2008–09 Buffalo Sabres season

NHL hockey team season

2008–09 Buffalo Sabres
Division3rd Northeast
Conference10th Eastern
2008–09 record41–32–9
Home record23–15–3
Road record18–17–6
Goals for250
Goals against234
Team information
General managerDarcy Regier
CoachLindy Ruff
CaptainCraig Rivet
Alternate captainsJochen Hecht
Teppo Numminen
Jason Pominville
Jaroslav Spacek
ArenaHSBC Arena
Average attendanceAverage: 18,533
Capacity: 99.2%
Total: 296,522
Team leaders
GoalsThomas Vanek (40)
AssistsJason Pominville (46)
PointsDerek Roy (70)
Penalty minutesCraig Rivet (125)
Plus/minusTim Connolly (+12)
WinsRyan Miller (34)
Goals against averageRyan Miller (2.53)

The 2008–09 Buffalo Sabres season was the 39th season of operation for the Buffalo Sabres in the National Hockey League, their 38th season of play.

Pre-season

In their second pre-season game, the Sabres played the Montreal Canadiens in Roberval, Quebec, the 2008 winner of the Kraft Hockeyville contest. In their newly renovated arena, Roberval hosted the preseason game on Tuesday, September 23, 2008. Montreal scored the first three goals, then held off Buffalo for a 3–2 win in at Benoit-Levesque Arena.[1]

2008 Pre-season Game Log: 2–4–1 (Home: 1–0–1 ; Road: 1–4–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap
1 September 22 Buffalo 4–7 Toronto Enroth 18,819 0–1–0 [1]
2 September 23 Buffalo 2–3 Montreal† Dennis ? 0–2–0 [2]
3 September 27 Toronto 2–3 Buffalo OT Miller 14,629 1–2–0 [3]
4 September 28 Minnesota 2–1 Buffalo SO Lalime 17,311 1–2–1 [4]
5 October 1 Buffalo 2–3 Minnesota Miller 18,064 1–3–1 [5]
6 October 2 Buffalo 5–2 Columbus Lalime 11,314 2–3–1 [6]
7 October 5 Buffalo 0–3 Detroit Miller 15,983 2–4–1 [7]
†Game was played in Roberval, Quebec.

Regular season

Divisional standings

Northeast Division
GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1 z – Boston Bruins 82 53 19 10 274 196 116
2 Montreal Canadiens 82 41 30 11 249 247 93
3 Buffalo Sabres 82 41 32 9 250 234 91
4 Ottawa Senators 82 36 35 11 217 237 83
5 Toronto Maple Leafs 82 34 35 13 250 293 81

Conference standings

Eastern Conference
R Div GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1 z – Boston Bruins NE 82 53 19 10 274 196 116
2 y – Washington Capitals SE 82 50 24 8 272 245 108
3 y – New Jersey Devils AT 82 51 27 4 244 209 106
4 Pittsburgh Penguins AT 82 45 28 9 264 239 99
5 Philadelphia Flyers AT 82 44 27 11 264 238 99
6 Carolina Hurricanes SE 82 45 30 7 239 226 97
7 New York Rangers AT 82 43 30 9 210 218 95
8 Montreal Canadiens NE 82 41 30 11 249 247 93
8.5
9 Florida Panthers SE 82 41 30 11 234 231 93
10 Buffalo Sabres NE 82 41 32 9 250 234 91
11 Ottawa Senators NE 82 36 35 11 217 237 83
12 Toronto Maple Leafs NE 82 34 35 13 250 293 81
13 Atlanta Thrashers SE 82 35 41 6 257 280 76
14 Tampa Bay Lightning SE 82 24 40 18 210 279 66
15 New York Islanders AT 82 26 47 9 201 279 61

bold – qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, z – placed first in conference (and division)

