October 25, 2026
October 25, 2026
1992-1993 Buffalo Sabres: Exploding Offense
The 1990s were another good decade of hockey for the Buffalo Sabres, who competed with some of the NHL’s best teams night in and night out. The early 1990s in particular had their fair share of offensive explosiveness, as the Sabres showed other teams how dangerous they could be. Barring a 13-21-8 record on the road, the 1992-1993 Buffalo Sabres were well equipped to win.
The 1992-1993 Buffalo Sabres went 38-36-10 with 86 points, finishing 23 points behind the Boston Bruins in the Adams Division. The Sabres went 25-15-2 on home ice at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. In head-to-head play, the Sabres went 6-1-2 against the Hartford Whalers, 5-1-1 against the Ottawa Senators, 2-0 against the Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning and Winnipeg Jets, 2-1-1 against the New York Rangers and 2-2 against the Washington Capitals.
During the regular season, the Sabres enjoyed a 6-game winning streak that began on December 31 with an 11-6 win over the New York Rangers and concluded on January 10 with a 5-3 win over the Calgary Flames.
Right winger Alexander Mogilny had 76 goals and 51 assists for 127 points, with 27 power play goals, 21 power play assists and 11 game-winning goals on 360 shots. Center Pat LaFontaine was the heart and soul of the Sabres, and he led by example whenever the team found itself in tight situations. LaFontaine had 53 goals and 95 assists for 148 points, with 20 power play goals, 43 power play assists and 7 game-winning goals on 306 shots. His 148 points were a personal best and a Sabres team record for the most points scored by an American-born player in a single season.
Left winger Dave Andreychuk had 29 goals and 32 assists for 61 points, with 20 power play goals and 17 power play assists on 171 shots. Center Bob Sweeney had 21 goals and 26 assists for 47 points on 120 shots. Left winger Yuri Khmylev had 20 goals and 19 assists on 122 shots. Right winger Randy Wood had 18 goals and 25 assists for 43 points on 176 shots. Center Dale Hawerchuk had 16 goals and 80 assists for 96 points, with 8 power play goals, 44 power play assists and 8 short-handed goals on 259 shots.
Right winger Wayne Presley had 15 goals and 17 assists on 97 shots. Left winger Brad May had 13 goals and 13 assists on 114 shots. Right winger Donald Audette had 12 goals and 7 assists on 92 shots. Defenseman Doug Bodger had 9 goals and 45 assists for 54 points, with 6 power play goals and 20 power play assists on 154 shots.
Through the regular season, the Sabres had three solid goaltenders protecting the net, though they had to make a trade to acquire one of them. Daren Puppa was originally on the roster and went 11-5-4, allowing 78 goals on 705 shots in 1,306 minutes, with 628 saves, an .890 save percentage and a 3.58 goals against average. Dominik Hasek stayed put throughout the entire season and went 11-10-4, allowing 75 goals on 720 shots in 1,429 minutes, with 645 saves, an .896 save percentage and a 3.15 goals against average.
On February 2, the Sabres completed a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs to acquire goaltender Grant Fuhr in exchange for Puppa, Dave Andreychuk and Buffalo’s first-round pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. Although his 11-15-2 record didn’t reflect it, Fuhr provided the stability Buffalo was looking for. Fuhr allowed 98 goals on 903 shots in 1,694 minutes, with 805 saves, an .891 save percentage and a 3.47 goals against average.
The Sabres appeared ready to make a deep playoff run after convincingly sweeping the Boston Bruins in four games in the Adams Division Semifinals. In Game 1 on April 18 at the Boston Garden, the Sabres beat the Bruins 4-3 in overtime. Alexander Mogilny had 2 goals and 1 assist, while Pat LaFontaine, center Dave Hannan and Bob Sweeney each scored 1 goal. Sweeney’s goal was the game-winner. For Boston, right winger Cam Neely had 2 goals and 1 assist, center Joe Juneau had 1 goal and 3 assists, and right winger Steve Heinze had 1 goal.
In Game 2 on April 20, the Sabres shut out the Bruins 4-0, with goals from Mogilny, Wayne Presley, Randy Wood and Dale Hawerchuk. In Game 3 on April 22 at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, the Sabres beat the Bruins 4-3 in overtime. Boston got goals from defenseman Ray Bourque, center Bryan Smolinski and Neely, while Buffalo got goals from Mogilny and Sweeney. The difference-maker for Buffalo was Yuri Khmylev, who had 2 goals and 1 assist.
The Sabres completed the sweep with a tight 6-5 overtime victory in Game 4 on April 24. For Boston, Juneau, right winger Stephen Leach and center Dave Poulin each had 1 goal and 1 assist, while Neely and right winger Peter Pouris each scored 1 goal. Four Sabres players scored 1 goal apiece: Brad May, Yuri Khmylev, Dale Hawerchuk and Donald Audette. Mogilny added 2 goals.
The Adams Division Finals didn’t go the way Buffalo wanted, as the Sabres fell to the Montreal Canadiens in a four-game sweep.
Despite the disappointing end, the season was largely a success for the 1992-1993 Buffalo Sabres. Pat LaFontaine and Alexander Mogilny were both named NHL Second Team All-Stars. LaFontaine was also a finalist for the Hart Trophy (NHL Most Valuable Player) and the Lady Byng Trophy (Most Sportsmanlike Player). Thanks in large part to LaFontaine and Mogilny, the Sabres had an exploding offense that gave many NHL teams fits, which is the sign of a good hockey team.
7th February, 2017
17th June, 2026
5th March, 2016
29th March, 2016
17th April, 2016
October 24th, 2026 2
October 24th, 2026 2
October 24th, 2026 2
