2000–01 Buffalo Sabres season

The 2000–01 Buffalo Sabres season was the 31st season for the team in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Sabres finished with a 46–30–5–1 record in the regular season, and won the Conference Quarterfinals (4–2) over the Philadelphia Flyers, but lost the Conference Semifinals (4–3) to the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was also the final time they made the playoffs before the 2004–05 NHL Lockout.

2000–01 Buffalo Sabres
Division2nd Northeast
2000–01 record46–30–5-1
Goals for218
Goals against184
Team information
General managerDarcy Regier
CoachLindy Ruff
CaptainVacant[1]
ArenaHSBC Arena
Team leaders
GoalsMiroslav Satan (29)
AssistsMiroslav Satan (33)
PointsMiroslav Satan (62)
Penalty minutesRob Ray (210)
WinsDominik Hasek (37)
Goals against averageDominik Hasek (2.11)

Regular season

The Sabres allowed the fewest goals (184), had the most shutouts (13), allowed the fewest power-play goals (40) and had the best penalty-kill percentage (88.02%).[2]

Final standings
Northeast Division[3]
No. CR GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
12Ottawa Senators82482194274205109
25Buffalo Sabres8246305121818498
37Toronto Maple Leafs82372911523220790
49Boston Bruins8236308822724988
511Montreal Canadiens8228408620623270

Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL=Overtime loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Eastern Conference[4]
R Div GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
1 Z- New Jersey DevilsAT824819123295195111
2 Y- Ottawa SenatorsNE82482194274205109
3 Y- Washington CapitalsSE82412710423321196
4 X- Philadelphia FlyersAT824325113240207100
5 X- Buffalo SabresNE8246305121818498
6 X- Pittsburgh PenguinsAT8242289328125696
7 X- Toronto Maple LeafsNE82372911523220790
8 X- Carolina HurricanesSE8238329321222588
8.5
9 Boston BruinsNE8236308822724988
10 New York RangersAT8233435125029072
11 Montreal CanadiensNE8228408620623270
12 Florida PanthersSE82223813920024666
13 Atlanta ThrashersSE82234512221128960
14 Tampa Bay LightningSE8224476520128059
15 New York IslandersAT8221517318526852

Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast

Z – Clinched Conference; Y – Clinched Division; X – Clinched Playoff spot

Schedule and results
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1WOctober 5, 20004–2Chicago Blackhawks (2000–01)1–0–0–0
2WOctober 7, 20005–3Los Angeles Kings (2000–01)2–0–0–0
3LOctober 13, 20002–3@ Edmonton Oilers (2000–01)2–1–0–0
4LOctober 14, 20000–4@ Vancouver Canucks (2000–01)2–2–0–0
5LOctober 17, 20003–4@ Montreal Canadiens (2000–01)2–3–0–0
6TOctober 20, 20002–2 OTMighty Ducks of Anaheim (2000–01)2–3–1–0
7OTLOctober 21, 20004–5 OT@ Detroit Red Wings (2000–01)2–3–1–1
8WOctober 25, 20004–1Carolina Hurricanes (2000–01)3–3–1–1
9WOctober 27, 20002–1Toronto Maple Leafs (2000–01)4–3–1–1
10WOctober 28, 20003–1@ Chicago Blackhawks (2000–01)5–3–1–1
11WNovember 3, 20005–4Montreal Canadiens (2000–01)6–3–1–1
12LNovember 4, 20000–3@ Philadelphia Flyers (2000–01)6–4–1–1
13WNovember 9, 20003–0New York Islanders (2000–01)7–4–1–1
14WNovember 11, 20004–0@ New Jersey Devils (2000–01)8–4–1–1
15WNovember 13, 20003–2 OTCalgary Flames (2000–01)9–4–1–1
16TNovember 15, 20002–2 OTDallas Stars (2000–01)9–4–2–1
17WNovember 17, 20003–1Minnesota Wild (2000–01)10–4–2–1
18LNovember 18, 20001–4@ St. Louis Blues (2000–01)10–5–2–1
19LNovember 22, 20001–3Philadelphia Flyers (2000–01)10–6–2–1
20WNovember 24, 20003–2New York Rangers (2000–01)11–6–2–1
21WNovember 25, 20005–3@ Montreal Canadiens (2000–01)12–6–2–1
22LNovember 28, 20001–3@ Ottawa Senators (2000–01)12–7–2–1
23LDecember 1, 20004–6Pittsburgh Penguins (2000–01)12–8–2–1
24WDecember 2, 20003–2@ Pittsburgh Penguins (2000–01)13–8–2–1
25WDecember 5, 20003–2@ Montreal Canadiens (2000–01)14–8–2–1
26WDecember 7, 20005–2New Jersey Devils (2000–01)15–8–2–1
27LDecember 8, 20002–5@ New York Rangers (2000–01)15–9–2–1
28WDecember 12, 20003–0@ Boston Bruins (2000–01)16–9–2–1
29LDecember 15, 20003–5@ Carolina Hurricanes (2000–01)16–10–2–1
30WDecember 16, 20003–2Florida Panthers (2000–01)17–10–2–1
31TDecember 20, 20002–2 OT@ Washington Capitals (2000–01)17–10–3–1
32LDecember 21, 20001–3Washington Capitals (2000–01)17–11–3–1
33WDecember 23, 20005–2San Jose Sharks (2000–01)18–11–3–1
34LDecember 26, 20003–5Pittsburgh Penguins (2000–01)18–12–3–1
35WDecember 29, 20002–0Ottawa Senators (2000–01)19–12–3–1
36WDecember 30, 20002–0@ New York Islanders (2000–01)20–12–3–1
37LJanuary 1, 20013–4Boston Bruins (2000–01)20–13–3–1
38TJanuary 3, 20011–1 OT@ Toronto Maple Leafs (2000–01)20–13–4–1
39TJanuary 5, 20013–3 OTToronto Maple Leafs (2000–01)20–13–5–1
40WJanuary 6, 20012–0@ Nashville Predators (2000–01)21–13–5–1
41LJanuary 9, 20011–2@ San Jose Sharks (2000–01)21–14–5–1
42LJanuary 11, 20012–3@ Los Angeles Kings (2000–01)21–15–5–1
43WJanuary 12, 20014–0@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2000–01)22–15–5–1
44WJanuary 16, 20013–1Tampa Bay Lightning (2000–01)23–15–5–1
45WJanuary 19, 20011–0Florida Panthers (2000–01)24–15–5–1
46LJanuary 20, 20010–2@ Toronto Maple Leafs (2000–01)24–16–5–1
47LJanuary 23, 20011–2Columbus Blue Jackets (2000–01)24–17–5–1
48LJanuary 26, 20011–2Boston Bruins (2000–01)24–18–5–1
49WJanuary 27, 20012–1@ New York Islanders (2000–01)25–18–5–1
50LJanuary 31, 20012–5@ Florida Panthers (2000–01)25–19–5–1
51LFebruary 1, 20012–4@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2000–01)25–20–5–1
52WFebruary 6, 20016–3@ New York Rangers (2000–01)26–20–5–1
53WFebruary 7, 20012–1 OTNew York Islanders (2000–01)27–20–5–1
54WFebruary 10, 20012–1 OT@ Ottawa Senators (2000–01)28–20–5–1
55LFebruary 11, 20013–4Montreal Canadiens (2000–01)28–21–5–1
56LFebruary 13, 20014–5@ Atlanta Thrashers (2000–01)28–22–5–1
57WFebruary 15, 20013–1Atlanta Thrashers (2000–01)29–22–5–1
58WFebruary 17, 20015–1New Jersey Devils (2000–01)30–22–5–1
59WFebruary 19, 20012–0Ottawa Senators (2000–01)31–22–5–1
60WFebruary 22, 20011–0@ New Jersey Devils (2000–01)32–22–5–1
61LFebruary 23, 20013–7Phoenix Coyotes (2000–01)32–23–5–1
62WFebruary 25, 20015–4Tampa Bay Lightning (2000–01)33–23–5–1
63WFebruary 27, 20014–1@ Ottawa Senators (2000–01)34–23–5–1
64LMarch 1, 20010–2@ Philadelphia Flyers (2000–01)34–24–5–1
65WMarch 3, 20013–2 OT@ Colorado Avalanche (2000–01)35–24–5–1
66LMarch 4, 20011–4@ Dallas Stars (2000–01)35–25–5–1
67WMarch 6, 20013–1@ Boston Bruins (2000–01)36–25–5–1
68LMarch 9, 20010–4Edmonton Oilers (2000–01)36–26–5–1
69WMarch 14, 20016–3New York Rangers (2000–01)37–26–5–1
70WMarch 16, 20014–2Vancouver Canucks (2000–01)38–26–5–1
71WMarch 17, 20013–2@ Washington Capitals (2000–01)39–26–5–1
72WMarch 20, 20013–0Toronto Maple Leafs (2000–01)40–26–5–1
73LMarch 21, 20010–1@ Carolina Hurricanes (2000–01)40–27–5–1
74WMarch 24, 20013–1Carolina Hurricanes (2000–01)41–27–5–1
75WMarch 26, 20014–0@ Atlanta Thrashers (2000–01)42–27–5–1
76LMarch 27, 20011–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (2000–01)42–28–5–1
77WMarch 30, 20014–0Atlanta Thrashers (2000–01)43–28–5–1
78WApril 1, 20014–2@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2000–01)44–28–5–1
79WApril 2, 20015–3@ Florida Panthers (2000–01)45–28–5–1
80LApril 4, 20012–3Boston Bruins (2000–01)45–29–5–1
81WApril 6, 20012–1Washington Capitals (2000–01)46–29–5–1
82LApril 8, 20011–2Philadelphia Flyers (2000–01)46–30–5–1

