1970–71 Buffalo Sabres season

1970–71 Buffalo Sabres
Division	5th East
1970–71 record	24–39–15
Goals for	217
Goals against	291
Team information
General Manager	Punch Imlach
Coach	Punch Imlach
Captain	Floyd Smith
Arena	Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
Average attendance	9,721
Team leaders
Goals	Gilbert Perreault (38)
Assists	Phil Goyette (46)
Points	Gilbert Perreault (72)
Penalties in minutes	Tracy Pratt (179)
Wins	Joe Daley (12)
Goals against average	Dave Dryden (3.37)
	1971–72>

The 1970–71 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' first season in the National Hockey League.

The Sabres had the first pick in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft, which they used to select Gilbert Perreault. Led by Perreault's 38 goals, the Sabres would 24–39–15, ahead of the Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings in the Eastern Division. However, they finished 19 points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs in the division, and finished 19 points short of a playoff berth

Offseason

The Buffalo Sabres, along with the Vancouver Canucks, joined the NHL in the 1970–71 season. The Sabres' first owners were Seymour and Northrup Knox, scions of a family long prominent in western New York. The team's name, selected through a fan contest, was chosen because it was known as a weapon carried by leaders, and it is also swift and strong on offense as well as defense. The Knoxes had tried twice before to get an NHL team, first when the NHL expanded in 1967, and then unsuccessfully attempting to buy the Oakland Seals with the intent of moving them to Buffalo. At the time of their creation, the Buffalo Sabres exercised their option to create their own AHL farm team, the Cincinnati Swords.

NHL draft

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team
1	1	Gilbert Perreault	Canada	Montreal Junior Canadiens (OHA)
2	15	Butch Deadmarsh	Canada
3	29	Steve Cuddie
4	43	Randy Wyrozub	Canada
5	57	Mike Morton
6	71	Mike Keeler
7	84	Tim Regan
8	97	Doug Rombough	Canada
9	107	Luc Nadeau

Regular season

Punch Imlach

After being fired by the Leafs, it was expected that Imlach would join the NHL's new Vancouver franchise. Imlach, Joe Crozier, and Foster Hewitt had become partners in the Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League and were in line to become owners of the Vancouver NHL team. But they didn't have the financial resources to buy the team, which went to Medical Investment Corporation (Medicor). Medicor bought the WHL Canucks for $2.8 million, with Imlach making a reported gain of more than $250,000. He was offered a job with the NHL Canucks, but instead accepted an offer from the NHL's other expansion team, the Buffalo Sabres, as their first coach and general manager in 1970.

Season standings

East Division

Team	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PIM	Pts
Boston Bruins	78	57	14	7	399	207	1154	121
New York Rangers	78	49	18	11	259	177	952	109
Montreal Canadiens	78	42	23	13	291	216	1271	97
Toronto Maple Leafs	78	37	33	8	248	211	1133	82
Buffalo Sabres	78	24	39	15	217	291	1188	63
Vancouver Canucks	78	24	46	8	229	296	1371	56
Detroit Red Wings	78	22	45	11	209	308	988	55

^[1]

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PIM = Penalty minutes, Pts = Points
       Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Game log

