1977–78 Buffalo Sabres season

The 1977–78 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' eighth season of operation for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970.^[1]

1977–78 Buffalo Sabres
Division	2nd Adams
Conference	3rd Wales
1977–78 record	44–19–17
Home record	25–7–8
Road record	19–12–9
Goals for	288
Goals against	215
Team information
General manager	Punch Imlach
Coach	Marcel Pronovost
Captain	Danny Gare
Alternate captains	None
Arena	Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
Average attendance	16,433
Team leaders
Goals	Gilbert Perreault (41)
Assists	Gilbert Perreault (48)
Points	Gilbert Perreault (89)
Penalty minutes	Jerry Korab (119)
Wins	Don Edwards (38)
Goals against average	Bob Sauve (2.50)
← 1976–77 1978–79 →

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

Adams Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
Boston Bruins	80	51	18	11	333	218	113
Buffalo Sabres	80	44	19	17	288	215	105
Toronto Maple Leafs	80	41	29	10	271	237	92
Cleveland Barons	80	22	45	13	230	325	57

^[2]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. Campbell Conference Vs. Adams Division 1977–78 NHL records[3] Team BOS BUF CLE TOR Total Boston — 2–4 3–1–2 5–0–1 10–5–3 Buffalo 4–2 — 4–2 2–3–1 10–7–1 Cleveland 1–3–2 2–4 — 2–4 5–13–2 Toronto 0–5–1 3–2–1 4–2 — 7–9–2 Vs. Norris Division 1977–78 NHL records Team DET LAK MTL PIT WSH Total Boston 4–0–1 5–0 0–4–1 5–0 4–0–1 18–4–3 Buffalo 2–2–1 3–0–2 3–2 0–0–5 3–1–1 11–5–9 Cleveland 2–2–1 1–3–1 1–4 0–5 2–3 6–17–2 Toronto 2–1–2 2–3 0–4–1 2–3 4–0–1 10–11–4 Vs. Patrick Division 1977–78 NHL records Team ATL NYI NYR PHI Total Boston 2–1–1 1–3 4–1 1–2–1 8–7–2 Buffalo 2–1–1 3–2 2–1–1 3–0–1 10–4–3 Cleveland 1–2–1 1–1–2 1–3 0–4–1 3–10–4 Toronto 2–3 1–3 3–1 3–1 9–8–0 Vs. Smythe Division 1977–78 NHL records Team CHI COL MIN STL VAN Total Boston 3–1 3–0–1 3–1 4–0 2–0–2 15–2–3 Buffalo 2–1–1 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–0–3 13–3–4 Cleveland 1–3 1–1–2 3–0–1 1–2–1 2–1–1 8–7–5 Toronto 2–1–1 4–0 4–0 2–0–2 3–0–1 15–1–4