Playoffs

2001 Stanley Cup playoffs

(4) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (5) Buffalo Sabres

The Flyers were entering this year's playoffs still trying to forget the Eastern Conference finals the previous year. In 2000, they had a 3–1 series lead against the eventual Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils, but lost the next three. Head coach Craig Ramsay was fired in the middle of the season, with general manager Bobby Clarke explaining his decision was based on the fact his Flyers were not "tough enough". As Ramsay's replacement, Clarke hired ex-Flyer tough guy and former teammate Bill Barber. The Sabres season was not as complicated, as head coach Lindy Ruff led his Sabres to one of their best regular seasons in recent history. In the playoffs, the two teams had met three times in four years, with the most recent series ending in with a Flyers win. The Sabres would look for revenge in the city of brotherly love.

After Philadelphia was stopped by Dominik Hasek and the Sabres in the first two games, one of which was ended by a Jay McKee overtime goal, the Flyers came out in Game 3 determined to win a game before losing the first three, and they did by one goal, but they lost again to the Sabres in Game 4 in overtime after Curtis Brown beat goaltender Roman Cechmanek. The Flyers won in Game 5 by a two-goal margin, but were hammered by the Sabres in Game 6: they gave up a total of eight goals, five of which were surrendered by Cechmanek, who was replaced early by Brian Boucher, who himself conceded three goals. Hasek recorded another shutout in Game 6 as the Sabres progressed to the conference semifinals.

Series highlight
  1. Game One: Sabres 2, Flyers 1
  2. Game Two: Sabres 4, Flyers 3 (Overtime)
  3. Game Three: Flyers 3, Sabres 2
  4. Game Four: Sabres 4, Flyers 3 (Overtime)
  5. Game Five: Flyers 3, Sabres 1
  6. Game Six: Sabres 8, Flyers 0

(5) Buffalo Sabres vs. (6) Pittsburgh Penguins

Entering the series, Buffalo held the best penalty killing (PK) squad which killed 88%, and Pittsburgh entered the series with the fifth best powerplay (PP) squad, which scored on 20% of its opportunities. However, the Buffalo PK and the Pittsburgh PP would underachieve during the series: Pittsburgh only scored 4 times on 27 opportunities (14%), so, consequently, Buffalo's PK percent dropped to 86. Buffalo also scored four power play goals, but on 33 chances (12%).

The Sabres and Penguins had evenly matched goaltending: Pittsburgh goaltenders saved 155 shots out of 172 (90.2%), and Buffalo's saved 166 shots out of 183 (90.8%). Both teams scored 17 goals during the series, and they also scored the same number of power play goals, four.

