1991–92 Buffalo Sabres season

The 1991–92 Buffalo Sabres season was the 22nd season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970.[1] The season saw the Sabres finish in third place in the Adams Division with a record of 31 wins, 37 losses, and 12 ties for 74 points. They lost the Adams Division Semi-final to the Boston Bruins in seven games.

1991–92 Buffalo Sabres
Division3rd Adams
Conference7th Wales
1991–92 record31–37–12
Home record22–13–5
Road record9–24–7
Goals for289
Goals against299
Team information
General managerGerry Meehan
CoachJohn Muckler
CaptainMike Ramsey
Alternate captainsDave Andreychuk
Dale Hawerchuk
ArenaBuffalo Memorial Auditorium
Team leaders
GoalsPat LaFontaine (46)
AssistsDale Hawerchuk (75)
PointsDale Hawerchuk (98)
Penalty minutesRob Ray (354)
Plus/minusPat LaFontaine (+10)
WinsDaren Puppa (11)
Goals against averageTom Draper (3.21)

Offseason

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NHL Draft

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Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team
1 13 Philippe Boucher   Canada Granby Bisons (QMJHL)
2 35 Jason Dawe   Canada Peterborough Petes (OHL)
3 57 Jason Young   Canada Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
4 72 Peter Ambroziak   Canada Ottawa 67's (OHL)
5 101 Steve Shields   Canada University of Michigan (CCHA)
6 123 Sean O'Donnell   Canada Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
6 124 Brian Holzinger   United States Detroit Compuware Ambassadors (SOJHL)
7 145 Chris Snell   Canada Ottawa 67's (OHL)
8 162 Jiri Kuntos   Czechoslovakia Dukla Jihlava (Czechoslovakia)
9 189 Tony Iob   Canada Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
10 211 Spencer Meany   Canada St. Lawrence University (ECAC)
11 233 Mikhail Volkov   Soviet Union Krylya Sovetov (WHL)
12 255 Michael Smith   Canada Lake Superior State University (CCHA)
S 19 Jamie Steer   Canada Michigan Technological University (WCHA)

Regular season

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The Sabres ended the regular season with the most power-play goals scored, with 105, and the best power-play percentage, with 22.53%.[2]

Season standings

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Adams Division[3]
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Montreal Canadiens 80 41 28 11 267 207 93
Boston Bruins 80 36 32 12 270 275 84
Buffalo Sabres 80 31 37 12 289 299 74
Hartford Whalers 80 26 41 13 247 283 65
Quebec Nordiques 80 20 48 12 255 318 52

