bob Sauve added 15 or more victories as well. Don Edwards recorded a 2.96 goals against average, leading goaltenders with enough qualifying appearances.
Roger Neilson coached the team. The 1980-81 Buffalo Sabres lost in the NHL quarter-finals.
Click on column headings to sort.
Regular Season Goals For: 327
Regular Season Goals Against: 250
| Date | Game | Res | Home | Road | Record | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 9, 1980 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at Chicago Black Hawks 4 | L | 0-0-0 | 0-1-0 | 0-1-0 | ||
| October 12, 1980 | Hartford Whalers 3 at Buffalo Sabres 3 | T | 0-0-1 | 0-1-0 | 0-1-1 | OT | |
| October 15, 1980 | Edmonton Oilers 0 at Buffalo Sabres 2 | W | 1-0-1 | 0-1-0 | 1-1-1 | ||
| October 18, 1980 | Buffalo Sabres 4 at Pittsburgh Penguins 2 | W | 1-0-1 | 1-1-0 | 2-1-1 | ||
| October 19, 1980 | Toronto Maple Leafs 4 at Buffalo Sabres 2 | L | 1-1-1 | 1-1-0 | 2-2-1 | ||
| October 22, 1980 | Winnipeg Jets 4 at Buffalo Sabres 7 | W | 2-1-1 | 1-1-0 | 3-2-1 | ||
| October 25, 1980 | Buffalo Sabres 5 at Montreal Canadiens 2 | W | 2-1-1 | 2-1-0 | 4-2-1 | ||
| October 26, 1980 | New York Islanders 2 at Buffalo Sabres 5 | W | 3-1-1 | 2-1-0 | 5-2-1 | ||
| October 29, 1980 | Pittsburgh Penguins 1 at Buffalo Sabres 1 | T | 3-1-2 | 2-1-0 | 5-2-2 | OT | |
| November 1, 1980 | Buffalo Sabres 4 at Detroit Red Wings 2 | W | 3-1-2 | 3-1-0 | 6-2-2 | ||
| November 2, 1980 | Vancouver Canucks 3 at Buffalo Sabres 4 | W | 4-1-2 | 3-1-0 | 7-2-2 | ||
| November 5, 1980 | Colorado Rockies 3 at Buffalo Sabres 5 | W | 5-1-2 | 3-1-0 | 8-2-2 | ||
| November 8, 1980 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at Washington Capitals 3 | T | 5-1-2 | 3-1-1 | 8-2-3 | OT | |
| November 9, 1980 | Washington Capitals 3 at Buffalo Sabres 3 | T | 5-1-3 | 3-1-1 | 8-2-4 | OT | |
| November 12, 1980 | Detroit Red Wings 4 at Buffalo Sabres 4 | T | 5-1-4 | 3-1-1 | 8-2-5 | OT | |
| November 15, 1980 | Buffalo Sabres 1 at New York Islanders 4 | L | 5-1-4 | 3-2-1 | 8-3-5 | ||
| November 16, 1980 | Quebec Nordiques 1 at Buffalo Sabres 8 | W | 6-1-4 | 3-2-1 | 9-3-5 | ||
| November 19, 1980 | Buffalo Sabres 2 at Chicago Black Hawks 5 | L | 6-1-4 | 3-3-1 | 9-4-5 | ||
| November 21, 1980 | Buffalo Sabres 4 at Winnipeg Jets 2 | W | 6-1-4 | 4-3-1 | 10-4-5 | ||
| November 23, 1980 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at Edmonton Oilers 6 | L | 6-1-4 | 4-4-1 | 10-5-5 | ||
| November 25, 1980 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at St. Louis Blues 5 | L | 6-1-4 | 4-5-1 | 10-6-5 | ||
| November 27, 1980 | Calgary Flames 3 at Buffalo Sabres 6 | W | 7-1-4 | 4-5-1 | 11-6-5 | ||
| November 29, 1980 | Buffalo Sabres 5 at Hartford Whalers 2 | W | 7-1-4 | 5-5-1 | 12-6-5 | ||
| November 30, 1980 | Colorado Rockies 1 at Buffalo Sabres 4 | W | 8-1-4 | 5-5-1 | 13-6-5 | ||
| December 3, 1980 | Montreal Canadiens 6 at Buffalo Sabres 5 | L | 8-2-4 | 5-5-1 | 13-7-5 | ||
| December 6, 1980 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at Minnesota North Stars 3 | T | 8-2-4 | 5-5-2 | 13-7-6 | OT | |
| December 7, 1980 | Pittsburgh Penguins 1 at Buffalo Sabres 10 | W | 9-2-4 | 5-5-2 | 14-7-6 | ||
| December 9, 1980 | Buffalo Sabres 4 at Colorado Rockies 4 | T | 9-2-4 | 5-5-3 | 14-7-7 | OT | |
| December 11, 1980 | Buffalo Sabres 4 at Calgary Flames 8 | L | 9-2-4 | 5-6-3 | 14-8-7 | ||
