The NHL Belt · reign 2,234
Buffalo Sabres
Took the belt from Florida Panthers, 5–2, on February 1, 1998. Lost it to New York Islanders, 4–2, on March 6, 1998.
8Defenses
33Days
58thReign for the franchise
+1Closest call · Mar 2, 1998
2.8Average winning margin
124thLongest of 3,434 reigns, by days
59thMost defenses of 3,434 reigns
Defended against
Bruins ×2LightningPenguinsCanadiensMaple LeafsCapitalsRangers
The season
- 1997–98: Dallas Stars had the best record (49–22–11); Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup; 10 belt games of this reign; the belt changed hands 38 times that season.
Reign leaders
Most points for Buffalo Sabres across the 10 belt games of this reign with a box score.
| Player | PTS | Games | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexei Zhitnik | 10 | 10 |
| 2 | Donald Audette | 8 | 10 |
| 3 | Miroslav Satan | 8 | 10 |
| 4 | Michael Peca | 7 | 10 |
| 5 | Jason Dawe | 6 | 10 |
Every game of the reign
margins from Buffalo Sabres’ side| Belt game | Date | Result | Margin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,843 | Feb 1, 1998 | Buffalo Sabres beat Florida Panthers 5–2 Game → | +3 | Title change |
| 5,844 | Feb 2, 1998 | Buffalo Sabres beat Tampa Bay Lightning 7–3 | +4 | Defense |
| 5,845 | Feb 4, 1998 | Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins tied 2–2 (OT) | 0 OT | Tie · defense |
| 5,846 | Feb 6, 1998 | Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins tied 2–2 (OT) | 0 OT | Tie · defense |
| 5,847 | Feb 7, 1998 | Buffalo Sabres beat Montréal Canadiens 4–1 | +3 | Defense |
| 5,848 | Feb 25, 1998 | Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs tied 2–2 (OT) | 0 OT | Tie · defense |
| 5,849 | Feb 26, 1998 | Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins tied 1–1 (OT) | 0 OT | Tie · defense |
| 5,850 | Mar 1, 1998 | Buffalo Sabres beat Washington Capitals 3–0 | +3 | Defense |
| 5,851 | Mar 2, 1998 | Buffalo Sabres beat New York Rangers 1–0 | +1 | Defense |
| 5,852 | Mar 6, 1998 | New York Islanders beat Buffalo Sabres 4–2 Game → | −2 | Title change |