The 1986–87 Buffalo Sabres season was the 17th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970.[1] The Sabres failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
Offseason
Regular season
Final standings
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.
Record vs. opponents
Adams Division record vs. opponents
|
Vs. Wales Conference
|
Vs. Adams Division
| 1986–87 NHL records[3]
|
| Team
|
BOS
|
BUF
|
HFD
|
MTL
|
QUE
|
Total
|
| Boston
|
— |
3–4–1 |
2–6 |
2–5–1 |
6–2 |
13–17–2
|
|
|
4–3–1 |
— |
4–4 |
1–5–2 |
3–4–1 |
12–16–4
|
| Hartford
|
6–2 |
4–4 |
— |
4–3–1 |
3–3–2 |
17–12–3
|
| Montreal
|
5–2–1 |
5–1–2 |
3–4−1 |
— |
5–3 |
18–10–4
|
| Quebec
|
2–6 |
4–3–1 |
3–3–2 |
3–5 |
— |
12–17–3
|
|
Vs. Patrick Division
| 1986–87 NHL records
|
| Team
|
NJD
|
NYI
|
NYR
|
PHI
|
PIT
|
WSH
|
Total
|
| Boston
|
1–1–1 |
2–0–1 |
1–2 |
1–2 |
2–1 |
1–1–1 |
8–7–3
|
|
|
2–1 |
1–1–1 |
1–2 |
1–2 |
0–2–1 |
2–1 |
7–9–2
|
| Hartford
|
1–1–1 |
2–1 |
3–0 |
2–1 |
3–0 |
2–1 |
13–4–1
|
| Montreal
|
2–1 |
1–1–1 |
2–0–1 |
0–2–1 |
1–1–1 |
0–3 |
6–8–4
|
| Quebec
|
1–0–2 |
1–2 |
1–2 |
0–2–1 |
0–3 |
2–0–1 |
5–9–4
|
|
Vs. Campbell Conference
|
Vs. Norris Division
| 1986–87 NHL records
|
| Team
|
CHI
|
DET
|
MIN
|
STL
|
TOR
|
Total
|
| Boston
|
1–1–1 |
0–2–1 |
3–0 |
2–1 |
2–1 |
8–5–2
|
|
|
2–1 |
2–0–1 |
0–3 |
1–2 |
0–2–1 |
5–8–2
|
| Hartford
|
1–2 |
1–1–1 |
1–2 |
2–1 |
2–1 |
7–7–1
|
| Montreal
|
2–0–1 |
1–1–1 |
2–1 |
2–1 |
2–1 |
9–4–2
|
| Quebec
|
2–1 |
1–2 |
2–0–1 |
0–3 |
3–0 |
8–6–1
|
|
Vs. Smythe Division
| 1986–87 NHL records
|
| Team
|
CGY
|
EDM
|
LAK
|
VAN
|
WIN
|
Total
|
| Boston
|
2–1 |
2–1 |
2–1 |
2–1 |
2–1 |
10–5–0
|
|
|
0–3 |
1–2 |
2–1 |
0–3 |
1–2 |
4–11–0
|
| Hartford
|
1–2 |
1–2 |
1–2 |
2–0–1 |
1–1–1 |
6–7–2
|
| Montreal
|
2–1 |
0–3 |
3–0 |
1–2 |
2–1 |
8–7–0
|
| Quebec
|
1–2 |
0–3 |
3–0 |
2–1 |
0–1–2 |
6–7–2
|
|
|
Schedule and results
| 1986–87 regular season[4]
|
| Game |
Result |
Date |
Score |
Opponent |
Record
|
| 1 |
L |
October 9, 1986 |
2–3 |
@ Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) |
0–1–0
|
| 2 |
T |
October 11, 1986 |
5–5 OT |
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) |
0–1–1
|
| 3 |
L |
October 12, 1986 |
2–4 |
Calgary Flames (1986–87) |
0–2–1
|
| 4 |
T |
October 15, 1986 |
0–0 OT |
Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) |
0–2–2
|
| 5 |
L |
October 17, 1986 |
3–7 |
Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) |
0–3–2
|
| 6 |
W |
October 18, 1986 |
4–2 |
@ Washington Capitals (1986–87) |
1–3–2
|
| 7 |
L |
October 22, 1986 |
4–5 OT |
@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) |
1–4–2
|
| 8 |
L |
October 24, 1986 |
4–5 |
Hartford Whalers (1986–87) |
1–5–2
|
| 9 |
L |
October 25, 1986 |
2–3 |
@ Hartford Whalers (1986–87) |
1–6–2
|
| 10 |
L |
October 29, 1986 |
2–5 |
@ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) |
1–7–2
|
|
| Game |
Result |
Date |
Score |
Opponent |
Record
|
| 11 |
W |
November 1, 1986 |
3–1 |
@ New Jersey Devils (1986–87) |
2–7–2
|
| 12 |
W |
November 2, 1986 |
7–1 |
@ Boston Bruins (1986–87) |
3–7–2
|
| 13 |
W |
November 5, 1986 |
8–3 |
Boston Bruins (1986–87) |
4–7–2
|
| 14 |
L |
November 7, 1986 |
6–7 |
Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) |
4–8–2
|
| 15 |
L |
November 9, 1986 |
3–4 |
New York Islanders (1986–87) |
4–9–2
|
| 16 |
L |
November 12, 1986 |
1–2 OT |
@ New York Rangers (1986–87) |
4–10–2
|
| 17 |
L |
November 15, 1986 |
2–4 |
@ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) |
4–11–2
|
| 18 |
T |
November 19, 1986 |
4–4 OT |
Boston Bruins (1986–87) |
4–11–3
|
| 19 |
L |
November 21, 1986 |
1–6 |
Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) |
4–12–3
|
| 20 |
L |
November 22, 1986 |
1–3 |
@ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) |
4–13–3
|
| 21 |
L |
November 26, 1986 |