Schedule and results

No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	W	October 13, 1977	3–2	New York Islanders (1977–78)	1–0–0
2	W	October 15, 1977	5–2	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78)	2–0–0
3	L	October 16, 1977	0–2	Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78)	2–1–0
4	T	October 19, 1977	2–2	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78)	2–1–1
5	W	October 20, 1977	7–5	Colorado Rockies (1977–78)	3–1–1
6	W	October 23, 1977	4–1	Minnesota North Stars (1977–78)	4–1–1
7	L	October 29, 1977	2–4	@ New York Islanders (1977–78)	4–2–1
8	W	October 30, 1977	4–0	@ Montreal Canadiens (1977–78)	5–2–1
9	W	November 3, 1977	4–1	@ Boston Bruins (1977–78)	6–2–1
10	W	November 5, 1977	3–1	@ St. Louis Blues (1977–78)	7–2–1
11	W	November 6, 1977	7–4	St. Louis Blues (1977–78)	8–2–1
12	L	November 9, 1977	4–8	@ New York Rangers (1977–78)	8–3–1
13	W	November 10, 1977	3–2	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78)	9–3–1
14	T	November 13, 1977	3–3	Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78)	9–3–2
15	W	November 16, 1977	6–2	@ Atlanta Flames (1977–78)	10–3–2
16	L	November 17, 1977	1–2	Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78)	10–4–2
17	W	November 19, 1977	7–6	@ Washington Capitals (1977–78)	11–4–2
18	W	November 20, 1977	5–2	Washington Capitals (1977–78)	12–4–2
19	L	November 23, 1977	0–2	Boston Bruins (1977–78)	12–5–2
20	L	November 24, 1977	1–4	@ Montreal Canadiens (1977–78)	12–6–2
21	W	November 27, 1977	3–2	New York Rangers (1977–78)	13–6–2
22	W	November 30, 1977	3–2	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78)	14–6–2
23	W	December 1, 1977	3–1	Montreal Canadiens (1977–78)	15–6–2
24	T	December 3, 1977	4–4	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78)	15–6–3
25	W	December 4, 1977	6–1	Detroit Red Wings (1977–78)	16–6–3
26	W	December 8, 1977	5–2	Cleveland Barons (1977–78)	17–6–3
27	W	December 10, 1977	4–2	@ Minnesota North Stars (1977–78)	18–6–3
28	W	December 11, 1977	3–0	Vancouver Canucks (1977–78)	19–6–3
29	L	December 13, 1977	1–4	@ Colorado Rockies (1977–78)	19–7–3
30	W	December 15, 1977	7–3	@ Los Angeles Kings (1977–78)	20–7–3
31	T	December 17, 1977	5–5	@ Vancouver Canucks (1977–78)	20–7–4
32	W	December 21, 1977	5–3	@ Detroit Red Wings (1977–78)	21–7–4
33	T	December 22, 1977	3–3	Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78)	21–7–5
34	T	December 29, 1977	3–3	Detroit Red Wings (1977–78)	21–7–6
35	T	December 31, 1977	2–2	@ New York Rangers (1977–78)	21–7–7
36	T	January 1, 1978	2–2	Atlanta Flames (1977–78)	21–7–8
37	W	January 5, 1978	5–3	Colorado Rockies (1977–78)	22–7–8
38	T	January 7, 1978	4–4	@ Washington Capitals (1977–78)	22–7–9
39	W	January 8, 1978	5–3	Boston Bruins (1977–78)	23–7–9
40	T	January 11, 1978	3–3	Los Angeles Kings (1977–78)	23–7–10
41	L	January 12, 1978	3–6	@ Cleveland Barons (1977–78)	23–8–10
42	L	January 14, 1978	2–6	@ Detroit Red Wings (1977–78)	23–9–10
43	W	January 19, 1978	9–2	Cleveland Barons (1977–78)	24–9–10
44	W	January 21, 1978	3–1	@ St. Louis Blues (1977–78)	25–9–10
45	T	January 22, 1978	2–2	Vancouver Canucks (1977–78)	25–9–11
46	L	January 26, 1978	1–2	Minnesota North Stars (1977–78)	25–10–11
47	T	January 28, 1978	3–3	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78)	25–10–12
48	W	January 30, 1978	3–2	New York Islanders (1977–78)	26–10–12
49	T	February 1, 1978	2–2	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78)	26–10–13
50	W	February 2, 1978	3–1	Boston Bruins (1977–78)	27–10–13
51	W	February 4, 1978	4–2	@ Minnesota North Stars (1977–78)	28–10–13
52	W	February 5, 1978	4–1	Washington Capitals (1977–78)	29–10–13
53	W	February 8, 1978	5–2	@ Cleveland Barons (1977–78)	30–10–13
54	W	February 9, 1978	2–0	New York Rangers (1977–78)	31–10–13
55	L	February 13, 1978	2–4	Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78)	31–11–13
56	W	February 16, 1978	5–0	Los Angeles Kings (1977–78)	32–11–13
57	W	February 19, 1978	6–2	St. Louis Blues (1977–78)	33–11–13
58	L	February 20, 1978	2–4	@ Montreal Canadiens (1977–78)	33–12–13
59	W	February 23, 1978	4–0	Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78)	34–12–13
60	W	February 25, 1978	13–3	@ Cleveland Barons (1977–78)	35–12–13
61	T	February 26, 1978	4–4	Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78)	35–12–14
62	W	March 1, 1978	4–3	@ Atlanta Flames (1977–78)	36–12–14
63	W	March 2, 1978	6–3	New York Islanders (1977–78)	37–12–14
64	L	March 4, 1978	3–7	@ Boston Bruins (1977–78)	37–13–14
65	W	March 6, 1978	2–1	Montreal Canadiens (1977–78)	38–13–14
66	T	March 9, 1978	3–3	Los Angeles Kings (1977–78)	38–13–15
67	L	March 11, 1978	2–4	@ New York Islanders (1977–78)	38–14–15
68	W	March 12, 1978	5–2	Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78)	39–14–15
69	W	March 16, 1978	3–1	Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78)	40–14–15
70	T	March 18, 1978	2–2	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78)	40–14–16
71	W	March 21, 1978	6–2	@ Los Angeles Kings (1977–78)	41–14–16
72	T	March 24, 1978	2–2	@ Vancouver Canucks (1977–78)	41–14–17
73	W	March 25, 1978	4–3	@ Colorado Rockies (1977–78)	42–14–17
74	L	March 28, 1978	0–7	@ Detroit Red Wings (1977–78)	42–15–17
75	L	March 30, 1978	3–5	Cleveland Barons (1977–78)	42–16–17
76	L	April 1, 1978	2–3	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78)	42–17–17
77	L	April 2, 1978	2–4	Atlanta Flames (1977–78)	42–18–17
78	L	April 4, 1978	3–4	@ Washington Capitals (1977–78)	42–19–17
79	W	April 6, 1978	5–2	@ Boston Bruins (1977–78)	43–19–17
80	W	April 9, 1978	2–1	Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78)	44–19–17

