Then - bang - the Sabres reached the Stanley Cup Final in 1975 and didn’t miss the playoffs for 11 years. They were overwhelmingly supported through the first few years. Experience from Tim Horton, Dick Duff, Eddie Shack, Floyd Smith and Roger Crozier provided gravitas. Other young stars such as Craig Ramsay and Jim Schoenfeld emerged. Gilbert Perreault centered Rick Martin and Rene Robert. You’ll notice no players from the 1970s, a honeymoon phase that prevented anyone from being truly polarizing.īuffalo was delighted merely to have a franchise when it launched in 1970-71. No blame or forgiveness was applied for what he did elsewhere or through retrospection years into retirement. The list is “of the moment,” meaning consideration was given only to how that player was viewed while he was with the Sabres. NOTE: In standings a victory in a shootout counts as one goal for, while a shootout loss counts as one goal against.With the Sabres finally on the upswing and seemingly on the verge of ending their NHL-worst playoff famine, witnessing the inevitable scene likely won’t be as difficult as Ryan O’Reilly earning the Conn Smythe Trophy a year after he claimed Buffalo ruined his love of the game and got traded.īut with Eichel in the spotlight as a top playoff MVP candidate himself, let’s see where Captain Jack rates among the most polarizing names in Sabres history, the players who generated the spiciest love-hate debates. This figure is reflected in the GF column. The greater number of goals scored (including goals scored in Overtime or awarded for prevailing in Shootouts) for the entire regular season. This figure is reflected in the DIFF column. The greater differential between goals for and against (including goals scored in Overtime or awarded for prevailing in Shootouts) for the entire regular season. When more than two Clubs are tied, the percentage of available points earned in games among each other (and not including any 'odd games') shall be used to determine standing. For the purpose of determining standing for two or more Clubs that have not played an even number of games with one or more of the other tied Clubs, the first game played in the city that has the extra game (the 'odd game') shall not be included.

The greater number of points earned in games against each other among two or more tied clubs. This figure is reflected in the W column. The greater number of games won by the Club in any manner (i.e, 'Total Wins'). This figure is reflected in the ROW column. The greater number of games won, excluding games won by Shootout. This figure is reflected in the RW column. The greater number of games won, excluding games won in Overtime or by Shootout (i.e., 'Regulation Wins'). The fewer number of games played (i.e., superior points percentage). If two or more clubs are tied in points during the regular season, the standing of the clubs is determined in the following order: In the Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Final, home-ice advantage goes to the team that had the better regular-season record - regardless of the teams' final standing in their respective divisions. Home-ice advantage through the first two rounds goes to the team that placed higher in the regular-season standings. First-round winners within each bracket play one another in the Second Round to determine the four participants in the Conference Finals.

The teams finishing second and third in each division will meet in the First Round within the bracket headed by their respective division winners. In the First Round, the division winner with the best record in each conference will be matched against the wild-card team with the lesser record the wild card team with the better record will play the other division winner. It is possible for one division in each conference to send five teams to the postseason while the other sends just three. The remaining four spots will be filled by the next two highest-placed finishers in each conference, based on regular-season record and regardless of division. The top three teams in each division will make up the first 12 teams in the playoffs. The format is a set bracket that is largely division-based with wild cards. 16 teams will qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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