1985–86 Buffalo Sabres season

1985–86 Buffalo Sabres
1985–86 Buffalo Sabres
Division	5th Adams
Conference	8th Wales
1985–86 record	37–37–6
Home record	23–16–1
Road record	14–21–5
Goals for	296
Goals against	291
Team information
General manager	Scotty Bowman
Coach	Jim Schoenfeld; Scotty Bowman
Captain	Gilbert Perreault
Alternate captains	Larry Playfair; Lindy Ruff
Arena	Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
Team leaders
Goals	Mike Foligno (41)
Assists	Dave Andreychuk (51)
Points	Dave Andreychuk (87)
Penalty minutes	Mike Foligno (168)
Plus/minus	Mike Foligno (+27)
Wins	Tom Barrasso (29)
Goals against average	Jacques Cloutier (3.37)

The 1985–86 Buffalo Sabres season was the 16th season for the franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL). It saw the Sabres finish in last place in the Adams Division with a record of 37 wins, 37 losses, and 6 ties for 80 points. They missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 1974.

Offseason

Regular season

Divisional standings

Adams Division
	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
Quebec Nordiques	80	43	31	6	330	289	92
Montreal Canadiens	80	40	33	7	330	280	87
Boston Bruins	80	37	31	12	311	288	86
Hartford Whalers	80	40	36	4	332	302	84
	80	37	37	6	296	291	80

^[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.

Record vs. opponents

Adams Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Wales Conference

Vs. Adams Division

1985–86 NHL records^[2]
Team	BOS	BUF	HFD	MTL	QUE	Total
Boston	—	3–3–2	4–3–1	3–4–1	1–5–2	11–15–6
	3–3–2	—	2–6	3–5	4–4	12–18–2
Hartford	3–4–1	6–2	—	3–4–1	4–4	16–14–2
Montreal	4–3–1	5–3	4–3−1	—	2–6	15–15–2
Quebec	5–1–2	4–4	4–4	6–2	—	19–11–2

Vs. Patrick Division

1985–86 NHL records
Team	NJD	NYI	NYR	PHI	PIT	WSH	Total
Boston	3–0	0–1–2	1–2	1–2	2–1	0–2–1	7–8–3
	2–1	2–1	3–0	2–1	0–2–1	1–1–1	10–6–2
Hartford	2–1	1–2	2–1	0–3	2–1	0–2–1	7–10–1
Montreal	2–1	2–1	0–2–1	1–2	2–0–1	0–2–1	7–8–3
Quebec	1–2	2–1	2–0–1	1–1–1	1–1–1	0–3	7–8–3

Vs. Campbell Conference

Vs. Norris Division

1985–86 NHL records
Team	CHI	DET	MIN	STL	TOR	Total
Boston	1–2	2–1	3–0	1–2	2–0–1	9–5–1
	1–2	1–1–1	2–1	2–1	1–2	7–7–1
Hartford	1–2	2–1	1–2	1–1–1	3–0	8–6–1
Montreal	2–0–1	3–0	1–1–1	1–2	2–1	9–4–2
Quebec	2–1	2–1	2–1	1–2	3–0	10–5–0

Vs. Smythe Division

1985–86 NHL records
Team	CGY	EDM	LAK	VAN	WIN	Total
Boston	2–1	1–2	3–0	1–0–2	3–0	10–3–2
	1–1–1	2–1	1–2	2–1	2–1	8–6–1
Hartford	2–1	0–3	2–1	3–0	2–1	9–6–0
Montreal	2–1	0–3	2–1	3–0	2–1	9–6–0
Quebec	2–1	1–2	2–1	1–1–1	1–2	7–7–1

Schedule and results

1985–86 regular season^[3]

October

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	L	October 10, 1985	4–5	Hartford Whalers (1985–86)	0–1–0
2	W	October 12, 1985	6–2	@ Minnesota North Stars (1985–86)	1–1–0
3	W	October 14, 1985	6–1	Detroit Red Wings (1985–86)	2–1–0
4	W	October 16, 1985	6–0	@ Montreal Canadiens (1985–86)	3–1–0
5	L	October 18, 1985	1–4	Washington Capitals (1985–86)	3–2–0
6	T	October 19, 1985	2–2 OT	@ Washington Capitals (1985–86)	3–2–1
7	L	October 23, 1985	4–5	Montreal Canadiens (1985–86)	3–3–1
8	W	October 25, 1985	5–4	Vancouver Canucks (1985–86)	4–3–1
9	W	October 27, 1985	3–2	Minnesota North Stars (1985–86)	5–3–1
10	L	October 30, 1985	2–4	@ Calgary Flames (1985–86)	5–4–1