AT – Atlantic Division, NE – Northeast Division, SE – Southeast Division


Schedule and results

  • Green background indicates win (2 points).
  • Red background indicates regulation loss (0 points).
  • White background indicates overtime/shootout loss (1 point).
2008–09 Game Log
October: 6–2–2 (Home: 3–2–0 ; Road: 3–0–2)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
1 October 10 Montreal 1–2 Buffalo SO Miller 18,690 1–0–0 2 [8]
2 October 13 Buffalo 7–1 NY Islanders Lalime 13,523 2–0–0 4 [9]
3 October 15 Buffalo 3–1 NY Rangers Miller 18,200 3–0–0 6 [10]
4 October 17 Vancouver 2–5 Buffalo Miller 18,449 4–0–0 8 [11]
5 October 18 Buffalo 2–3 Atlanta SO Lalime 14,091 4–0–1 9 [12]
6 October 21 Boston 2–3 Buffalo SO Miller 18,334 5–0–1 11 [13]
7 October 23 Buffalo 4–3 Minnesota OT Miller 18,568 6–0–1 13 [14]
8 October 25 Buffalo 1–2 Colorado SO Miller 18,007 6–0–2 14 [15]
9 October 27 Ottawa 5–2 Buffalo Lalime 18,690 6–1–2 14 [16]
10 October 30 Tampa Bay 5–2 Buffalo Miller 18,690 6–2–2 14 [17]
November: 5–7–1 (Home: 4–3–1 ; Road: 1–4–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
11 November 1 Washington 0–5 Buffalo Miller 18,690 7–2–2 16 [18]
12 November 3 Buffalo 2–0 New Jersey Miller 10,567 8–2–2 18 [19]
13 November 7 Atlanta 5–4 Buffalo OT Miller 18,466 8–2–3 19 [20]
14 November 8 Buffalo 1–3 Boston Miller 17,565 8–3–3 19 [21]
15 November 12 St Louis 3–4 Buffalo Miller 18,690 9–3–3 21 [22]
16 November 14 Columbus 6–1 Buffalo Lalime 18,690 9–4–3 21 [23]
17 November 15 Buffalo 2–5 Pittsburgh Miller 17,132 9–5–3 21 [24]
18 November 19 Buffalo 4–7 Boston Miller 15,623 9–6–3 21 [25]
19 November 21 Philadelphia 3–0 Buffalo Miller 18,256 9–7–3 21 [26]
20 November 22 NY Islanders 4–2 Buffalo Lalime 18,529 9–8–3 21 [27]
21 November 26 Boston 2–3 Buffalo Miller 18,326 10–8–3 23 [28]
22 November 28 Pittsburgh 3–4 Buffalo Miller 18,690 11–8–3 25 [29]
23 November 29 Buffalo 2–3 Montreal Lalime 21,273 11–9–3 25 [30]
December: 6–6–2 (Home: 3–4–1 ; Road: 3–2–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
24 December 1 Nashville 2–0 Buffalo Miller 18,690 11–10–3 25 [31]
25 December 4 Buffalo 1–2 Florida Miller 13,123 11–11–3 25 [32]
26 December 6 Buffalo 4–3 Tampa Bay Miller 17,154 12–11–3 27 [33]
27 December 8 Buffalo 4–3 Pittsburgh Miller 16,976 13–11–3 29 [34]
28 December 10 Tampa Bay 2–4 Buffalo Miller 18,431 14–11–3 31 [35]
29 December 12 Toronto 2–1 Buffalo Miller 18,211 14–12–3 31 [36]
30 December 13 Buffalo 4–2 New Jersey Lalime 15,713 15–12–3 33 [37]
31 December 17 New Jersey 5–3 Buffalo Miller 18,690 15–13–3 33 [38]
32 December 19 Los Angeles 0–5 Buffalo Miller 18,147 16–13–3 35 [39]
33 December 20 Buffalo 3–4 Montreal OT Miller 21,273 16–13–4 36 [40]
34 December 22 Pittsburgh 4–3 Buffalo OT Miller 18,690 16–13–5 37 [41]
35 December 26 Buffalo 2–3 Washington Lalime 18,277 16–14–5 37 [42]
36 December 27 NY Islanders 3–4 Buffalo SO Miller 18,690 17–14–5 39 [43]
37 December 30 Washington 4–2 Buffalo Miller 18,690 17–15–5 39 [44]
January: 9–4–0 (Home: 3–0–0 ; Road: 6–4–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
38 January 1 Buffalo 4–1 Toronto Miller 19,176 18–15–5 41 [45]
39 January 3 Buffalo 4–2 Boston Miller 17,565 19–15–5 43 [46]
40 January 6 Ottawa 2–4 Buffalo Miller 18,443 20–15–5 45 [47]
41 January 9 NY Rangers 1–2 Buffalo SO Miller 18,385 21–15–5 47 [48]
42 January 10 Buffalo 1–3 Detroit Miller 20,066 21–16–5 47 [49]
43 January 14 Buffalo 1–4 Chicago Lalime 21,684 21–17–5 47 [50]
44 January 15 Buffalo 5–4 Dallas SO Miller 17,339 22–17–5 49 [51]
45 January 17 Carolina 1–3 Buffalo Miller 18,690 23–17–5 51 [52]
46 January 19 Buffalo 3–2 Florida SO Miller 12,480 24–17–5 53 [53]
47 January 21 Buffalo 3–5 Tampa Bay Miller 15,611 24–18–5 53 [54]
48 January 27 Buffalo 10–2 Edmonton Miller 16,839 25–18–5 55 [55]
49 January 28 Buffalo 2–5 Calgary Miller 19,289 25–19–5 55 [56]
50 January 31 Buffalo 2–0 Phoenix Miller 16,253 26–19–5 57 [57]
February: 5–6–2 (Home: 4–3–0 ; Road: 1–3–2)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
51 February 2 Buffalo 2–3 Anaheim Lalime 16,874 26–20–5 57 [58]
52 February 4 Toronto 0–5 Buffalo Miller 17,355 27–20–5 59 [59]
53 February 6 Montreal 2–3 Buffalo Miller 18,161 28–20–5 61 [60]
54 February 7 Buffalo 2–3 Ottawa SO Miller 18,452 28–20–6 62 [61]
55 February 11 Ottawa 3–1 Buffalo Miller 18,690 28–21–6 62 [62]
56 February 13 San Jose 5–6 Buffalo SO Miller 18,690 29–21–6 64 [63]
57 February 15 Carolina 3–0 Buffalo Miller 18,690 29–22–6 64 [64]
58 February 17 Buffalo 4–1 Toronto Miller 19,287 30–22–6 66 [65]
59 February 19 Buffalo 3–6 Philadelphia Miller 19,642 30–23–6 66 [66]
60 February 21 NY Rangers 2–4 Buffalo Miller 18,690 31–23–6 68 [67]
61 February 24 Anaheim 3–2 Buffalo Lalime 18,690 31–24–6 68 [68]
62 February 26 Buffalo 1–2 Carolina SO Lalime 18,219 31–24–7 69 [69]
63 February 28 Buffalo 0–2 NY Islanders Lalime 14,198 31–25–7 69 [70]
March: 6–5–1 (Home: 5–1–1 ; Road: 1–4–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
64 March 4 Montreal 1–5 Buffalo Lalime 17,745 32–25–7 71 [71]
65 March 6 Phoenix 1–5 Buffalo Lalime 18,690 33–25–7 73 [72]
66 March 7 Buffalo 3–6 Ottawa Lalime 18,444 33–26–7 73 [73]
67 March 10 Buffalo 2–5 Philadelphia Lalime 19,421 33–27–7 73 [74]
68 March 12 Florida 1–3 Buffalo Lalime 18,690 34–27–7 75 [75]
69 March 14 Atlanta 4–3 Buffalo SO Lalime 18,690 34–27–8 76 [76]
70 March 17 Buffalo 2–4 Ottawa Tellqvist 20,053 34–28–8 76 [77]
71 March 20 Philadelphia 6–4 Buffalo Lalime 18,690 34–29–8 76 [78]
72 March 21 Buffalo 3–5 NY Rangers Lalime 18,200 34–30–8 76 [79]
73 March 25 Florida 3–5 Buffalo Tellqvist 18,690 35–30–8 78 [80]
74 March 27 Toronto 3–5 Buffalo Miller 18,620 36–30–8 80 [81]
75 March 28 Buffalo 4–3 Montreal SO Miller 21,273 37–30–8 82 [82]
April: 4–2–1 (Home: 1–2–0 ; Road: 3–0–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
76 April 1 Buffalo 2–3 Atlanta OT Miller 15,038 37–30–9 83 [2]
77 April 3 Buffalo 5–4 Washington OT Miller 18,277 38–30–9 85 [3]
78 April 4 New Jersey 2–3 Buffalo Miller 18,690 38–31–9 85 [83]
79 April 6 Detroit 1–4 Buffalo Miller 18,690 38–32–9 85 [84]
80 April 8 Buffalo 3–1 Toronto Miller 19,516 39–32–9 87 [85]
81 April 9 Buffalo 5-1 Carolina Miller 18,513 40–32–9 89 [86]
82 April 11 Boston 1-6 Buffalo Tellqvist 18,690 41-32-9 91 [87]

