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 a 4–3 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers 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
Recap
2
January 15
Washington
2–1
Buffalo
Ullmark 0
0–2–0
0
Recap
3
January 18
Buffalo
6–1
Philadelphia Hutton
0
1–2–0
2
Recap
4
January 19
Buffalo
0–3
Philadelphia
Hutton
0
1–3–0
2
Recap
5
January 22
Buffalo
3–4
Washington
SO
Ullmark
0
1–3–1
3
Recap
6
January 24
Buffalo
4–3
Washington
SO
Ullmark
0
2–3–1
5
Recap
7
January 26
NY Rangers 2–3
Buffalo
Ullmark
0
3–3–1
7
Recap
8
January 28
NY Rangers
3–2
Buffalo
OT
Ullmark
0
3–3–2
8
Recap
9
January 30
New Jersey 3–4
Buffalo
SO
Ullmark
0
4–3–2
10
Recap
10
January 31
New Jersey
5–3
Buffalo
Hutton
0
4–4–2
10
Recap
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.[ 8]
—
February 4
Buffalo
–
NY Islanders
Postponed due to COVID protocol.[ 9]
—
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.[ 10] [ 11]
—
February 13
Washington
–
Buffalo
Postponed due to COVID protocol. Rescheduled for April 9.[ 11]
11
February 15
NY Islanders
3–1
Buffalo
Ullmark 0
4–5–2
10
Recap
12
February 16
NY Islanders
3–0
Buffalo
Hutton 0
4–6–2
10
Recap
13
February 18
Buffalo
1–3
Washington
Ullmark
0
4–7–2
10
Recap
14
February 20
Buffalo
3–2
New Jersey Ullmark
0
5–7–2
12
Recap
15
February 22
Buffalo
2–3
NY Islanders
Ullmark
0
5–8–2
12
Recap
16
February 23
Buffalo
4–1
New Jersey
Ullmark
0
6–8–2
14
Recap
17
February 25
New Jersey
4–3
Buffalo
OT
Hutton
0
6–8–3
15
Recap
18
February 27
Philadelphia 3–0
Buffalo
Hutton
0
6–9–3
15
Recap
19
February 28
Philadelphia
3–0
Buffalo
Johansson 0
6–10–3
15
Recap
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
Recap
21
March 4
Buffalo
2–5
NY Islanders Johansson 0
6–12–3
15
Recap
22
March 6
Buffalo
2–5
NY Islanders
Hutton
0
6–13–3
15
Recap
23
March 7
Buffalo
2–5
NY Islanders
Johansson
0
6–14–3
15
Recap
24
March 9
Buffalo
4–5
Philadelphia SO
Johansson
2,838
6–14–4
16
Recap
25
March 11
Pittsburgh 5–2
Buffalo
Johansson
0
6–15–4
16
Recap
26
March 13
Pittsburgh
3–0
Buffalo
Hutton
0
6–16–4
16
Recap
27
March 15
Washington 6–0
Buffalo
Hutton
0
6–17–4
16
Recap
28
March 16
Buffalo
2–3
New Jersey Johansson
1,800
6–18–4
16
Recap
29
March 18
Boston 4–1
Buffalo
Hutton
0
6–19–4
16
Recap
—
March 20
Boston
–
Buffalo
Postponed due to COVID protocol.[ 12] [ 13]
30
March 22
Buffalo
3–5
NY Rangers
Tokarski 1,800
6–20–4
16
Recap
31
March 24
Buffalo
2–5
Pittsburgh
Tokarski
2,800
6–21–4
16
Recap
32
March 25
Buffalo
0–4
Pittsburgh
Tokarski
2,800
6–22–4
16
Recap
33
March 27
Buffalo
2–3
Boston
Ullmark 2,191
6–23–4
16
Recap
34
March 29
Philadelphia
4–3
Buffalo
OT
Ullmark
0
6–23–5
17
Recap
35
March 31
Philadelphia
1–6
Buffalo
Ullmark
0
7–23–5
19
Recap
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
Recap
37
April 3
NY Rangers
2–3
Buffalo
SO
Ullmark 302[ 14]
8–23–6
22
Recap
38
April 6
Buffalo
5–3
New Jersey Ullmark
3,600
9–23–6
24
Recap