November

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
11	W	November 1, 1985	2–0	@ Edmonton Oilers (1985–86)	6–4–1
12	L	November 2, 1985	2–6	@ Vancouver Canucks (1985–86)	6–5–1
13	W	November 6, 1985	7–3	Winnipeg Jets (1985–86)	7–5–1
14	W	November 8, 1985	5–4	St. Louis Blues (1985–86)	8–5–1
15	W	November 10, 1985	5–1	Calgary Flames (1985–86)	9–5–1
16	W	November 13, 1985	6–4	Boston Bruins (1985–86)	10–5–1
17	L	November 16, 1985	1–3	@ Quebec Nordiques (1985–86)	10–6–1
18	L	November 17, 1985	3–5	Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86)	10–7–1
19	W	November 19, 1985	2–0	@ Hartford Whalers (1985–86)	11–7–1
20	W	November 22, 1985	7–5	Quebec Nordiques (1985–86)	12–7–1
21	L	November 25, 1985	3–4	Minnesota North Stars (1985–86)	12–8–1
22	L	November 27, 1985	1–4	@ Detroit Red Wings (1985–86)	12–9–1
23	L	November 29, 1985	2–5	Montreal Canadiens (1985–86)	12–10–1
24	L	November 30, 1985	2–3 OT	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86)	12–11–1

December

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
25	W	December 4, 1985	6–3	@ St. Louis Blues (1985–86)	13–11–1
26	L	December 6, 1985	1–3	Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86)	13–12–1
27	T	December 8, 1985	3–3 OT	@ Boston Bruins (1985–86)	13–12–2
28	L	December 10, 1985	3–7	@ Quebec Nordiques (1985–86)	13–13–2
29	L	December 13, 1985	4–6	Hartford Whalers (1985–86)	13–14–2
30	W	December 15, 1985	6–2	Quebec Nordiques (1985–86)	14–14–2
31	L	December 17, 1985	3–7	@ New York Islanders (1985–86)	14–15–2
32	W	December 18, 1985	5–4	@ New York Rangers (1985–86)	15–15–2
33	L	December 21, 1985	1–3	@ Montreal Canadiens (1985–86)	15–16–2
34	W	December 22, 1985	5–3	Boston Bruins (1985–86)	16–16–2
35	W	December 26, 1985	6–1	New York Rangers (1985–86)	17–16–2
36	W	December 29, 1985	4–3	New York Islanders (1985–86)	18–16–2
37	T	December 31, 1985	6–6 OT	Boston Bruins (1985–86)	18–16–3

January

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
38	T	January 2, 1986	2–2 OT	@ Detroit Red Wings (1985–86)	18–16–4
39	L	January 4, 1986	0–4	@ Boston Bruins (1985–86)	18–17–4
40	L	January 5, 1986	2–3	Los Angeles Kings (1985–86)	18–18–4
41	W	January 10, 1986	9–7	Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86)	19–18–4
42	T	January 11, 1986	3–3 OT	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86)	19–18–5
43	L	January 15, 1986	2–4	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86)	19–19–5
44	W	January 17, 1986	5–4 OT	Montreal Canadiens (1985–86)	20–19–5
45	W	January 19, 1986	6–3	@ New Jersey Devils (1985–86)	21–19–5
46	W	January 22, 1986	6–3	Winnipeg Jets (1985–86)	22–19–5
47	L	January 24, 1986	3–5	Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86)	22–20–5
48	L	January 25, 1986	3–4	@ Quebec Nordiques (1985–86)	22–21–5
49	L	January 27, 1986	1–4	@ Montreal Canadiens (1985–86)	22–22–5
50	L	January 29, 1986	3–5	@ Winnipeg Jets (1985–86)	22–23–5
51	W	January 31, 1986	5–3	New York Rangers (1985–86)	23–23–5

February

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
52	W	February 2, 1986	5–3	Quebec Nordiques (1985–86)	24–23–5
53	W	February 6, 1986	8–6	@ Boston Bruins (1985–86)	25–23–5
54	W	February 8, 1986	4–2	@ Hartford Whalers (1985–86)	26–23–5
55	W	February 9, 1986	4–2	Edmonton Oilers (1985–86)	27–23–5
56	L	February 12, 1986	0–4	Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86)	27–24–5
57	T	February 14, 1986	3–3 OT	@ Calgary Flames (1985–86)	27–24–6
58	L	February 16, 1986	5–7	@ Edmonton Oilers (1985–86)	27–25–6
59	L	February 19, 1986	4–6	Hartford Whalers (1985–86)	27–26–6
60	W	February 21, 1986	5–1	New York Islanders (1985–86)	28–26–6
61	W	February 23, 1986	4–1	Washington Capitals (1985–86)	29–26–6
62	L	February 26, 1986	2–5	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86)	29–27–6
63	L	February 28, 1986	2–6	Quebec Nordiques (1985–86)	29–28–6