Regular season results
No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	W	October 10, 1970	2–1	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71)	1–0–0
2	L	October 14, 1970	0–3	@ New York Rangers (1970–71)	1–1–0
3	L	October 15, 1970	0–3	Montreal Canadiens (1970–71)	1–2–0
4	L	October 17, 1970	1–4	@ St. Louis Blues (1970–71)	1–3–0
5	T	October 18, 1970	1–1	Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71)	1–3–1
6	L	October 22, 1970	2–4	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71)	1–4–1
7	W	October 23, 1970	4–3	Detroit Red Wings (1970–71)	2–4–1
8	L	October 25, 1970	0–4	Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71)	2–5–1
9	L	October 27, 1970	2–7	@ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71)	2–6–1
10	L	October 30, 1970	1–6	@ California Golden Seals (1970–71)	2–7–1
11	L	November 1, 1970	2–4	@ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71)	2–8–1
12	L	November 5, 1970	1–4	Vancouver Canucks (1970–71)	2–9–1
13	L	November 7, 1970	2–11	@ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71)	2–10–1
14	L	November 8, 1970	1–3	Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71)	2–11–1
15	W	November 13, 1970	4–2	California Golden Seals (1970–71)	3–11–1
16	T	November 15, 1970	2–2	Montreal Canadiens (1970–71)	3–11–2
17	W	November 18, 1970	7–2	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71)	4–11–2
18	L	November 21, 1970	0–3	@ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71)	4–12–2
19	T	November 25, 1970	4–4	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71)	4–12–3
20	T	November 26, 1970	2–2	New York Rangers (1970–71)	4–12–4
21	L	November 29, 1970	1–2	California Golden Seals (1970–71)	4–13–4
22	T	December 3, 1970	4–4	Boston Bruins (1970–71)	4–13–5
23	W	December 6, 1970	1–0	Minnesota North Stars (1970–71)	5–13–5
24	L	December 9, 1970	1–6	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71)	5–14–5
25	L	December 10, 1970	2–8	@ Boston Bruins (1970–71)	5–15–5
26	L	December 12, 1970	3–5	@ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71)	5–16–5
27	L	December 13, 1970	0–4	Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71)	5–17–5
28	L	December 16, 1970	0–4	@ New York Rangers (1970–71)	5–18–5
29	W	December 17, 1970	4–3	Los Angeles Kings (1970–71)	6–18–5
30	L	December 19, 1970	0–2	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71)	6–19–5
31	L	December 20, 1970	2–4	Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71)	6–20–5
32	L	December 22, 1970	2–7	New York Rangers (1970–71)	6–21–5
33	T	December 26, 1970	4–4	@ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71)	6–21–6
34	W	December 27, 1970	5–2	Detroit Red Wings (1970–71)	7–21–6
35	L	January 1, 1971	4–9	Boston Bruins (1970–71)	7–22–6
36	L	January 3, 1971	3–5	Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71)	7–23–6
37	W	January 7, 1971	7–4	Detroit Red Wings (1970–71)	8–23–6
38	L	January 9, 1971	2–3	@ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71)	8–24–6
39	T	January 10, 1971	2–2	Los Angeles Kings (1970–71)	8–24–7
40	L	January 13, 1971	2–4	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71)	8–25–7
41	W	January 14, 1971	2–1	St. Louis Blues (1970–71)	9–25–7
42	W	January 16, 1971	4–3	@ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71)	10–25–7
43	T	January 17, 1971	4–4	Montreal Canadiens (1970–71)	10–25–8
44	T	January 21, 1971	5–5	New York Rangers (1970–71)	10–25–9
45	L	January 23, 1971	1–7	@ St. Louis Blues (1970–71)	10–26–9
46	W	January 24, 1971	6–4	Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71)	11–26–9
47	T	January 27, 1971	3–3	@ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71)	11–26–10
48	W	January 29, 1971	4–2	@ California Golden Seals (1970–71)	12–26–10
49	W	January 31, 1971	6–1	@ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71)	13–26–10
50	W	February 4, 1971	5–2	Los Angeles Kings (1970–71)	14–26–10
51	L	February 6, 1971	3–4	@ Boston Bruins (1970–71)	14–27–10
52	L	February 7, 1971	3–4	Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71)	14–28–10
53	L	February 9, 1971	3–6	@ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71)	14–29–10
54	L	February 10, 1971	1–5	@ California Golden Seals (1970–71)	14–30–10
55	W	February 12, 1971	3–0	California Golden Seals (1970–71)	15–30–10
56	W	February 14, 1971	3–2	Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71)	16–30–10
57	L	February 17, 1971	1–5	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71)	16–31–10
58	T	February 18, 1971	6–6	Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71)	16–31–11
59	L	February 20, 1971	5–6	@ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71)	16–32–11
60	L	February 21, 1971	1–3	St. Louis Blues (1970–71)	16–33–11
61	L	February 23, 1971	3–6	Boston Bruins (1970–71)	16–34–11
62	L	February 25, 1971	2–3	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71)	16–35–11
63	L	February 27, 1971	0–2	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71)	16–36–11
64	W	February 28, 1971	5–2	Minnesota North Stars (1970–71)	17–36–11
65	T	March 3, 1971	3–3	@ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71)	17–36–12
66	T	March 5, 1971	2–2	Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71)	17–36–13
67	W	March 7, 1971	6–3	Vancouver Canucks (1970–71)	18–36–13
68	L	March 13, 1971	0–9	@ St. Louis Blues (1970–71)	18–37–13
69	W	March 14, 1971	5–0	@ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71)	19–37–13
70	W	March 18, 1971	5–3	St. Louis Blues (1970–71)	20–37–13
71	L	March 20, 1971	2–5	@ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71)	20–38–13
72	W	March 21, 1971	7–5	@ Boston Bruins (1970–71)	21–38–13
73	L	March 23, 1971	2–7	@ New York Rangers (1970–71)	21–39–13
74	W	March 26, 1971	3–1	Vancouver Canucks (1970–71)	22–39–13
75	W	March 28, 1971	4–2	Minnesota North Stars (1970–71)	23–39–13
76	W	March 31, 1971	6–4	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71)	24–39–13
77	T	April 1, 1971	3–3	Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71)	24–39–14
78	T	April 4, 1971	3–3	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71)	24–39–15