39
April 8
New Jersey
6–3
Buffalo
Ullmark
0
9–24–6
24
Recap
40
April 9
Washington 4–3
Buffalo
Tokarski
—[ lower-alpha 1]
9–25–6
24
Recap
41
April 11
Buffalo
5–3
Philadelphia Ullmark
3,250
10–25–6
26
Recap
42
April 13
Buffalo
2–3
Boston SO
Tokarski
2,191
10–25–7
27
Recap
43
April 15
Buffalo
5–2
Washington
Tokarski
0
11–25–7
29
Recap
44
April 17
Pittsburgh 3–2
Buffalo
Tokarski
—[ lower-alpha 1]
11–26–7
29
Recap
45
April 18
Pittsburgh
2–4
Buffalo
Tokarski
0
12–26–7
31
Recap
46
April 20
Boston
2–0
Buffalo
Tokarski
0
12–27–7
31
Recap
47
April 22
Boston 5–1
Buffalo
Tokarski
0
12–28–7
31
Recap
48
April 23
Boston
4–6
Buffalo
Luukkonen —[ lower-alpha 1]
13–28–7
33
Recap
49
April 25
Buffalo
3–6
NY Rangers
Tokarski
1,800
13–29–7
33
Recap
50
April 27
Buffalo
1–3
NY Rangers
Luukkonen
1,796
13–30–7
33
Recap
51
April 29
Buffalo
2–5
Boston
Luukkonen
2,191
13–31–7
33
Recap
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
Recap
53
May 3
NY Islanders 2–4
Buffalo
Houser 0
14–32–7
35
Recap
54
May 4
NY Islanders
3–4
Buffalo
SO
Houser
0
15–32–7
37
Recap
55
May 6
Buffalo
4–8
Pittsburgh Houser
4,672
15–33–7
37
Recap
56
May 8
Buffalo
0–1
Pittsburgh
Houser
4,672
15–34–7
37
Recap
Legend Win (2 points) Loss (0 points) Overtime/shootout loss (1 point) Postponement
Player statistics [ ] Skaters [ ]
Regular season[ 15]
Player
GP
G
A
Pts
+/−
PIM
Reinhart, Sam Sam Reinhart
54
25
15
40
−28
10
Olofsson, Victor Victor Olofsson
56
13
19
32
−23
6
Dahlin, Rasmus Rasmus Dahlin
56
5
18
23
−36
26
Mittelstadt, Casey Casey Mittelstadt
41
10
12
22
−10
10
Hall, Taylor Taylor Hall
‡ || 37 || 2 || 17 || 19 || −21 || 24
Ristolainen, Rasmus Rasmus Ristolainen
49
4
14
18
−18
36
Eichel, Jack Jack Eichel
21
2
16
18
−9
6
Thompson, Tage Tage Thompson
38
8
6
14
−6
17
Skinner, Jeff Jeff Skinner
53
7
7
14
−11
14
Montour, Brandon Brandon Montour
‡ || 38 || 5 || 9 || 14 || −13 || 24
Sheahan, Riley Riley Sheahan
53
4
9
13
−8
8
Cozens, Dylan Dylan Cozens
41
4
9
13
−15
16
Okposo, Kyle Kyle Okposo
35
2
11
13
−1
0
Miller, Colin Colin Miller
48
4
8
12
−20
27
Asplund, Rasmus Rasmus Asplund
28
7
4
11
+1
0
Staal, Eric Eric Staal
‡ || 32 || 3 || 7 || 10 || −20 || 8
Lazar, Curtis Curtis Lazar
‡ || 33 || 5 || 4 || 9 || −4 || 0
Bryson, Jacob Jacob Bryson
38
1
8
9
−1
12
Jokiharju, Henri Henri Jokiharju
46
3
5
8
−11
4
Rieder, Tobias Tobias Rieder
44
5
2
7
−9
2
Eakin, Cody Cody Eakin
46
3
4
7
−9
14
Ruotsalainen, Arttu Arttu Ruotsalainen
17
5
1
6
−9
8
Bjork, Anders Anders Bjork
† || 15 || 3 || 3 || 6 || −5 || 4
Caggiula, Drake Drake Caggiula
† || 11 || 2 || 1 || 3 || −5 || 4
McCabe, Jake Jake McCabe
13
1
2
3
+2
9
Fogarty, Steven Steven Fogarty
9
1
2
3
+2
8
Samuelsson, Mattias Mattias Samuelsson
12
0
2
2
−8
4
Irwin, Matt Matt Irwin
24
0
2
2
−10
19
Borgen, Will Will Borgen
10
0
0
0
−4
4
Davidson, Brandon Brandon Davidson
6
0
0
0
−4
4
Smith, C. J. C. J. Smith
1
0
0
0
0
0
Dea, Jean-Sebastien Jean-Sebastien Dea
1
0
0