| December 13, 1980 | Buffalo Sabres 5 at Toronto Maple Leafs 4 | W | 9-2-4 | 6-6-3 | 15-8-7 | ||
| December 14, 1980 | Vancouver Canucks 2 at Buffalo Sabres 2 | T | 9-2-5 | 6-6-3 | 15-8-8 | OT | |
| December 20, 1980 | Buffalo Sabres 7 at Los Angeles Kings 4 | W | 9-2-5 | 7-6-3 | 16-8-8 | ||
| December 21, 1980 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at Vancouver Canucks 3 | T | 9-2-5 | 7-6-4 | 16-8-9 | OT | |
| December 26, 1980 | Chicago Black Hawks 2 at Buffalo Sabres 3 | W | 10-2-5 | 7-6-4 | 17-8-9 | ||
| December 28, 1980 | Boston Bruins 2 at Buffalo Sabres 5 | W | 11-2-5 | 7-6-4 | 18-8-9 | ||
| December 31, 1980 | Los Angeles Kings 5 at Buffalo Sabres 2 | L | 11-3-5 | 7-6-4 | 18-9-9 | ||
| January 3, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at Quebec Nordiques 3 | T | 11-3-5 | 7-6-5 | 18-9-10 | OT | |
| January 4, 1981 | Minnesota North Stars 2 at Buffalo Sabres 2 | T | 11-3-6 | 7-6-5 | 18-9-11 | OT | |
| January 7, 1981 | Quebec Nordiques 1 at Buffalo Sabres 5 | W | 12-3-6 | 7-6-5 | 19-9-11 | ||
| January 9, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at New York Rangers 3 | T | 12-3-6 | 7-6-6 | 19-9-12 | OT | |
| January 11, 1981 | Los Angeles Kings 4 at Buffalo Sabres 4 | T | 12-3-7 | 7-6-6 | 19-9-13 | OT | |
| January 14, 1981 | Minnesota North Stars 1 at Buffalo Sabres 1 | T | 12-3-8 | 7-6-6 | 19-9-14 | OT | |
| January 16, 1981 | Edmonton Oilers 5 at Buffalo Sabres 5 | T | 12-3-9 | 7-6-6 | 19-9-15 | OT | |
| January 18, 1981 | New York Rangers 0 at Buffalo Sabres 4 | W | 13-3-9 | 7-6-6 | 20-9-15 | ||
| January 19, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 1 at Boston Bruins 5 | L | 13-3-9 | 7-7-6 | 20-10-15 | ||
| January 21, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 6 at Quebec Nordiques 5 | W | 13-3-9 | 8-7-6 | 21-10-15 | ||
| January 24, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 7 at Washington Capitals 4 | W | 13-3-9 | 9-7-6 | 22-10-15 | ||
| January 26, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 5 at New York Islanders 3 | W | 13-3-9 | 10-7-6 | 23-10-15 | ||
| January 28, 1981 | Philadelphia Flyers 4 at Buffalo Sabres 4 | T | 13-3-10 | 10-7-6 | 23-10-16 | OT | |
| January 31, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 5 at Hartford Whalers 3 | W | 13-3-10 | 11-7-6 | 24-10-16 | ||
| February 1, 1981 | Winnipeg Jets 0 at Buffalo Sabres 4 | W | 14-3-10 | 11-7-6 | 25-10-16 | ||
| February 5, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 4 at Philadelphia Flyers 0 | W | 14-3-10 | 12-7-6 | 26-10-16 | ||
| February 6, 1981 | Detroit Red Wings 3 at Buffalo Sabres 7 | W | 15-3-10 | 12-7-6 | 27-10-16 | ||
| February 8, 1981 | St. Louis Blues 3 at Buffalo Sabres 3 | T | 15-3-11 | 12-7-6 | 27-10-17 | OT | |
| February 12, 1981 | Washington Capitals 3 at Buffalo Sabres 6 | W | 16-3-11 | 12-7-6 | 28-10-17 | ||
| February 14, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 4 at Calgary Flames 4 | T | 16-3-11 | 12-7-7 | 28-10-18 | OT | |
| February 15, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 2 at Edmonton Oilers 2 | T | 16-3-11 | 12-7-8 | 28-10-19 | OT | |
| February 19, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 2 at Montreal Canadiens 5 | L | 16-3-11 | 12-8-8 | 28-11-19 | ||
| February 21, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 6 at Pittsburgh Penguins 1 | W | 16-3-11 | 13-8-8 | 29-11-19 | ||