0–3 |
@ Hartford Whalers (1986–87) |
4–14–3
|
| 22 |
W |
November 28, 1986 |
4–3 |
Boston Bruins (1986–87) |
5–14–3
|
| 23 |
L |
November 29, 1986 |
2–6 |
@ Boston Bruins (1986–87) |
5–15–3
|
|
| Game |
Result |
Date |
Score |
Opponent |
Record
|
| 24 |
L |
December 2, 1986 |
4–5 |
Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) |
5–16–3
|
| 25 |
L |
December 5, 1986 |
5–6 |
St. Louis Blues (1986–87) |
5–17–3
|
| 26 |
L |
December 6, 1986 |
3–4 |
@ New Jersey Devils (1986–87) |
5–18–3
|
| 27 |
T |
December 9, 1986 |
5–5 OT |
@ Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) |
5–18–4
|
| 28 |
L |
December 10, 1986 |
3–6 |
@ Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) |
5–19–4
|
| 29 |
L |
December 13, 1986 |
0–7 |
@ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) |
5–20–4
|
| 30 |
W |
December 14, 1986 |
4–3 |
Hartford Whalers (1986–87) |
6–20–4
|
| 31 |
L |
December 17, 1986 |
3–4 |
@ Hartford Whalers (1986–87) |
6–21–4
|
| 32 |
W |
December 19, 1986 |
3–2 |
Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) |
7–21–4
|
| 33 |
L |
December 20, 1986 |
4–5 OT |
@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) |
7–22–4
|
| 34 |
W |
December 23, 1986 |
2–1 |
Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) |
8–22–4
|
| 35 |
T |
December 26, 1986 |
3–3 OT |
Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) |
8–22–5
|
| 36 |
L |
December 28, 1986 |
1–4 |
Calgary Flames (1986–87) |
8–23–5
|
| 37 |
W |
December 31, 1986 |
5–2 |
Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) |
9–23–5
|
|
| Game |
Result |
Date |
Score |
Opponent |
Record
|
| 38 |
L |
January 2, 1987 |
3–6 |
Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) |
9–24–5
|
| 39 |
W |
January 4, 1987 |
7–2 |
Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) |
10–24–5
|
| 40 |
W |
January 7, 1987 |
4–2 |
@ Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) |
11–24–5
|
| 41 |
L |
January 8, 1987 |
4–5 OT |
@ Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) |
11–25–5
|
| 42 |
W |
January 10, 1987 |
8–5 |
@ Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) |
12–25–5
|
| 43 |
T |
January 14, 1987 |
3–3 OT |
Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) |
12–25–6
|
| 44 |
L |
January 17, 1987 |
2–4 |
@ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) |
12–26–6
|
| 45 |
W |
January 18, 1987 |
6–5 OT |
Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) |
13–26–6
|
| 46 |
L |
January 20, 1987 |
0–5 |
@ Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) |
13–27–6
|
| 47 |
L |
January 23, 1987 |
2–3 |
Washington Capitals (1986–87) |
13–28–6
|
| 48 |
W |
January 24, 1987 |
6–3 |
@ Washington Capitals (1986–87) |
14–28–6
|
| 49 |
L |
January 26, 1987 |
2–6 |
@ Boston Bruins (1986–87) |
14–29–6
|
| 50 |
L |
January 28, 1987 |
4–7 |
Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) |
14–30–6
|
| 51 |
W |
January 30, 1987 |
3–1 |
Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) |
15–30–6
|
|
| Game |
Result |
Date |
Score |
Opponent |
Record
|
| 52 |
W |
February 1, 1987 |
6–1 |
Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) |
16–30–6
|
| 53 |
W |
February 4, 1987 |
3–1 |
@ Hartford Whalers (1986–87) |
17–30–6
|
| 54 |
L |
February 7, 1987 |
2–5 |
@ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) |
17–31–6
|
| 55 |
W |
February 8, 1987 |
7–4 |
Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) |
18–31–6
|
| 56 |
W |
February 14, 1987 |
5–1 |
@ New York Islanders (1986–87) |
19–31–6
|
| 57 |
W |
February 18, 1987 |
4–3 |
Boston Bruins (1986–87) |
20–31–6
|
| 58 |
W |
February 20, 1987 |
6–3 |
@ New York Rangers (1986–87) |
21–31–6
|
| 59 |
W |
February 22, 1987 |
5–3 |
Hartford Whalers (1986–87) |
22–31–6
|
| 60 |
L |
February 24, 1987 |
3–6 |
