1989–90 Buffalo Sabres season

1989–90 Buffalo Sabres
1989–90 Buffalo Sabres
Division	2nd Adams
Conference	2nd Wales
1989–90 record	45–27–8
Home record	27–11–2
Road record	18–16–6
Goals for	286
Goals against	248
Team information
General manager	Gerry Meehan
Coach	Rick Dudley
Captain	Mike Foligno
Alternate captains	Phil Housley; Mike Ramsey
Arena	Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
Team leaders
Goals	Dave Andreychuk and Pierre Turgeon (40)
Assists	Pierre Turgeon (66)
Points	Pierre Turgeon (106)
Penalty minutes	Mike Hartman (211)
Wins	Daren Puppa (31)
Goals against average	Daren Puppa (2.89)
	← 1988–89 1990–91 →

The 1989–90 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' 20th season in the National Hockey League. They finished the season with the third best record in the NHL. The season also featured the NHL debuts of Alexander Mogilny, Rob Ray, and Donald Audette.

Offseason

NHL Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team
1	14	Kevin Haller (D)	Canada	Regina Pats (WHL)
3	56	Scott Thomas (RW)	United States	Nichols School (USHS-NY)
4	77	Doug MacDonald (C)	Canada	University of Wisconsin (NCAA)
5	98	Ken Sutton (D)	Canada	Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
6	107	Bill Pye (G)	United States	Northern Michigan University (WCHA)
6	119	Mike Barkley (C)	Canada	University of Maine (Hockey East)
8	161	Derek Plante (C)	United States	Cloquet High School (USHS-MN)
9	183	Donald Audette (RW)	Canada	Laval Titan (QMJHL)
10	194	Mark Astley (D)	Canada	Lake Superior State University (CCHA)
10	203	John Nelson (C)	Canada	Toronto Marlboros (OHL)
11	224	Todd Henderson (G)	Canada	Thunder Bay Flyers (USHL)
12	245	Mike Bavis (RW)	United States	Cushing Academy (USHS-MA)
S	19	Ian Boyce (LW)	Canada	University of Vermont (Hockey East)

Regular season

Season standings

Adams Division
	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
Boston Bruins	80	46	25	9	289	232	101
Buffalo Sabres	80	45	27	8	286	248	98
Montreal Canadiens	80	41	28	11	288	234	93
Hartford Whalers	80	38	33	9	275	268	85
Quebec Nordiques	80	12	61	7	240	407	31

^[1]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Wales Conference^[2]
R		Div	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	p – Boston Bruins	ADM	80	46	25	9	289	232	101
2	Buffalo Sabres	ADM	80	45	27	8	286	248	98
3	Montreal Canadiens	ADM	80	41	28	11	288	234	93
4	Hartford Whalers	ADM	80	38	33	9	275	268	85
5	New York Rangers	PTK	80	36	31	13	279	267	85
6	New Jersey Devils	PTK	80	37	34	9	295	288	83
7	Washington Capitals	PTK	80	36	38	6	284	275	78
8	New York Islanders	PTK	80	31	38	11	281	288	73
9	Pittsburgh Penguins	PTK	80	32	40	8	318	359	72
10	Philadelphia Flyers	PTK	80	30	39	11	290	297	71
11	Quebec Nordiques	ADM	80	12	61	7	240	407	31

Divisions: PTK – Patrick, ADM – Adams

bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy

Record vs. opponents

Vs. Wales Conference

1989–90 NHL records Vs. Adams Division^[3]
Team	BOS	BUF	HFD	MTL	QUE	Total
Boston	—	4–3–1	4–3–1	4–3–1	6–1–1	18–10–4
Buffalo	3–4–1	—	6–2	4–3–1	7–0–1	20–9–3
Hartford	3–4–1	2–6	—	3–4–1	6–1–1	14–15–3
Montreal	3–4–1	3–4–1	4–3–1	—	7–1	17–12–3
Quebec	1–6–1	0–7–1	1–6–1	1–7	—	3–26–3