Playoffs

The Buffalo Sabres failed to qualify for the 2009 NHL Playoffs.

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular season
Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM
Derek Roy 82 28 42 70 -5 38
Jason Pominville 82 20 46 66 -4 18
Thomas Vanek 73 40 24 64 -1 44
Tim Connolly 48 18 29 47 +12 22
Jaroslav Spacek 80 8 37 45 +2 38
Drew Stafford 79 20 25 45 +3 29
Ales Kotalik‡ 56 13 19 32 -7 28
Clarke MacArthur 71 17 14 31 -4 56
Paul Gaustad 62 12 17 29 +4 108
Jochen Hecht 70 12 15 27 -9 33
Daniel Paille 73 12 15 27 0 20
Craig Rivet 64 2 22 24 +4 125
Toni Lydman 80 3 20 23 0 70
Maxim Afinogenov 48 6 14 20 -7 20
Adam Mair 75 8 11 19 +4 95
Andrej Sekera 69 3 16 19 -11 22
Teppo Numminen 57 2 15 17 -4 22
Henrik Tallinder 66 1 11 12 -2 36
Matt Ellis 45 7 5 12 +4 12
Patrick Kaleta 51 4 5 9 +1 89
Nathan Paetsch 23 2 4 6 +3 25
Chris Butler 47 2 4 6 +11 18
Dominic Moore† 18 1 3 4 -1 23
Mark Mancari 7 1 1 2 -4 4
Nathan Gerbe 10 0 1 1 +3 4
Andrew Peters 28 0 1 1 -2 81
Marc-Andre Gragnani 4 0 0 0 +2 2
Tim Kennedy 1 0 0 0 0 0
Mike Weber 7 0 0 0 -3 19

