1970–71 Buffalo Sabres season
The 1970–1971 Buffalo Sabres season was the Sabres' 1st season in the National Hockey League.
| 1970–71 Buffalo Sabres | |
|---|---|
| Division | 5th East |
| 1970–71 record | 24–39–15 |
| Home record | 16–13–10 |
| Road record | 8–26–5 |
| Goals for | 217 |
| Goals against | 291 |
| Team information | |
| General manager | Punch Imlach |
| Coach | Punch Imlach |
| Captain | Floyd Smith |
| Arena | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium |
| Average attendance | 9,721 |
| Team leaders | |
| Goals | Gilbert Perreault (38) |
| Assists | Phil Goyette (46) |
| Points | Gilbert Perreault (72) |
| Penalty minutes | Tracy Pratt (179) |
| Wins | Joe Daley (12) |
| Goals against average | Dave Dryden (3.37) |
The Sabres had the first pick in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft, which they used to select Gilbert Perreault. Led by Perreault's NHL rookie record of 38 goals, the Sabres would 24–39–15, ahead of the Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings in the Eastern Division. However, they finished 19 points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs in the division, and finished 19 points short of a playoff berth.
The Sabres played their home games in the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. "The Aud" was previously home of the Buffalo Bisons AHL team. To make way for the Sabres the Bisons folded following the 1969–70 AHL season, which saw the Bisons win their fifth and final Calder Cup. For the Sabres first season played the Aud had an ice hockey seating capacity of only 12,280 for hockey. The arena would be renovated following the season to expand capacity.