1989–90 NHL records Vs. Patrick Division
Team	NJD	NYI	NYR	PHI	PIT	WSH	Total
Boston	1–1–1	1–1–1	0–3	3–0	2–1	2–1	9–7–2
Buffalo	1–2	0–3	2–0–1	2–1	3–0	1–1–1	9–7–2
Hartford	2–1	2–1	1–2	2–1	2–0–1	2–1	11–6–2
Montreal	2–1	2–1	3–0	0–2–1	2–1	1–2	10–7–1
Quebec	0–3	2–1	0–3	1–1–1	1–2	0–3	4–13–1

Vs. Campbell Conference

1989–90 NHL records Vs. Norris Division
Team	CHI	DET	MIN	STL	TOR	Total
Boston	3–0	3–0	2–1	2–1	2–1	12–3–0
Buffalo	1–2	2–1	1–1–1	1–2	2–1	7–7–1
Hartford	1–2	2–0–1	2–1	1–2	1–1–1	7–6–2
Montreal	1–2	1–0–2	2–1	1–0–2	2–1	7–4–4
Quebec	1–2	0–3	1–2	0–3	0–3	2–13–0

1989–90 NHL records Vs. Smythe Division
Team	CGY	EDM	LAK	VAN	WIN	Total
Boston	1–1–1	2–0–1	2–1	1–2	1–1–1	7–5–3
Buffalo	1–1–1	1–2	2–1	2–0–1	3–0	9–4–2
Hartford	0–2–1	1–0–2	2–1	2–1	1–2	6–6–3
Montreal	2–1	1–1–1	1–1–1	2–1	1–1–1	7–5–3
Quebec	0–1–2	0–3	0–3	2–0–1	1–2	3–9–3