Schedule and results

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No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1 L October 4, 1991 4–5 Pittsburgh Penguins (1991–92) 0–1–0
2 L October 5, 1991 1–3 @ Washington Capitals (1991–92) 0-2-0
3 T October 9, 1991 4–4 Boston Bruins (1991–92) 0-2–1
4 W October 12, 1991 5–4 @ Quebec Nordiques (1991–92) 1–2–1
5 L October 13, 1991 1–3 Vancouver Canucks (1991–92) 1–3–1
6 L October 16, 1991 1–5 @ Montreal Canadiens (1991–92) 1–4–1
7 W October 18, 1991 3–1 Montreal Canadiens (1991–92) 2–4–1
8 L October 19, 1991 1–4 @ Hartford Whalers (1991–92) 2–5–1
9 W October 25, 1991 3–1 San Jose Sharks (1991–92) 3–5–1
10 W October 27, 1991 5–1 Hartford Whalers (1991–92) 4–5–1
11 L October 30, 1991 1–3 @ Detroit Red Wings (1991–92) 4–6–1
12 L November 1, 1991 1–5 Montreal Canadiens (1991–92) 4–7–1
13 L November 2, 1991 0–5 @ Montreal Canadiens (1991–92) 4–8–1
14 L November 7, 1991 2–5 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1991–92) 4–9–1
15 W November 8, 1991 4–3 OT Philadelphia Flyers (1991–92) 5–9–1
16 W November 12, 1991 7–1 @ San Jose Sharks (1991–92) 6–9–1
17 T November 14, 1991 2–2 OT @ Los Angeles Kings (1991–92) 6–9–2
18 W November 16, 1991 5–4 @ Calgary Flames (1991–92) 7–9–2
19 W November 20, 1991 3–1 Boston Bruins (1991–92) 8–9–2
20 W November 22, 1991 2–0 Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92) 9–9–2
21 L November 23, 1991 4–7 @ Boston Bruins (1991–92) 9–10–2
22 T November 27, 1991 4–4 OT Quebec Nordiques (1991–92) 9–10–3
23 L November 29, 1991 4–5 OT New York Rangers (1991–92) 9–11–3
24 L November 30, 1991 3–4 @ Quebec Nordiques (1991–92) 9–12–3
25 L December 4, 1991 4–5 @ Winnipeg Jets (1991–92) 9–13–3
26 T December 7, 1991 6–6 OT @ Hartford Whalers (1991–92) 9–13–4
27 L December 8, 1991 2–4 Calgary Flames (1991–92) 9–14–4
28 L December 11, 1991 3–6 St. Louis Blues (1991–92) 9–15–4
29 L December 13, 1991 4–8 Hartford Whalers (1991–92) 9–16–4
30 L December 14, 1991 2–4 @ Montreal Canadiens (1991–92) 9–17–4
31 T December 18, 1991 2–2 OT Washington Capitals (1991–92) 9–17–5
32 T December 20, 1991 4–4 OT Edmonton Oilers (1991–92) 9–17–6
33 W December 21, 1991 4–1 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1991–92) 10–17–6
34 L December 23, 1991 3–4 @ Hartford Whalers (1991–92) 10–18–6
35 W December 27, 1991 8–1 Boston Bruins (1991–92) 11–18–6
36 L December 28, 1991 0–3 @ New Jersey Devils (1991–92) 11–19–6
37 W December 31, 1991 4–3 St. Louis Blues (1991–92) 12–19–6
38 W January 3, 1992 5–2 New York Islanders (1991–92) 13–19–6
39 L January 4, 1992 2–4 @ Boston Bruins (1991–92) 13–20–6
40 T January 7, 1992 5–5 OT @ Philadelphia Flyers (1991–92) 13–20–7
41 W January 8, 1992 4–2 Quebec Nordiques (1991–92) 14–20–7
42 W January 10, 1992 8–2 Edmonton Oilers (1991–92) 15–20–7
43 W January 12, 1992 6–3 New York Rangers (1991–92) 16–20–7
44 L January 14, 1992 2–6 @ New York Rangers (1991–92) 16–21–7
45 T January 15, 1992 8–8 OT @ New Jersey Devils (1991–92) 16–21–8
46 L January 21, 1992 4–5 @ St. Louis Blues (1991–92) 16–22–8
47 W January 23, 1992 5–4 OT @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1991–92) 17–22–8
48 W January 25, 1992 4–3 @ Montreal Canadiens (1991–92) 18–22–8
49 W January 26, 1992 5–2 Winnipeg Jets (1991–92) 19–22–8
50 T January 29, 1992 4–4 OT @ Detroit Red Wings (1991–92) 19–22–9
51 W January 31, 1992 5–3 Montreal Canadiens (1991–92) 20–22–9
52 T February 1, 1992 2–2 OT @ Boston Bruins (1991–92) 20–22–10
53 W February 4, 1992 7–3 Washington Capitals (1991–92) 21–22–10
54 L February 7, 1992 0–2 Minnesota North Stars (1991–92) 21–23–10
55 L February 9, 1992 4–5 Los Angeles Kings (1991–92) 21–24–10
56 L February 11, 1992 1–5 @ Hartford Whalers (1991–92) 21–25–10
57 L February 12, 1992 4–9 Detroit Red Wings (1991–92) 21–26–10
58 W February 14, 1992 7–6 San Jose Sharks (1991–92) 22–26–10
59 W February 16, 1992 5–4 Hartford Whalers (1991–92) 23–26–10
60 L February 19, 1992 5–6 @ Vancouver Canucks (1991–92) 23–27–10
61 L February 23, 1992 2–5 @ Edmonton Oilers (1991–92) 23–28–10
62 W February 25, 1992 5–3 @ Calgary Flames (1991–92) 24–28–10
63 L February 29, 1992 2–5 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1991–92) 24–29–10
64 L March 1, 1992 1–3 Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92) 24–30–10
65 T March 3, 1992 4–4 OT @ Quebec Nordiques (1991–92) 24–30–11
66 W March 6, 1992 5–4 New Jersey Devils (1991–92) 25–30–11
67 L March 8, 1992 2–6 New York Islanders (1991–92) 25–31–11
68 W March 11, 1992 6–3 Boston Bruins (1991–92) 26–31–11
69 L March 14, 1992 1–4 @ New York Islanders (1991–92) 26–32–11
70 W March 15, 1992 6–4 Quebec Nordiques (1991–92) 27–32–11
71 L March 17, 1992 1–3 @ Minnesota North Stars (1991–92) 27–33–11
72 W March 19, 1992 8–2 @ Los Angeles Kings (1991–92) 28–33–11
73 W March 22, 1992 6–2 @ Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92) 29–33–11
74 W March 25, 1992 5–2 Toronto Maple Leafs (1991–92) 30–33–11
75 L March 28, 1992 3–4 OT @ Boston Bruins (1991–92) 30–34–11
76 T March 29, 1992 2–2 OT Hartford Whalers (1991–92) 30–34–12
77 L March 31, 1992 3–5 @ Minnesota North Stars (1991–92) 30–35–12
78 W April 12, 1992 3–1 Montreal Canadiens (1991–92) 31–35–12
79 L April 14, 1992 3–7 @ Quebec Nordiques (1991–92) 31–36–12
80 L April 15, 1992 3–4 Quebec Nordiques (1991–92) 31–37–12

Pat Lafontaine

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LaFontaine, frustrated with his situation on Long Island, turned down a four-year, $6 million contract offer and refused to report to the Islanders for the start of the 1991–92 NHL season. Three weeks into the season, on October 25, 1991, LaFontaine was traded, along with teammate Randy Wood, to the Buffalo Sabres for four players, including former first overall pick Pierre Turgeon.

Playoffs

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1992 Stanley Cup playoffs

Boston vs. Buffalo
Date Away Home
April 19 Buffalo 3 2 Boston
April 21 Buffalo 2 3 Boston OT
April 23 Boston 3 2 Buffalo
April 25 Boston 5 4 Buffalo OT
April 27 Buffalo 2 0 Boston
April 29 Boston 3 9 Buffalo
May 1 Buffalo 2 3 Boston
Boston wins series 4–3

Awards and records

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Led by Rob Ray's 354 penalty minutes, the Buffalo Sabres set an NHL record for team penalty minutes in a season, with 2713.

References

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  1. ^ National Hockey League (2010). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011. Triumph Books. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-60078-422-4.
  2. ^ "1991-92 NHL Summary".
  3. ^ "1991-1992 Division Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 25, 2012.