March

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
64	W	March 1, 1986	8–4	@ Quebec Nordiques (1985–86)	30–28–6
65	W	March 4, 1986	6–4	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86)	31–28–6
66	L	March 5, 1986	1–5	@ Hartford Whalers (1985–86)	31–29–6
67	L	March 7, 1986	2–6	Hartford Whalers (1985–86)	31–30–6
68	W	March 9, 1986	4–3	New Jersey Devils (1985–86)	32–30–6
69	L	March 11, 1986	2–3 OT	@ St. Louis Blues (1985–86)	32–31–6
70	W	March 12, 1986	7–6	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86)	33–31–6
71	L	March 15, 1986	3–5	@ Los Angeles Kings (1985–86)	33–32–6
72	W	March 19, 1986	4–3	@ Vancouver Canucks (1985–86)	34–32–6
73	L	March 21, 1986	3–6	New Jersey Devils (1985–86)	34–33–6
74	W	March 23, 1986	6–1	Los Angeles Kings (1985–86)	35–33–6
75	W	March 27, 1986	1–0	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86)	36–33–6
76	L	March 29, 1986	1–2	@ Boston Bruins (1985–86)	36–34–6
77	L	March 30, 1986	3–5	Boston Bruins (1985–86)	36–35–6

April

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
78	L	April 1, 1986	3–5	@ Hartford Whalers (1985–86)	36–36–6
79	W	April 4, 1986	4–2	Montreal Canadiens (1985–86)	37–36–6
80	L	April 5, 1986	2–4	@ Montreal Canadiens (1985–86)	37–37–6

Legend: Win (2 points) Loss (0 points) Tie (1 point)

Player statistics

Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Dave Andreychuk	80	36	51	87	61
Mike Foligno	79	41	39	80	168
John Tucker	75	31	34	65	39
Phil Housley	79	15	47	62	54
Gilbert Perreault	72	21	39	60	28
Lindy Ruff	54	20	12	32	158
Mike Ramsey	76	7	21	28	117
Steve Dykstra	64	4	21	25	108
Bill Hajt	58	1	16	17	25
Normand Lacombe	25	6	7	13	13

Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	OT	GA	SO	SV%	GAA

Awards and records

Transactions

Draft picks

Buffalo's picks at the 1985 NHL entry draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	14	Calle Johansson	Defense	Sweden	Västra Frölunda HC (Sweden)
2	35	Benoit Hogue	Left wing	Canada	St. Jean Beavers (QMJHL)
3	56	Keith Gretzky	Forward	Canada	Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
4	77	Dave Moylan	Defense	Canada	Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
5	98	Ken Priestlay	Center	Canada	Victoria Cougars (WHL)
6	119	Joe Reekie	Defense	Canada	Cornwall Royals (OHL)
7	140	Petri Matikainen	Defense	Finland	SaPKO (Finland)
8	161	Trent Kaese	Right wing	Canada	Lethbridge Broncos (WHL)
9	182	Jiri Sejba	Forward	Czechoslovakia	Dukla Jihlava (Czechoslovakia)
10	203	Boyd Sutton	Center	United States	Stratford Cullitons (OPJHL)
11	224	Guy Larose	Center	Canada	Guelph Platers (OHL)
12	245	Ken Baumgartner	Left wing	Canada	Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

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.
^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
^ "1985-86 Buffalo Sabres Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 25, 2025.

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

[Gamelog-3] "1985-86 Buffalo Sabres Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 25, 2025.

[1]

[2]

[3]

Buffalo Sabres
Founded in 1970 Based in Buffalo, New York
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Buffalo Sabres seasons
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1985–86 NHL season
Patrick	New Jersey NY Islanders NY Rangers Philadelphia Pittsburgh Washington
Adams	Boston Hartford Montreal Quebec
Norris	Chicago Detroit Minnesota St. Louis Toronto
Smythe	Calgary Edmonton Los Angeles Vancouver Winnipeg
See also	Draft Waiver draft All-Star Game Monday Night Miracle Stanley Cup playoffs Stanley Cup Finals