1980–81 Buffalo Sabres season NHL hockey team season
The 1980–81 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' 11th season of operation for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970.[ 1] The team won their second consecutive Adams Division
regular season championship. As of 2023 this is the only time the Buffalo Sabres have won consecutive division titles.
Offseason
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(July 2010 )
Regular season
Final standings
[ 2] 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.
Divisions: ADM – Adams, NRS – Norris, PTK – Patrick, SMY – Smythe
bold – The top 16 teams in the league qualified for the playoffs, regardless of division or conference.x – Won division; y – Won Conference (and division); p – Won Presidents' Trophy (and conference and division)
Record vs. opponents
Adams Division record vs. opponents
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1980–81 NHL records[ 4]
Team
BOS
BUF
MIN
QUE
TOR
Total
Boston
—
2–1–1
2–1–1
1–3
1–1–2
6–6–4
Buffalo
1–2–1
—
0–1–3
3–0–1
3–1
7–4–5
Minnesota
1–2–1
1–0–3
—
2–2
0–4
4–8–4
Quebec
3–1
0–3–1
2–2
—
0–2–2
5–8–3
Toronto
1–1–2
1–3
4–0
2–0–2
—
8–4–4
Vs. Norris Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
DET
HFD
LAK
MTL
PIT
Total
Boston
2−0−2
1−1−2
2−2
1−3
3−0−1
9–6–5
Buffalo
3−0−1
2−1−1
2−1−1
1−3
3−0−1
11–5–4
Minnesota
2−0−2
3−1
0−4
2−1−1
3−1
10–7–3
Quebec
3−0−1
2−2
1−3
1−1−2
1−2–1
8–8–4
Toronto
1−3
1–1−2
0−3−1
1−3
2−1–1
5–11–4
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Patrick Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
CGY
NYI
NYR
PHI
WSH
Total
Boston
1–3
2–2
2–2
2–2
2–1–1
9–10–1
Buffalo
2–1–1
2–2
2–1–1
2–0–2
2–0–2
10–4–6
Minnesota
2–2
0–2–2
1–1–2
1–2–1
3–0–1
7–7–6
Quebec
1–1–2
1–3
1–1–2
2–1–1
4–0
9–6–5
Toronto
2–2
1–3
2–2
2–0–2
1–3
8–10–2
Vs. Smythe Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
CHI
COL
EDM
STL
VAN
WIN
Total
Boston
3−1
2−1−1
3−1
1−3
2−2
2−0−2
13−8−3
Buffalo
2−2
3–0−1
1−1−2
0−3−1
1−1−2
4−0
11−7−6
Minnesota
2−2
2−1–1
2−1−1
2−1–1
2−1−1
4−0
14−6−4
Quebec
0−3−1
2−2
3−1
1−2–1
1–1−2
1–1−2
8−10−6
Toronto
2−1–1
1−1−2
1−2−1
1−3
0–3−1
2−2
7−12−5
Schedule and results
No.
R
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
1
L
October 9, 1980
3–4
@ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81 )
0–1–0
2
T
October 12, 1980
3–3
Hartford Whalers (1980–81 )
0–1–1
3
W
October 15, 1980
2–0
Edmonton Oilers (1980–81 )
1–1–1
4
W
October 18, 1980
4–2
@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81 )
2–1–1
5
L
October 19, 1980
2–4
Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81 )
2–2–1
6
W
October 22, 1980
7–4
Winnipeg Jets (1980–81 )
3–2–1
7
W
October 25, 1980
5–2
@ Montreal Canadiens (1980–81 )
4–2–1
8
W
October 26, 1980
5–2
New York Islanders (1980–81 )
5–2–1
9
T
October 29, 1980
1–1
Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81 )
5–2–2
10
W
November 1, 1980
4–2
@ Detroit Red Wings (1980–81 )
6–2–2
11
W
November 2, 1980
4–3
Vancouver Canucks (1980–81 )
7–2–2
12
W
November 5, 1980
5–3
Colorado Rockies (1980–81 )
8–2–2
13
T
November 8, 1980
3–3
@ Washington Capitals (1980–81 )
8–2–3
14
T
November 9, 1980
3–3
Washington Capitals (1980–81 )
8–2–4
15
T
November 12, 1980
4–4
Detroit Red Wings (1980–81 )
8–2–5
16
L
November 15, 1980
1–4
@ New York Islanders (1980–81 )
8–3–5
17
W
November 16, 1980
8–1
Quebec Nordiques (1980–81 )
9–3–5
18
L
November 19, 1980
2–5
@ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81 )
9–4–5
19
W
November 21, 1980
4–2
@ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81 )
10–4–5
20
L
November 23, 1980
3–6
@ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81 )
10–5–5
21
L
November 25, 1980
3–5
@ St. Louis Blues (1980–81 )
10–6–5
22
W
November 27, 1980
6–3
Calgary Flames (1980–81 )
11–6–5
23
W
November 29, 1980
5–2
@ Hartford Whalers (1980–81 )
12–6–5
24
W
November 30, 1980
4–1
Colorado Rockies (1980–81 )
13–6–5
25
L
December 3, 1980
5–6
Montreal Canadiens (1980–81 )
13–7–5
26
T
December 6, 1980
3–3
@ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81 )
13–7–6
27
W
December 7, 1980
10–1
Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81 )
14–7–6
28
T
December 9, 1980
4–4
@ Colorado Rockies (1980–81 )
14–7–7
29
L
December 11, 1980
4–8
@ Calgary Flames (1980–81 )
14–8–7
30
W
December 13, 1980
5–4
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81 )
15–8–7
31
T
December 14, 1980
2–2
Vancouver Canucks (1980–81 )
15–8–8
32
W
December 20, 1980
7–4
@ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81 )
16–8–8
33
T
December 21, 1980
3–3
@ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81 )
16–8–9
34
W
December 26, 1980
3–2
Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81 )
