List of Buffalo Sabres seasons

This is a list of seasons completed by the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. This list documents the records and playoff results for all seasons the Sabres have completed in the NHL since their inception in 1970.

Key of colors and symbols

Color/symbol	Explanation
‡	Conference champions
↑	Division champions
#	Led league in points

Key of terms and abbreviations

Term or abbreviation	Definition
Finish	Final position in division or league standings
GA	Goals against (goals scored by the Sabres' opponents)
GF	Goals for (goals scored by the Sabres)
GP	Number of games played
L	Number of losses
OT	Number of losses in overtime (since the 1999–2000 season)
Pts	Number of points
T	Number of ties
W	Number of wins
—	Does not apply

NHL season	Team season	GP	W	L	T	OT	Pts	GF	GA	Finish	Playoffs
1970–71	1970–71	78	24	39	15	—	63	217	291	5th, Eastern	Did not qualify
1971–72	1971–72	78	16	43	19	—	51	203	289	6th, Eastern	Did not qualify
1972–73	1972–73	78	37	27	14	—	88	257	219	4th, Eastern	Lost in Quarterfinals, 2–4 (Canadiens)
1973–74	1973–74	78	32	34	12	—	76	242	250	5th, Eastern	Did not qualify
1974–75	1974–75	80	49	16	15	—	113	354	240	1st, Adams ↑	Won in Quarterfinals, 4–1 (Black Hawks) Won in Semifinals, 4–2 (Canadiens) Lost in Finals, 2–4 (Flyers) ‡
1975–76	1975–76	80	46	21	13	—	105	339	240	2nd, Adams	Won in Preliminary Round, 2–1 (Blues) Lost in Quarterfinals, 2–4 (Islanders)
1976–77	1976–77	80	48	24	8	—	104	301	220	2nd, Adams	Won in Preliminary Round, 2–0 (North Stars) Lost in Quarterfinals, 0–4 (Islanders)
1977–78	1977–78	80	44	19	17	—	105	288	215	2nd, Adams	Won in Preliminary Round, 2–1 (Rangers) Lost in Quarterfinals, 1–4 (Flyers)
1978–79	1978–79	80	36	28	16	—	88	280	263	2nd, Adams	Lost in Preliminary Round, 1–2 (Penguins)
1979–80	1979–80	80	47	17	16	—	110	318	201	1st, Adams ↑	Won in Preliminary Round, 3–1 (Canucks) Won in Quarterfinals, 4–0 (Black Hawks) Lost in Semifinals, 1–4 (Islanders)
1980–81	1980–81	80	39	20	21	—	99	327	250	1st, Adams ↑	Won in Preliminary Round, 3–0 (Canucks) Lost in Quarterfinals, 1–4 (North Stars)
1981–82	1981–82	80	39	26	15	—	93	307	273	3rd, Adams	Lost in Division Semifinals, 1–3 (Bruins)
1982–83	1982–83	80	38	29	13	—	89	318	285	3rd, Adams	Won in Division Semifinals, 3–0 (Canadiens) Lost in Division Finals, 3–4 (Bruins)
1983–84	1983–84	80	48	25	7	—	103	315	257	2nd, Adams	Lost in Division Semifinals, 0–3 (Nordiques)
1984–85	1984–85	80	38	28	14	—	90	290	237	3rd, Adams	Lost in Division Semifinals, 2–3 (Nordiques)
1985–86	1985–86	80	37	37	6	—	80	296	291	5th, Adams	Did not qualify
1986–87	1986–87	80	28	44	8	—	64	280	308	5th, Adams	Did not qualify
1987–88	1987–88	80	37	32	11	—	85	283	305	3rd, Adams	Lost in Division Semifinals, 2–4 (Bruins)
1988–89	1988–89	80	38	35	7	—	83	291	299	3rd, Adams	Lost in Division Semifinals, 1–4 (Bruins)
1989–90	1989–90	80	45	27	8	—	98	286	248	2nd, Adams	Lost in Division Semifinals, 2–4 (Canadiens)
1990–91	1990–91	80	31	30	19	—	81	292	278	3rd, Adams	Lost in Division Semifinals, 2–4 (Canadiens)
1991–92	1991–92	80	31	37	12	—	74	289	299	3rd, Adams	Lost in Division Semifinals, 3–4 (Bruins)
1992–93	1992–93	84	38	36	10	—	86	335	297	4th, Adams	Won in Division Semifinals, 4–0 (Bruins) Lost in Division Finals, 0–4 (Canadiens)
1993–94	1993–94	84	43	32	9	—	95	282	218	4th, Northeast	Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 3–4 (Devils)