Schedule and results

No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	W	October 5, 1989	4–3	Quebec Nordiques (1989–90)	1–0–0
2	L	October 7, 1989	1–5	@ Montreal Canadiens (1989–90)	1–1–0
3	T	October 8, 1989	2–2 OT	Minnesota North Stars (1989–90)	1–1–1
4	W	October 11, 1989	7–1	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90)	2–1–1
5	W	October 13, 1989	4–1	Hartford Whalers (1989–90)	3–1–1
6	L	October 14, 1989	2–6	@ Detroit Red Wings (1989–90)	3–2–1
7	L	October 18, 1989	1–2	@ Hartford Whalers (1989–90)	3–3–1
8	W	October 20, 1989	6–2	Montreal Canadiens (1989–90)	4–3–1
9	W	October 21, 1989	4–2	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1989–90)	5–3–1
10	L	October 25, 1989	2–4	@ Minnesota North Stars (1989–90)	5–4–1
11	W	October 27, 1989	6–5 OT	Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90)	6–4–1
12	W	October 29, 1989	4–3	Boston Bruins (1989–90)	7–4–1
13	W	November 2, 1989	4–3	@ Montreal Canadiens (1989–90)	8–4–1
14	T	November 4, 1989	3–3 OT	@ Boston Bruins (1989–90)	8–4–2
15	W	November 5, 1989	5–3	Los Angeles Kings (1989–90)	9–4–2
16	W	November 8, 1989	6–3	@ Hartford Whalers (1989–90)	10–4–2
17	W	November 10, 1989	4–2	Vancouver Canucks (1989–90)	11–4–2
18	W	November 12, 1989	6–5	Edmonton Oilers (1989–90)	12–4–2
19	T	November 16, 1989	4–4 OT	@ Calgary Flames (1989–90)	12–4–3
20	L	November 17, 1989	0–3	@ Edmonton Oilers (1989–90)	12–5–3
21	T	November 19, 1989	2–2 OT	@ Vancouver Canucks (1989–90)	12–5–4
22	W	November 22, 1989	4–1	New York Rangers (1989–90)	13–5–4
23	W	November 25, 1989	3–2	@ Quebec Nordiques (1989–90)	14–5–4
24	W	November 26, 1989	4–2	Hartford Whalers (1989–90)	15–5–4
25	W	November 28, 1989	4–2	@ Hartford Whalers (1989–90)	16–5–4
26	L	November 30, 1989	1–5	@ Boston Bruins (1989–90)	16–6–4
27	W	December 1, 1989	6–4	New Jersey Devils (1989–90)	17–6–4
28	W	December 3, 1989	4–3	St. Louis Blues (1989–90)	18–6–4
29	L	December 5, 1989	0–3	@ New York Islanders (1989–90)	18–7–4
30	L	December 7, 1989	3–4 OT	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1989–90)	18–8–4
31	W	December 10, 1989	4–3	Washington Capitals (1989–90)	19–8–4
32	L	December 13, 1989	2–4	Boston Bruins (1989–90)	19–9–4
33	W	December 16, 1989	3–1	@ Boston Bruins (1989–90)	20–9–4
34	W	December 17, 1989	4–3	Philadelphia Flyers (1989–90)	21–9–4
35	T	December 20, 1989	2–2 OT	@ New York Rangers (1989–90)	21–9–5
36	T	December 22, 1989	2–2 OT	Montreal Canadiens (1989–90)	21–9–6
37	W	December 23, 1989	6–5	@ Quebec Nordiques (1989–90)	22–9–6
38	W	December 26, 1989	6–3	Detroit Red Wings (1989–90)	23–9–6
39	L	December 29, 1989	3–4 OT	Boston Bruins (1989–90)	23–10–6
40	L	December 31, 1989	2–4	New York Islanders (1989–90)	23–11–6
41	L	January 2, 1990	3–5	@ New Jersey Devils (1989–90)	23–12–6
42	L	January 6, 1990	3–6	@ Montreal Canadiens (1989–90)	23–13–6
43	L	January 7, 1990	1–2	Boston Bruins (1989–90)	23–14–6
44	L	January 11, 1990	3–5	@ Calgary Flames (1989–90)	23–15–6
45	W	January 13, 1990	5–3	@ Vancouver Canucks (1989–90)	24–15–6
46	W	January 16, 1990	4–2	@ Los Angeles Kings (1989–90)	25–15–6
47	L	January 19, 1990	3–6	Washington Capitals (1989–90)	25–16–6
48	W	January 23, 1990	3–2	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1989–90)	26–16–6
49	W	January 24, 1990	3–2	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1989–90)	27–16–6
50	L	January 26, 1990	2–4	Chicago Blackhawks (1989–90)	27–17–6
51	W	January 28, 1990	7–2	Pittsburgh Penguins (1989–90)	28–17–6
52	W	January 30, 1990	5–2	@ Quebec Nordiques (1989–90)	29–17–6
53	W	January 31, 1990	6–3	Quebec Nordiques (1989–90)	30–17–6
54	L	February 3, 1990	0–1	@ Montreal Canadiens (1989–90)	30–18–6
55	L	February 4, 1990	0–1	New York Islanders (1989–90)	30–19–6
56	W	February 7, 1990	3–1	Montreal Canadiens (1989–90)	31–19–6
57	W	February 9, 1990	3–2	New York Rangers (1989–90)	32–19–6
58	L	February 11, 1990	2–4	@ St. Louis Blues (1989–90)	32–20–6
59	L	February 13, 1990	1–4	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1989–90)	32–21–6
60	W	February 16, 1990	5–3	Montreal Canadiens (1989–90)	33–21–6
61	L	February 18, 1990	4–6	Hartford Whalers (1989–90)	33–22–6
62	W	February 20, 1990	4–3 OT	@ Winnipeg Jets (1989–90)	34–22–6
63	L	February 21, 1990	3–7	@ Edmonton Oilers (1989–90)	34–23–6
64	W	February 23, 1990	7–3	Hartford Whalers (1989–90)	35–23–6
65	W	February 25, 1990	3–1	Winnipeg Jets (1989–90)	36–23–6
66	L	February 27, 1990	1–4	@ St. Louis Blues (1989–90)	36–24–6
67	T	March 3, 1990	3–3 OT	@ Quebec Nordiques (1989–90)	36–24–7
68	W	March 4, 1990	5–3	Quebec Nordiques (1989–90)	37–24–7
69	T	March 6, 1990	1–1 OT	@ Washington Capitals (1989–90)	37–24–8
70	W	March 8, 1990	10–4	@ Boston Bruins (1989–90)	38–24–8
71	W	March 10, 1990	5–0	@ Hartford Whalers (1989–90)	39–24–8
72	L	March 14, 1990	5–6 OT	Los Angeles Kings (1989–90)	39–25–8
73	L	March 16, 1990	3–4	Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90)	39–26–8
74	W	March 18, 1990	4–3 OT	Winnipeg Jets (1989–90)	40–26–8
75	W	March 21, 1990	5–4	Calgary Flames (1989–90)	41–26–8
76	L	March 25, 1990	3–4	New Jersey Devils (1989–90)	41–27–8
77	W	March 27, 1990	6–5	@ Detroit Red Wings (1989–90)	42–27–8
78	W	March 29, 1990	4–2	Minnesota North Stars (1989–90)	43–27–8
79	W	March 31, 1990	3–2 OT	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1989–90)	44–27–8
80	W	April 1, 1990	5–2	Quebec Nordiques (1989–90)	45–27–8