| February 22, 1981 | Montreal Canadiens 4 at Buffalo Sabres 2 | L | 16-4-11 | 13-8-8 | 29-12-19 | ||
| February 25, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at New York Rangers 6 | L | 16-4-11 | 13-9-8 | 29-13-19 | ||
| February 27, 1981 | Chicago Black Hawks 1 at Buffalo Sabres 6 | W | 17-4-11 | 13-9-8 | 30-13-19 | ||
| March 1, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 4 at Boston Bruins 6 | L | 17-4-11 | 13-10-8 | 30-14-19 | ||
| March 4, 1981 | Calgary Flames 0 at Buffalo Sabres 4 | W | 18-4-11 | 13-10-8 | 31-14-19 | ||
| March 6, 1981 | Hartford Whalers 5 at Buffalo Sabres 3 | L | 18-5-11 | 13-10-8 | 31-15-19 | ||
| March 8, 1981 | Philadelphia Flyers 4 at Buffalo Sabres 8 | W | 19-5-11 | 13-10-8 | 32-15-19 | ||
| March 11, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 1 at Minnesota North Stars 3 | L | 19-5-11 | 13-11-8 | 32-16-19 | ||
| March 13, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 5 at Winnipeg Jets 2 | W | 19-5-11 | 14-11-8 | 33-16-19 | ||
| March 14, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 1 at Vancouver Canucks 2 | L | 19-5-11 | 14-12-8 | 33-17-19 | ||
| March 17, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 3 at Los Angeles Kings 1 | W | 19-5-11 | 15-12-8 | 34-17-19 | ||
| March 19, 1981 | Toronto Maple Leafs 4 at Buffalo Sabres 14 | W | 20-5-11 | 15-12-8 | 35-17-19 | ||
| March 21, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 6 at Toronto Maple Leafs 2 | W | 20-5-11 | 16-12-8 | 36-17-19 | ||
| March 22, 1981 | St. Louis Blues 6 at Buffalo Sabres 5 | L | 20-6-11 | 16-12-8 | 36-18-19 | ||
| March 25, 1981 | New York Rangers 2 at Buffalo Sabres 4 | W | 21-6-11 | 16-12-8 | 37-18-19 | ||
| March 27, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 5 at Colorado Rockies 3 | W | 21-6-11 | 17-12-8 | 38-18-19 | ||
| March 28, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 4 at St. Louis Blues 7 | L | 21-6-11 | 17-13-8 | 38-19-19 | ||
| March 30, 1981 | Boston Bruins 2 at Buffalo Sabres 2 | T | 21-6-12 | 17-13-8 | 38-19-20 | OT | |
| April 2, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 2 at Philadelphia Flyers 2 | T | 21-6-12 | 17-13-9 | 38-19-21 | OT | |
| April 4, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 5 at Detroit Red Wings 4 | W | 21-6-12 | 18-13-9 | 39-19-21 | ||
| April 5, 1981 | New York Islanders 7 at Buffalo Sabres 3 | L | 21-7-12 | 18-13-9 | 39-20-21 | ||
| April 8, 1981 | Vancouver Canucks 2 at Buffalo Sabres 3 | W | 1-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 1-0-0 | OT | |
| April 9, 1981 | Vancouver Canucks 2 at Buffalo Sabres 5 | W | 2-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 2-0-0 | ||
| April 11, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 5 at Vancouver Canucks 3 | W | 2-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 3-0-0 | ||
| April 16, 1981 | Minnesota North Stars 4 at Buffalo Sabres 3 | L | 2-1-0 | 1-0-0 | 3-1-0 | OT | |
| April 17, 1981 | Minnesota North Stars 5 at Buffalo Sabres 2 | L | 2-2-0 | 1-0-0 | 3-2-0 | ||
| April 19, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 4 at Minnesota North Stars 6 | L | 2-2-0 | 1-1-0 | 3-3-0 | ||
| April 20, 1981 | Buffalo Sabres 5 at Minnesota North Stars 4 | W | 2-2-0 | 2-1-0 | 4-3-0 | OT | |
| April 22, 1981 | Minnesota North Stars 4 at Buffalo Sabres 3 | L | 2-3-0 | 2-1-0 | 4-4-0 |