Player stats

Forwards

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

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Gilbert Perreault	78	38	34	72	19
Phil Goyette	60	15	46	61	6
Gerry Meehan	77	24	31	55	8
Don Marshall	62	20	29	49	6
Eddie Shack	56	25	17	42	93
Steve Atkinson	57	20	18	38	12
Paul Andrea	47	11	21	32	4
Al Hamilton	69	2	28	30	71
Larry Keenan	51	7	20	27	6
Doug Barrie	75	4	23	27	168
Ron Anderson	74	14	12	26	44
Dick Duff	53	7	13	20	12
Floyd Smith	77	6	11	17	46
Reg Fleming	78	6	10	16	159
Jim Watson	78	2	9	11	147
Skip Krake	74	4	5	9	68
Tracy Pratt	76	1	7	8	179

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

Awards and records

• Calder Memorial Trophy: || Gilbert Perreault

References

• Sabres on Hockey Database

1. ^ Standings: NHL Public Relations Department (2008). Dave McCarthy et al. ed. THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE Official Guide & Record Book/2009. National Hockey League. p. 150. ISBN 978-1-894801-14-0. 

Buffalo Sabres Sabres Franchise • Expansion Draft • Players • Coaches • GMs • Seasons • Broadcasters • Records • Draft picks • Sabretooth Culture/lore "The French Connection" • Ted Darling • Rick Jeanneret • The Fog Game • No Goal • 2008 NHL Winter Classic • 2011 NHL Premiere • Taro Tsujimoto • Ronan Tynan • Hockey Night Live! Arenas Buffalo Memorial Auditorium • First Niagara Center Affiliates Rochester Americans (AHL) • Gwinnett Gladiators (ECHL) Owners S. Knox and N. Knox • Rigas • Golisano and Quinn • Pegula Other Radio network • Buffalo Sabres Alumni Hockey Team • Buffalo Jr. Sabres • Buffalo Bandits

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

Buffalo Sabres head coaches Imlach Crozier Smith Pronovost Inglis Bowman Neilson Bowman Schoenfeld Bowman Ramsay Sator Dudley Muckler Nolan Ruff

1970–71 NHL season by team East Boston • Buffalo • Detroit • Montreal • New York • Toronto • Vancouver West California • Chicago • Los Angeles • Minnesota • Philadelphia • Pittsburgh • St. Louis See also 1970 NHL Amateur Draft • All-Star Game • 1971 Stanley Cup Finals