Player statistics

Forwards

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM

Defencemen

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM

Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average

Player	GP	W	L	T	SO	GAA

Playoffs

1990 Stanley Cup playoffs

April 5

Montreal Canadiens

1-4

Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo Memorial Auditorium

April 7

Montreal Canadiens

3-0

Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo Memorial Auditorium

April 9

Buffalo Sabres

1-2

OT

Montreal Canadiens

Montreal Forum

April 11

Buffalo Sabres

4-2

Montreal Canadiens

Montreal Forum

April 13

Montreal Canadiens

4-2

Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo Memorial Auditorium

April 15

Buffalo Sabres

2-5

Montreal Canadiens

Montreal Forum

Montreal won series 4-2

Awards and records

Daren Puppa, Goaltender, NHL All-Star Game Appearance
Pierre Turgeon, Phil Housley, Dave Andreychuk, NHL All-Star Game Appearance
Daren Puppa, Goaltender, NHL Second Team All-Star

References

Sabres on Hockey Database

^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.
^ "1989–1990 Conference Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.

[nhl-gd-standings-1] Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.

[2] "1989–1990 Conference Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 6, 2014.

[3] "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e Buffalo Sabres
Founded in 1970 Based in Buffalo, New York
Franchise	Team General managers Coaches Players Captains Draft picks Expansion draft Seasons Current season
History	Records Award winners Retired numbers Broadcasters
Personnel	Owner(s) Terry Pegula General manager Kevyn Adams Head coach Lindy Ruff Team captain Rasmus Dahlin Current roster
Arenas	Buffalo Memorial Auditorium KeyBank Center
Affiliates	AHL Rochester Americans ECHL Jacksonville Icemen
Media	TV MSG Western New York Bell Satellite TV Radio Sabres Hockey Network WGR 550
Culture and lore	The French Connection Seymour and Northrup Knox Ted Darling Rick Jeanneret Taro Tsujimoto Ronan Tynan Ryan Vinz Hockey Night Live! LECOM Harborcenter Buffalo Sabres Alumni Hockey Team Buffalo Jr. Sabres Buffalo Bandits Sabretooth "Sabre Dance" Empire Sports Network The Fog Game No Goal 2008 NHL Winter Classic 2011 NHL Premiere 2018 NHL Winter Classic 2022 Heritage Classic
Category Commons

v t e Buffalo Sabres seasons
1970s	1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80
1980s	1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90
1990s	1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00
2000s	2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10
2010s	2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
2020s	2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25

v t e 1989–90 NHL season by team
Patrick	New Jersey NY Islanders NY Rangers Philadelphia Pittsburgh Washington
Adams	Boston Buffalo Hartford Montreal Quebec
Norris	Chicago Detroit Minnesota St. Louis Toronto
Smythe	Calgary Edmonton Los Angeles Vancouver Winnipeg
See also	1989 NHL entry draft Waiver draft All-Star Game 1990 Stanley Cup Finals Transactions