Playoffs

Preliminary round vs. New York Rangers

April 11	New York Rangers		1–4		Buffalo Sabres	Buffalo Memorial Auditorium	Recap
No scoring		First period			16:41 – Gilbert Perrault (1)
No scoring		Second period			12:28 – Richard Martin (1)
Steve Vickers (1) – 02:35		Third period			08:33 – Jocelyn Guevremont (1) 17:50 – Gary McAdam (1)
Wayne Thomas		Goalie stats			Don Edwards

April 13	Buffalo Sabres		3–4	OT	New York Rangers	Madison Square Garden	Recap
Rene Robert (1) – 03:06 Derek Smith (1) – 16:29		First period			14:36 – Steve Vickers (2) 19:59 – Pat Hickey (1)
Danny Gare (1) – pp – 18:04		Second period			15:07 – pp – Ron Duguay (1)
No scoring		Third period			No scoring
No scoring		First overtime period			01:37 – Don Murdoch (1)
Don Edwards		Goalie stats			John Davidson

April 15	New York Rangers		1–4		Buffalo Sabres	Buffalo Memorial Auditorium	Recap
No scoring		First period			No scoring
Pat Hickey (2) – pp – 19:18		Second period			08:04 – Gilbert Perreault (2) 14:23 – pp – Craig Ramsay (1) 15:56 – Danny Gare (2)
No scoring		Third period			10:32 – Rene Robert (2)
Wayne Thomas		Goalie stats			Don Edwards

Buffalo won series 2–1

Quarterfinals vs. Philadelphia Flyers

April 17	Buffalo Sabres		1–4		Philadelphia Flyers	Spectrum	Recap
Terry Martin (1) – 06:34		First period			06:19 – pp – Rick MacLeish (2)
No scoring		Second period			01:08 – Bob Kelly (2) 06:13 – Rick MacLeish (3)
No scoring		Third period			01:28 – Bill Barber (1)
Don Edwards 24 saves / 28 shots		Goalie stats			Bernie Parent 24 saves / 25 shots

April 19	Buffalo Sabres		2–3		Philadelphia Flyers	Spectrum	Recap
Richard Martin (2) – pp – 11:58		First period			07:16 – pp – Bill Barber (2)
Danny Gare (3) – pp – 14:20		Second period			04:09 – Andre Dupont (1) 10:31 – Rick MacLeish (4)
No scoring		Third period			No scoring
Don Edwards 31 saves / 34 shots		Goalie stats			Bernie Parent 20 saves / 22 shots

April 22	Philadelphia Flyers		1–4		Buffalo Sabres	Buffalo Memorial Auditorium	Recap
Rick MacLeish (5) – pp – 08:36		First period			No scoring
No scoring		Second period			09:18 – Gary McAdam (2)
No scoring		Third period			00:43 – Gilbert Perreault (3) 03:17 – Derek Smith (2) 12:25 – Danny Gare (4)
Bernie Parent 29 saves / 33 shots		Goalie stats			Don Edwards 20 saves / 21 shots

April 23	Philadelphia Flyers		4–2		Buffalo Sabres	Buffalo Memorial Auditorium	Recap
Bob Kelly (3) – 05:56 Ross Lonsberry (1) – pp – 08:02 Rick MacLeish (6) – 14:13		First period			15:13 – Craig Ramsay (2)
No scoring		Second period			No scoring
Bill Barber (3) – 14:59		Third period			16:57 – Craig Ramsay (3)
Bernie Parent 31 saves / 33 shots		Goalie stats			Don Edwards 23 saves / 27 shots

April 25	Buffalo Sabres		2–4		Philadelphia Flyers	Spectrum	Recap
No scoring		First period			13:43 – pp – Bobby Clarke (2)
Terry Martin (2) – 10:53		Second period			11:07 – Paul Holmgren (1) 14:34 – Ross Lonsberry (2)
Derek Smith (3) – 13:04		Third period			06:59 – Don Saleski (2)
Don Edwards 22 saves / 26 shots		Goalie stats			Bernie Parent 26 saves / 28 shots

Philadelphia won series 4–1

Player statistics

Awards and records

Transactions

Draft picks

Buffalo's draft picks at the 1977 NHL amateur draft held at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	14	Ric Seiling	Canada	St. Catharines Fincups (OHA)
2	32	Ron Areshenkoff	Canada	Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)
4	68	Bill Stewart	Canada	Niagara Falls Flyers (OMJHL)
5	86	Rich Sirois	Canada	Laval National (QMJHL)
6	104	Wayne Ramsey	Canada	Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL)

Farm teams

See also

• 1977–78 NHL season

References

1. National Hockey League (2010). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011. Triumph Books. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-60078-422-4.
2. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 151. ISBN 9781894801225.
3. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.