17–8–9
35
W
December 28, 1980
5–2
Boston Bruins (1980–81 )
18–8–9
36
L
December 31, 1980
2–5
Los Angeles Kings (1980–81 )
18–9–9
37
T
January 3, 1981
3–3
@ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81 )
18–9–10
38
T
January 4, 1981
2–2
Minnesota North Stars (1980–81 )
18–9–11
39
W
January 7, 1981
5–1
Quebec Nordiques (1980–81 )
19–9–11
40
T
January 9, 1981
3–3
@ New York Rangers (1980–81 )
19–9–12
41
T
January 11, 1981
4–4
Los Angeles Kings (1980–81 )
19–9–13
42
T
January 14, 1981
1–1
Minnesota North Stars (1980–81 )
19–9–14
43
T
January 16, 1981
5–5
Edmonton Oilers (1980–81 )
19–9–15
44
W
January 18, 1981
4–0
New York Rangers (1980–81 )
20–9–15
45
L
January 19, 1981
1–5
@ Boston Bruins (1980–81 )
20–10–15
46
W
January 21, 1981
6–5
@ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81 )
21–10–15
47
W
January 24, 1981
7–4
@ Washington Capitals (1980–81 )
22–10–15
48
W
January 26, 1981
5–3
@ New York Islanders (1980–81 )
23–10–15
49
T
January 28, 1981
4–4
Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81 )
23–10–16
50
W
January 31, 1981
5–3
@ Hartford Whalers (1980–81 )
24–10–16
51
W
February 1, 1981
4–0
Winnipeg Jets (1980–81 )
25–10–16
52
W
February 5, 1981
4–0
@ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81 )
26–10–16
53
W
February 6, 1981
7–3
Detroit Red Wings (1980–81 )
27–10–16
54
T
February 8, 1981
3–3
St. Louis Blues (1980–81 )
27–10–17
55
W
February 12, 1981
6–3
Washington Capitals (1980–81 )
28–10–17
56
T
February 14, 1981
4–4
@ Calgary Flames (1980–81 )
28–10–18
57
T
February 15, 1981
2–2
@ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81 )
28–10–19
58
L
February 19, 1981
2–5
@ Montreal Canadiens (1980–81 )
28–11–19
59
W
February 21, 1981
6–1
@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81 )
29–11–19
60
L
February 22, 1981
2–4
Montreal Canadiens (1980–81 )
29–12–19
61
L
February 25, 1981
3–6
@ New York Rangers (1980–81 )
29–13–19
62
W
February 27, 1981
6–1
Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81 )
30–13–19
63
L
March 1, 1981
4–6
@ Boston Bruins (1980–81 )
30–14–19
64
W
March 4, 1981
4–0
Calgary Flames (1980–81 )
31–14–19
65
L
March 6, 1981
3–5
Hartford Whalers (1980–81 )
31–15–19
66
W
March 8, 1981
8–4
Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81 )
32–15–19
67
L
March 11, 1981
1–3
@ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81 )
32–16–19
68
W
March 13, 1981
5–2
@ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81 )
33–16–19
69
L
March 14, 1981
1–2
@ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81 )
33–17–19
70
W
March 17, 1981
3–1
@ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81 )
34–17–19
71
W
March 19, 1981
14–4
Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81 )
35–17–19
72
W
March 21, 1981
6–2
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81 )
36–17–19
73
L
March 22, 1981
5–6
St. Louis Blues (1980–81 )
36–18–19
74
W
March 25, 1981
4–2
New York Rangers (1980–81 )
37–18–19
75
W
March 27, 1981
5–3
@ Colorado Rockies (1980–81 )
38–18–19
76
L
March 28, 1981
4–7
@ St. Louis Blues (1980–81 )
38–19–19
77
T
March 30, 1981
2–2
Boston Bruins (1980–81 )
38–19–20
78
T
April 2, 1981
2–2
@ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81 )
38–19–21
79
W
April 4, 1981
5–4
@ Detroit Red Wings (1980–81 )
39–19–21
80
L
April 5, 1981
3–7
New York Islanders (1980–81 )
39–20–21
Playoffs
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Player statistics
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Awards and records
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Transactions
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Draft picks
Buffalo's draft picks at the 1980 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal .
Round
#
Player
Nationality
College/Junior/Club team (League)
1
20
Steve Patrick
Canada
Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
2
41
Mike Moller
Canada
Lethbridge Broncos (WHL)
3
56
Sean McKenna
Canada
Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL)
3
62
Jay North
United States
Bloomington Jefferson High School (USHS-MN)
4
83
Jim Wiemer
Canada
Peterborough Petes (OMJHL)
5
104
Dirk Reuter
Canada
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OMJHL)
6
125
Daniel Naud
Canada
Sorel Eperviers (QMJHL)
7
146
Jari Paavola
Finland
TPS (Finland)
8
167
Randy Cunneyworth
Canada
Ottawa 67's (OMJHL)
9
188
Dave Beckon
Canada
Peterborough Petes (OMJHL)
10
209
John Bader
United States
Irondale High School (USHS-MN)
Farm teams
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See also
References
Franchise History Personnel Arenas Affiliates Media Culture and lore
1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
Patrick Adams Norris Smythe See also