The Sabres just could not put the puck past Johan Hedberg in Game 1, with the Penguins needing only star center Mario Lemieux's first-period goal to finish off Buffalo and take an early series lead. Dominik Hasek gave up three goals, the other two of which came courtesy of centers Wayne Primeau and Jan Hrdina in the second half of the third period. Penguins winger Jaromir Jagr, who assisted on the Lemieux goal in the first period, injured his leg in the third period and would miss Game 2. Both teams were rather inept on the powerplay, wasting five conversion opportunities each.

In Game 2, the first period had no scoring, despite five different powerplays for the two teams. Then, about halfway through the second period, Penguins center Robert Lang scored a goal to give the Penguins a 1–0. Three minutes later, Sabres center Stu Barnes tied the game with the game's only powerplay goal. In the third period, Pittsburgh would score two more goals through defenceman Andrew Ference and an empty-netter by Alexei Kovalev.

For the second consecutive game, there were no goals scored in the first period of Game 3, despite a combined 17 shots on goal. The Penguins scored on the power play in the second period to take the lead, but Sabres center Curtis Brown would tie the game through an even-strength goal as the period would end at 1–1. Johan Hedberg had been solid in the net for the Penguins, but conceded 3 goals from just 11 shots in the third period. At about the halfway point in the third period, Sabres defenseman Jason Woolley scored the go-ahead goal, and three minutes later, Miroslav Satan would score another goal to give Buffalo a two-goal lead. Defenseman James Patrick finished off the game with an empty-net goal to send the Sabres to a 4–1 victory in Game 3.

Building off the road win in Game 3, Buffalo scored the first goal in Game 4 very early in the first period by center Jean-Pierre Dumont, but the Penguins would respond with a powerplay goal by center Martin Straka. Sabres center Curtis Brown scored a short-handed goal late in the first period to give Buffalo the edge heading into the locker rooms. The second period featured only one goal by Janne Laukkanen, set up by Jagr and Lemieux, and the game was tied up going into the third. Stu Barnes scored twice in the third period, and the Sabres went on to win the game by three, five goals to two. Both teams were effective on the powerplay, each scoring one goal on two chances. Coming off two straight home losses, Buffalo works hard on the road to swipe the two home games back, swinging the series back to Buffalo's advantage.

Penguins wingman Jaromir Jagr initiated the scoring in game five with a powerplay goal, the only goal in the first period. Pittsburgh would tack on another goal early on in the second period by winger Aleksey Morozov, but Sabres center Chris Gratton would respond with a powerplay goal, and the Penguins still had the lead until they gave up another short-handed goal to Curtis Brown. Curtis Brown's goal forced overtime, and Stu Barnes would score the game-winning goal to give Buffalo the series lead. The Sabres were down by two goals early but fought back and won the game by scoring three unanswered goals. Game five was the first overtime game in the string of three that would end the series.

Buffalo's right winger Maxim Afinogenov scored in the first half of the first period of game six to give the Sabres and early lead, a lead the team would need because Pittsburgh's Alexei Kovalev tied the game up early in the second period. Donald Audette would break up the tied game with an even-strength goal late in the second period. Pittsburgh would persevere and score the tying goal with less than a minute to go in the third period courtesy of Mario Lemieux, so this match headed to overtime. Martin Straka was the hero of the Penguins on that night, as he scored the game-winning goal about halfway through the overtime period. Both teams didn't score on any of the combined seven chances they saw, and the fabled game seven was due.

In game seven, the first period was an uneventful one, featuring no goals and few penalties, but the second period was a different story. Buffalo struck first as Jean-Pierre Dumont scored very early in the period, but that one-goal lead wouldn't last because Andrew Ference scored a powerplay goal to even things up at one goal apiece. Just about 30 seconds into the third period, Buffalo struck again as winger Steve Heinze scored a powerplay goal. Robert Lang would then score to tie the game up at two goals apiece. With a minute remaining in the third period and the Sabres applying pressure in the Penguins zone, Penguins defenceman Darius Kasparaitis grabbed the puck and threw it over the boards into the crowd. No penalty was called on the play and the game went to overtime.[5] Later, Kasparaitis would win the game and the series for the Penguins as he scored off of passes from Jagr and Lang. Pittsburgh went on to face the New Jersey Devils in the conference finals.