New York Rangers (1986–87) |
22–32–6
|
| 61 |
W |
February 26, 1987 |
4–3 |
St. Louis Blues (1986–87) |
23–32–6
|
| 62 |
L |
February 28, 1987 |
1–5 |
@ Boston Bruins (1986–87) |
23–33–6
|
|
| Game |
Result |
Date |
Score |
Opponent |
Record
|
| 63 |
L |
March 1, 1987 |
2–4 |
Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) |
23–34–6
|
| 64 |
L |
March 3, 1987 |
2–4 |
@ Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) |
23–35–6
|
| 65 |
W |
March 5, 1987 |
6–4 |
New Jersey Devils (1986–87) |
24–35–6
|
| 66 |
T |
March 7, 1987 |
5–5 OT |
@ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) |
24–35–7
|
| 67 |
W |
March 8, 1987 |
5–1 |
Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) |
25–35–7
|
| 68 |
W |
March 11, 1987 |
3–2 |
@ Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) |
26–35–7
|
| 69 |
L |
March 13, 1987 |
4–6 |
@ Vancouver Canucks (1986–87) |
26–36–7
|
| 70 |
L |
March 14, 1987 |
3–5 |
@ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) |
26–37–7
|
| 71 |
L |
March 17, 1987 |
2–6 |
@ Calgary Flames (1986–87) |
26–38–7
|
| 72 |
L |
March 20, 1987 |
2–3 |
Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) |
26–39–7
|
| 73 |
W |
March 22, 1987 |
3–2 |
Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) |
27–39–7
|
| 74 |
L |
March 24, 1987 |
5–6 |
Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) |
27–40–7
|
| 75 |
L |
March 26, 1987 |
3–5 |
Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) |
27–41–7
|
| 76 |
L |
March 28, 1987 |
3–6 |
@ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) |
27–42–7
|
| 77 |
L |
March 29, 1987 |
2–3 |
Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) |
27–43–7
|
|
|
|
|
Legend:
Win (2 points)
Loss (0 points)
Tie (1 point)
|
Player statistics
Awards and records
Transactions
Draft picks
Buffalo's draft picks at the 1986 NHL entry draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.
| Round
|
#
|
Player
|
Nationality
|
College/Junior/Club team (League)
|
| 1 |
5 |
Shawn Anderson |
.svg.png) Canada |
Canadian National Development Team
|
| 2 |
26 |
Greg Brown |
 United States |
St. Mark's School (ISL)
|
| 3 |
47 |
Bob Corkum |
United States |
University of Maine (Hockey East)
|
| 3 |
56 |
Kevin Kerr |
Canada |
Windsor Compuware Spitfires (OHL)
|
| 4 |
68 |
David Baseggio |
Canada |
Yale University (ECAC)
|
| 5 |
89 |
Larry Rooney |
United States |
Thayer Academy (ISL)
|
| 6 |
110 |
Miguel Baldris |
Canada |
Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
|
| 7 |
131 |
Mike Hartman |
United States |
North Bay Centennials (OHL)
|
| 8 |
152 |
Francois Guay |
Canada |
Laval Titan (QMJHL)
|
| 9 |
173 |
Sean Whitham |
Canada |
Providence College (Hockey East)
|
| 10 |
194 |
Kenton Rein |
Canada |
Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
|
| 11 |
215 |
Troy Arndt |
Canada |
Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)
|
| S1 |
4 |
Jeff Capello |
Canada |
University of Vermont (Hockey East)
|
| S2 |
8 |
John Cullen |
Canada |
Boston University (Hockey East)
|
See also
References
- ^ National Hockey League (2010). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011. Triumph Books. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-60078-422-4.
- ^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.
- ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
- ^ "1986-87 Buffalo Sabres Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
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| Patrick | |
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| Adams | |
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| Norris | |
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| Smythe | |
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| See also | |
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