0
−1
2
Murray, Brett Brett Murray
2
0
0
0
+1
0
Goaltenders [ ]
Regular season[ 16]
Player
GP
GS
TOI
W
L
OT
GA
GAA
SA
SV%
SO
G
A
PIM
Ullmark, Linus Linus Ullmark
20
20
1,117:05
9
6
3
49
2.63
591
.917
0
0
0
0
Tokarski, Dustin Dustin Tokarski
13
10
729:26
2
8
2
43
3.54
447
.904
0
0
1
0
Houser, Michael Michael Houser
4
4
243:02
2
2
0
14
3.46
141
.901
0
0
0
0
Luukkonen, Ukko-Pekka Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
4
4
216:42
1
3
0
14
3.88
149
.906
0
0
0
0
Hutton, Carter Carter Hutton
13
12
674:43
1
10
1
39
3.47
341
.886
0
0
0
0
Johansson, Jonas Jonas Johansson
‡ || 7 || 6 || 379:53 || 0 || 5 || 1 || 24 || 3.79 || 207 || .884 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
† 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 [ ] See also: List of Buffalo Sabres 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.[ 24]
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).[ 25] 2018–19 NHL season and 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs combined[ 25] References [ ]
↑ National Hockey League (2010). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011 . Triumph Books, 27. ISBN 978-1-60078-422-4 . ↑ Buffalo Sabres' winless streak hits 18 games after collapse in third period against Philadelphia Flyers (March 29, 2021).↑ Penguins hold off Sabres, run point streak to five (April 17, 2021).↑ Sabres bring back beloved royal blue, charging buffalo uniforms (August 11, 2020).↑ Reverse Retro alternate jerseys for all 31 teams unveiled by NHL, adidas (November 16, 2020).↑ NHL Hockey Standings . National Hockey League.↑ 2020-21 NHL schedule announced (December 23, 2020).↑ Sabres game at Islanders postponed due to NHL COVID-19 protocol (February 2, 2021).↑ Sabres games postponed through Monday due to NHL COVID-19 protocol (February 2, 2021).↑ NHL postpones additional Devils, Sabres, Wild games due to COVID-19 (February 8, 2021).↑ 11.0 11.1 NHL announces updates to regular-season schedule (February 16, 2021).↑ Bruins have two games postponed; four players added to COVID-19 protocol (March 19, 2021).↑ NHL announces updates to 2020-21 regular-season schedule (March 28, 2021).↑ Anstey, Evan (April 5, 2021). Only hundreds watched Sabres beat Rangers on Saturday . WIVB-TV. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
↑ 2020–21 Buffalo Sabres Stats – Skaters . Retrieved on May 9, 2021.↑ 2020–21 Buffalo Sabres Stats – Goalies . Retrieved on 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 .
↑ 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 (April 9, 2021).↑ Sharks Conclude 2020 NHL Draft with Nine Selections (October 7, 2020). Retrieved on October 7, 2020.↑ 25.0 25.1 Stars acquire defenseman Taylor Fedun from Sabres (November 10, 2018). Retrieved on November 10, 2018.
Cite error: <ref> tags exist for a group named "lower-alpha", but no corresponding <references group="lower-alpha"/> tag was found
