1977–78 Buffalo Sabres season

NHL hockey team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1977–78 1977 Buffalo Sabres Wales 3rd Adams 2nd 44–19–17 25–7–8 19–12–9 288 215 Punch Imlach Marcel Pronovost Danny Gare None Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 16,433 Gilbert Perreault (41) Gilbert Perreault (48) Gilbert Perreault (89) Jerry Korab (119) Don Edwards (38) Bob Sauve (2.50) The 1977–78 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' eighth season of operation for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on May 22, 1970.National Hockey League The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011 2010 Triumph Books 27 978-1-60078-422-4 Regular season Final standings BUF Record vs. opponents BUF Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#003087 5px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 5px solid; 1977–78 regular season1977-78 Buffalo Sabres Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BUF/1978_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 25, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |1||W||October 13, 1977||3–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1977–78) ||1–0–0 |- |2||W||October 15, 1977||5–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78) ||2–0–0 |- |3||L||October 16, 1977||0–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78) ||2–1–0 |- |4||T||October 19, 1977||2–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78) ||2–1–1 |- |5||W||October 20, 1977||7–5 || align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1977–78) ||3–1–1 |- |6||W||October 23, 1977||4–1 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1977–78) ||4–1–1 |- |7||L||October 29, 1977||2–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1977–78) ||4–2–1 |- |8||W||October 30, 1977||4–0 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1977–78) ||5–2–1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |9||W||November 3, 1977||4–1 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1977–78) ||6–2–1 |- |10||W||November 5, 1977||3–1 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1977–78) ||7–2–1 |- |11||W||November 6, 1977||7–4 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1977–78) ||8–2–1 |- |12||L||November 9, 1977||4–8 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1977–78) ||8–3–1 |- |13||W||November 10, 1977||3–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78) ||9–3–1 |- |14||T||November 13, 1977||3–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78) ||9–3–2 |- |15||W||November 16, 1977||6–2 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1977–78) ||10–3–2 |- |16||L||November 17, 1977||1–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78) ||10–4–2 |- |17||W||November 19, 1977||7–6 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1977–78) ||11–4–2 |- |18||W||November 20, 1977||5–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1977–78) ||12–4–2 |- |19||L||November 23, 1977||0–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1977–78) ||12–5–2 |- |20||L||November 24, 1977||1–4 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1977–78) ||12–6–2 |- |21||W||November 27, 1977||3–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1977–78) ||13–6–2 |- |22||W||November 30, 1977||3–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78) ||14–6–2 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |23||W||December 1, 1977||3–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1977–78) ||15–6–2 |- |24||T||December 3, 1977||4–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78) ||15–6–3 |- |25||W||December 4, 1977||6–1 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1977–78) ||16–6–3 |- |26||W||December 8, 1977||5–2 || align="left"| Cleveland Barons (1977–78) ||17–6–3 |- |27||W||December 10, 1977||4–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1977–78) ||18–6–3 |- |28||W||December 11, 1977||3–0 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1977–78) ||19–6–3 |- |29||L||December 13, 1977||1–4 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1977–78) ||19–7–3 |- |30||W||December 15, 1977||7–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1977–78) ||20–7–3 |- |31||T||December 17, 1977||5–5 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1977–78) ||20–7–4 |- |32||W||December 21, 1977||5–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1977–78) ||21–7–4 |- |33||T||December 22, 1977||3–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78) ||21–7–5 |- |34||T||December 29, 1977||3–3 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1977–78) ||21–7–6 |- |35||T||December 31, 1977||2–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1977–78) ||21–7–7 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |36||T||January 1, 1978||2–2 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1977–78) ||21–7–8 |- |37||W||January 5, 1978||5–3 || align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1977–78) ||22–7–8 |- |38||T||January 7, 1978||4–4 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1977–78) ||22–7–9 |- |39||W||January 8, 1978||5–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1977–78) ||23–7–9 |- |40||T||January 11, 1978||3–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1977–78) ||23–7–10 |- |41||L||January 12, 1978||3–6 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Barons (1977–78) ||23–8–10 |- |42||L||January 14, 1978||2–6 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1977–78) ||23–9–10 |- |43||W||January 19, 1978||9–2 || align="left"| Cleveland Barons (1977–78) ||24–9–10 |- |44||W||January 21, 1978||3–1 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1977–78) ||25–9–10 |- |45||T||January 22, 1978||2–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1977–78) ||25–9–11 |- |46||L||January 26, 1978||1–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1977–78) ||25–10–11 |- |47||T||January 28, 1978||3–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78) ||25–10–12 |- |48||W||January 30, 1978||3–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1977–78) ||26–10–12 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |49||T||February 1, 1978||2–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78) ||26–10–13 |- |50||W||February 2, 1978||3–1 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1977–78) ||27–10–13 |- |51||W||February 4, 1978||4–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1977–78) ||28–10–13 |- |52||W||February 5, 1978||4–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1977–78) ||29–10–13 |- |53||W||February 8, 1978||5–2 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Barons (1977–78) ||30–10–13 |- |54||W||February 9, 1978||2–0 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1977–78) ||31–10–13 |- |55||L||February 13, 1978||2–4 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78) ||31–11–13 |- |56||W||February 16, 1978||5–0 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1977–78) ||32–11–13 |- |57||W||February 19, 1978||6–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1977–78) ||33–11–13 |- |58||L||February 20, 1978||2–4 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1977–78) ||33–12–13 |- |59||W||February 23, 1978||4–0 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78) ||34–12–13 |- |60||W||February 25, 1978||13–3 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Barons (1977–78) ||35–12–13 |- |61||T||February 26, 1978||4–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1977–78) ||35–12–14 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |62||W||March 1, 1978||4–3 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1977–78) ||36–12–14 |- |63||W||March 2, 1978||6–3 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1977–78) ||37–12–14 |- |64||L||March 4, 1978||3–7 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1977–78) ||37–13–14 |- |65||W||March 6, 1978||2–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1977–78) ||38–13–14 |- |66||T||March 9, 1978||3–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1977–78) ||38–13–15 |- |67||L||March 11, 1978||2–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1977–78) ||38–14–15 |- |68||W||March 12, 1978||5–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1977–78) ||39–14–15 |- |69||W||March 16, 1978||3–1 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78) ||40–14–15 |- |70||T||March 18, 1978||2–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1977–78) ||40–14–16 |- |71||W||March 21, 1978||6–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1977–78) ||41–14–16 |- |72||T||March 24, 1978||2–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1977–78) ||41–14–17 |- |73||W||March 25, 1978||4–3 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1977–78) ||42–14–17 |- |74||L||March 28, 1978||0–7 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1977–78) ||42–15–17 |- |75||L||March 30, 1978||3–5 || align="left"| Cleveland Barons (1977–78) ||42–16–17 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#003087 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFB81C 2px solid; April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |76||L||April 1, 1978||2–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78) ||42–17–17 |- |77||L||April 2, 1978||2–4 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1977–78) ||42–18–17 |- |78||L||April 4, 1978||3–4 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1977–78) ||42–19–17 |- |79||W||April 6, 1978||5–2 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1977–78) ||43–19–17 |- |80||W||April 9, 1978||2–1 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1977–78) ||44–19–17 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs Preliminary round vs. New York Rangers New York Rangers Buffalo Sabres Madison Square Garden Buffalo Memorial Auditorium April 11 1–4 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-buf/1978/04/11/1977030121#game=1977030121,game_state=final No scoring 16:41 – Gilbert Perrault (1) No scoring 12:28 – Richard Martin (1) Steve Vickers (1) – 02:35 08:33 – Jocelyn Guevremont (1)17:50 – Gary McAdam (1) Wayne Thomas Don Edwards April 13 3–4 1 2 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-nyr/1978/04/13/1977030122#game=1977030122,game_state=final 14:36 – Steve Vickers (2)19:59 – Pat Hickey (1) Rene Robert (1) – 03:06Derek Smith (1) – 16:29 15:07 – pp – Ron Duguay (1) Danny Gare (1) – pp – 18:04 No scoring No scoring 01:37 – Don Murdoch (1) No scoring John Davidson Don Edwards April 15 1–4 1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyr-vs-buf/1978/04/15/1977030123#game=1977030123,game_state=final No scoring No scoring Pat Hickey (2) – pp – 19:18 08:04 – Gilbert Perreault (2)14:23 – pp – Craig Ramsay (1)15:56 – Danny Gare (2) No scoring 10:32 – Rene Robert (2) Wayne Thomas Don Edwards Buffalo won series 2–1 Quarterfinals vs. Philadelphia Flyers Buffalo Sabres Philadelphia Flyers Buffalo Memorial Auditorium Spectrum April 17 1–4 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-phi/1978/04/17/1977030241#game=1977030241,game_state=final Terry Martin (1) – 06:34 06:19 – pp – Rick MacLeish (2) No scoring 01:08 – Bob Kelly (2)06:13 – Rick MacLeish (3) No scoring 01:28 – Bill Barber (1) Don Edwards 24 saves / 28 shots Bernie Parent 24 saves / 25 shots April 19 2–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-phi/1978/04/19/1977030242#game=1977030242,game_state=final Richard Martin (2) – pp – 11:58 07:16 – pp – Bill Barber (2) Danny Gare (3) – pp – 14:20 04:09 – Andre Dupont (1)10:31 – Rick MacLeish (4) No scoring No scoring Don Edwards 31 saves / 34 shots Bernie Parent 20 saves / 22 shots April 22 1–4 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/phi-vs-buf/1978/04/22/1977030243#game=1977030243,game_state=final No scoring Rick MacLeish (5) – pp – 08:36 09:18 – Gary McAdam (2) No scoring 00:43 – Gilbert Perreault (3)03:17 – Derek Smith (2)12:25 – Danny Gare (4) No scoring Don Edwards 20 saves / 21 shots Bernie Parent 29 saves / 33 shots April 23 4–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/phi-vs-buf/1978/04/23/1977030244#game=1977030244,game_state=final 15:13 – Craig Ramsay (2) Bob Kelly (3) – 05:56Ross Lonsberry (1) – pp – 08:02Rick MacLeish (6) – 14:13 No scoring No scoring 16:57 – Craig Ramsay (3) Bill Barber (3) – 14:59 Don Edwards 23 saves / 27 shots Bernie Parent 31 saves / 33 shots April 25 2–4 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/buf-vs-phi/1978/04/25/1977030245#game=1977030245,game_state=final No scoring 13:43 – pp – Bobby Clarke (2) Terry Martin (2) – 10:53 11:07 – Paul Holmgren (1)14:34 – Ross Lonsberry (2) Derek Smith (3) – 13:04 06:59 – Don Saleski (2) Don Edwards 22 saves / 26 shots Bernie Parent 26 saves / 28 shots Philadelphia won series 4–1 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)114Ric Seiling Canada St. Catharines Fincups (OHA)232Ron Areshenkoff Canada Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)468Bill Stewart Canada Niagara Falls Flyers (OMJHL)586Rich Sirois Canada Laval National (QMJHL)6104Wayne Ramsey Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL) See also 1977–78 NHL season References Category:Buffalo Sabres seasons Buffalo Category:1970s in Buffalo, New York Buffalo Buffalo