Series highlight
  1. Game One: Penguins 3, Sabres 0
  2. Game Two: Penguins 3, Sabres 1
  3. Game Three: Sabres 4, Penguins 1
  4. Game Four: Sabres 5, Penguins 2
  5. Game Five: Sabres 3, Penguins 2 (Overtime)
  6. Game Six: Penguins 3, Sabres 2 (Overtime)
  7. Game Seven: Penguins 3, Sabres 2 (Overtime)

Player statistics

Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Miroslav SatanLW82293362365824
Jean-Pierre DumontRW79232851541905
Stu BarnesC7519244326-2325
Chris GrattonC821921401020505
Doug GilmourC7173138703400
Alexei ZhitnikD788293775-3501
Maxim AfinogenovRW78142236401305
Dave AndreychukLW74201333320804
Curtis BrownC/LW701022323415210
Erik RasmussenLW/C82121931510103
Vaclav VaradaRW7510213181-2202
Jason WoolleyD6751823460403
Dmitri KalininD794182238-2200
Rhett WarrenerD77316197810002
Richard SmehlikD563121546001
Vladimir TsyplakovLW367714102000
James PatrickD544913129100
Steve HeinzeRW14571286101
Denis HamelLW41831122-2113
Jay McKeeD7411011769000
Rob RayRW6346102102001
Donald AudetteRW12268121101
Eric BoultonLW3512394-1000
Dominik HasekG67033220000
Chris TaylorC1402261000
Martin BironG1800000000
Brian CampbellD80002-2000
Mika NoronenG200000000
Peter SkudraG100000000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T/OT GA GAA SO SA SV SV%
Dominik Hasek390467372441372.111117261589.921
Martin Biron91818771392.552427388.909
Mika Noronen108220052.7803934.872
Peter Skudra1100000.00000
Team:493182463151812.201321922011.917

Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Miroslav SatanLW133101384100
Chris GrattonC136410140201
Donald AudetteRW133694-1000
Stu BarnesC1344820202
Jean-Pierre DumontRW1343784000
Steve HeinzeRW13347100300
Alexei ZhitnikD1316712-3000
Doug GilmourC1324612-1101
Jason WoolleyD815621001
Curtis BrownC/LW1350584021
Maxim AfinogenovRW1123541000
Vaclav VaradaRW1304482000
Dave AndreychukLW1312340100
James PatrickD1312320000
Dmitri KalininD1302245000
Rhett WarrenerD1302245000
Jay McKeeD810163001
Vladimir TsyplakovLW910141000
Erik RasmussenLW/C301102000
Richard SmehlikD1001143000
Dominik HasekG13000140000
Rob RayRW300020000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO SA SV SV%
Dominik Hasek8331376292.091347318.916
Team:8331376292.091347318.916

[6]

Note:
Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Draft picks

Buffalo's draft picks at the 2000 NHL Entry Draft held at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League)
115Artyom Kryukov RussiaLokomotiv Yaroslavl (Russia)
248Gerard Dicaire CanadaSeattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
4111Ghyslain Rousseau CanadaBaie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
5149Denis Denisov RussiaCSKA Moscow Jr. (Russia)
7213Vasili Bizyayev RussiaCSKA Moscow Jr. (Russia)
7220Paul Gaustad United StatesPortland Winterhawks (WHL)
8258Sean McMorrow CanadaKitchener Rangers (OHL)
9277Ryan Courtney CanadaWindsor Spitfires (OHL)

Farm teams

Rochester Americans finished with a record of 46-22-9-3.

They were swept out of the playoffs in the first round.

Head coach: Randy Cunneyworth. Assistant coach: Jon Christano.

See also

References
  1. Michael Peca, the previous captain, sat out the entire season due to a contract dispute.
  2. https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2001.html
  3. "2000-2001 Division Standings". NHL.com. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  4. "2000–2001 Standings by Conference". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4eSNbkKZqU
  6. "2000-01 Buffalo Sabres Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.