1994–95 1	1994–95	48	22	19	7	—	51	130	119	4th, Northeast	Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 1–4 (Flyers)
1995–96	1995–96	82	33	42	7	—	73	247	262	5th, Northeast	Did not qualify
1996–97	1996–97	82	40	30	12	—	92	237	208	1st, Northeast ↑	Won in Conference Quarterfinals, 4–3 (Senators) Lost in Conference Semifinals, 1–4 (Flyers)
1997–98	1997–98	82	36	29	17	—	89	211	187	3rd, Northeast	Won in Conference Quarterfinals, 4–1 (Flyers) Won in Conference Semifinals, 4–0 (Canadiens) Lost in Conference Finals, 2–4 (Capitals)
1998–99	1998–99	82	37	28	17	—	91	207	175	4th, Northeast	Won in Conference Quarterfinals, 4–0 (Senators) Won in Conference Semifinals, 4–2 (Bruins) Won in Conference Finals, 4–1 (Maple Leafs) Lost in Finals, 2–4 (Stars) ‡
1999–2000	1999–2000	82	35	32	11	4	85	213	204	3rd, Northeast	Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 1–4 (Flyers)
2000–01	2000–01	82	46	30	5	1	98	218	184	2nd, Northeast	Won in Conference Quarterfinals, 4–2 (Flyers) Lost in Conference Semifinals, 3–4 (Penguins)
2001–02	2001–02	82	35	35	11	1	82	213	200	5th, Northeast	Did not qualify
2002–03	2002–03	82	27	37	10	8	72	190	219	5th, Northeast	Did not qualify
2003–04	2003–04	82	37	34	7	4	85	220	221	5th, Northeast	Did not qualify
2004–05	2004–05	Season cancelled due to 2004–05 NHL lockout
2005–06	2005–06	82	52	24	—	6	110	281	239	2nd, Northeast	Won in Conference Quarterfinals, 4–2 (Flyers) Won in Conference Semifinals, 4–1 (Senators) Lost in Conference Finals, 3–4 (Hurricanes)
2006–07	2006–07	82	53 #	22	—	7	113	308	242	1st, Northeast ↑	Won in Conference Quarterfinals, 4–1 (Islanders) Won in Conference Semifinals, 4–2 (Rangers) Lost in Conference Finals, 1–4 (Senators)
2007–08	2007–08	82	39	31	—	12	90	255	242	4th, Northeast	Did not qualify
2008–09	2008–09	82	41	32	—	9	91	250	234	3rd, Northeast	Did not qualify
2009–10	2009–10	82	45	27	—	10	100	235	207	1st, Northeast ↑	Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 2–4 (Bruins)
2010–11	2010–11	82	43	29	—	10	96	245	229	3rd, Northeast	Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 3–4 (Flyers)
2011–12	2011–12	82	39	32	—	11	89	218	230	3rd, Northeast	Did not qualify
2012–133	2012–13	48	21	21	—	6	48	125	143	5th, Northeast	Did not qualify
2013–14	2013–14	82	21	51	—	10	52	157	248	8th, Atlantic	Did not qualify
2014–15	2014–15	82	23	51	—	8	54	161	274	8th, Atlantic	Did not qualify
2015–16	2015–16	82	35	36	—	11	81	201	222	7th, Atlantic	Did not qualify
2016–17	2016–17	82	33	37	—	12	78	201	237	8th, Atlantic	Did not qualify
2017–18	2017–18	82	25	45	—	12	62	199	280	8th, Atlantic	Did not qualify
2018–19	2018–19	82	33	39	—	10	76	226	271	6th, Atlantic	Did not qualify
2019–204	2019–20	69	30	31	—	8	68	195	217	6th, Atlantic	Did not qualify
Totals	—	3889	1790	1530	409	160	4149	12333	11767		All-time Series Record: 21–29

¹ Season was shortened due to the 1994–95 NHL lockout.

² As of the 2005–06 NHL season, all games tied after regulation will be decided in a shootout; shootout losses are recorded as overtime losses in the standings.

³ Season was shortened due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout.

⁴ Regular season ended early due to the effects of COVID-19.

Note: Between 1974–75 and 1980–81, Conference championships were awarded to the team that finished first overall in their respective conference in the regular season.