Goaltenders

Regular season
Player GP Min W L OT GA GAA SA SV Sv% SO
Ryan Miller 59 3443 34 18 6 145 2.53 1773 1628 .918 5
Patrick Lalime 24 1296 5 13 3 67 3.10 669 602 .900 0
Mikael Tellqvis† 6 230 2 1 0 9 2.35 125 116 .928 0

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Sabres. Stats reflect time with Sabres only.
‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Sabres only.

Note:
Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Awards and records

Records

Milestones

Regular Season
Player Milestone Date achieved
Jason Pominville 100th NHL assist October 13, 2008
Thomas Vanek 200th NHL point October 15, 2008
Lindy Ruff 400th NHL win October 15, 2008
Patrick Lalime 400th NHL appearance October 27, 2008
Mark Mancari 1st NHL goal November 22, 2008
Nathan Gerbe 1st NHL game December 6, 2008
Nathan Gerbe 1st NHL assist December 13, 2008
Chris Butler 1st NHL game
1st NHL assist		 December 19, 2008
Tim Kennedy 1st NHL game December 27, 2008
Derek Roy 100th NHL Goal February 13, 2009
Drew Stafford 100th NHL Point February 13, 2009

Transactions

Trades

June 20, 2008 To Buffalo Sabres
1st-round pick (12th overall) in 2008 		To Los Angeles Kings
1st-round pick (13th overall) in 2008
3rd-round pick in 2009
June 21, 2008 To Buffalo Sabres
3rd-round pick (81st overall) in 2008
4th-round pick (101st overall) in 2008 		To Los Angeles Kings
3rd-round pick (74th overall) in 2008
July 4, 2008 To Buffalo Sabres
Craig Rivet
7th-round pick in 2010 		To San Jose Sharks
2nd-round pick in 2009
2nd-round pick in 2010
July 4, 2008 To Buffalo Sabres
3rd-round pick in 2009
2nd-round pick in 2010 		To Vancouver Canucks
Steve Bernier
March 4, 2009 To Buffalo Sabres
Mikael Tellqvist 		To Phoenix Coyotes
4th-round pick in 2010
March 4, 2009 To Buffalo Sabres
Dominic Moore 		To Toronto Maple Leafs
2nd-round pick in 2009
March 4, 2009 To Buffalo Sabres
2nd-round pick in 2009 		To Edmonton Oilers
Ales Kotalik

Free agents

Player Former team Contract Terms
Patrick Lalime Chicago Blackhawks 2 years, $2 million
Mathieu Darche Tampa Bay Lightning 1 Year, $500,000
Player New team
Dmitri Kalinin New York Rangers

Claimed from waivers

Player Former team Date claimed off waivers
Matt Ellis Los Angeles Kings October 1

Draft picks

Buffalo's picks at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft in Ottawa, Ontario.

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College/Junior Team
1 12 Tyler Myers D  Canada Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
1 26 Tyler Ennis C  Canada Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
2 44 Luke Adam C  Canada St. John's Fog Devils (QMJHL)
3 81 Corey Fienhage D  United States Eastview High School (USHS-MN)
4 101 Justin Jokinen RW  United States Cloquet High School (USHS-MN)
4 104 Jordon Southorn D  United States P.E.I. Rocket (QMJHL)
5 134 Jacob Lagace LW  Canada Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)
6 164 Nick Crawford D  Canada Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

See also

Farm teams

On June 11, the Buffalo Sabres signed a three-year deal with the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League, ending a 29-year affiliation with the Rochester Americans.[4]

References

  1. ^ Montreal defeats Buffalo in Hockeyville, CA[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "NHL.com - Recap: Sabres @ Thrashers - 04/01/2009". Archived from the original on April 5, 2009. Retrieved April 2, 2009.
  3. ^ "NHL.com - Game Boxscore: Sabres @ Capitals - 04/03/2009". Archived from the original on April 6, 2009. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
  4. ^ "Sabres end 29-year affiliation with Rochester, switch to Portland". ESPN. ESPN. Associated Press. June 11, 2008. Retrieved June 11, 2008.
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