REF WATCH
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Buffalo Sabres

How the Sabres play under each ref or ref crew

Every Sabres game grouped by individual official, or by the same four officials on the ice. Over this sample the Sabres are 210-201 (51.1%); each ref and crew win rate below is compared to that team average.

Updated Jul 7, 2026, 4:50 p.m.Sabres record: 210-201 (51.1%)

Notable patterns

  • Whistle pattern

    In the Sabres games with Jon McIsaac, opponents draw 1.5 more minor penalties per game than the Sabres (32-game sample).

    32 games in sample

    Jon McIsaac profile →

  • Scoring pattern

    In the Sabres games with Chris Lee, contests average 7.5 combined goals (+0.2 vs league), 70.7% finish over the 7.3-goal benchmark across 75 games.

    75 games in sample

    Chris Lee profile →

Steve Kozari

25 games with the Sabres · ~20-5

Win rate

80.0%

Team baseline 51.1%

+28.9 pts vs team
Totals

7.2 avg

52.0% over 7.3

-0.1 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

+1.0

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Ghislain Hebert

12 games with the Sabres · ~9-3

Win rate

75.0%

Team baseline 51.1%

+23.9 pts vs team
Totals

7 avg

66.7% over 7.3

-0.3 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

+0.5

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Derek Nansen

61 games with the Sabres · ~37-24

Win rate

60.7%

Team baseline 51.1%

+9.6 pts vs team
Totals

7.3 avg

59.0% over 7.3

+0.0 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

+0.1

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Jon McIsaac

32 games with the Sabres · ~19-13

Win rate

59.4%

Team baseline 51.1%

+8.3 pts vs team
Totals

7.5 avg

65.6% over 7.3

+0.2 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

-1.5

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Opponent tendency

Graham Skilliter

34 games with the Sabres · ~20-14

Win rate

58.8%

Team baseline 51.1%

+7.7 pts vs team
Totals

7.3 avg

64.7% over 7.3

+0.0 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

+0.1

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Gord Dwyer

17 games with the Sabres · ~10-7

Win rate

58.8%

Team baseline 51.1%

+7.7 pts vs team
Totals

7.1 avg

58.8% over 7.3

-0.2 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

-1.0

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Scott Cherrey

67 games with the Sabres · ~39-28

Win rate

58.2%

Team baseline 51.1%

+7.1 pts vs team
Totals

7.3 avg

65.7% over 7.3

+0.0 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

-0.8

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Brian Pochmara

31 games with the Sabres · ~18-13

Win rate

58.1%

Team baseline 51.1%

+7.0 pts vs team
Totals

7.4 avg

51.6% over 7.3

+0.1 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

+1.0

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Devin Berg

34 games with the Sabres · ~19-15

Win rate

55.9%

Team baseline 51.1%

+4.8 pts vs team
Totals

7.3 avg

64.7% over 7.3

+0.0 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

+0.4

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Trent Knorr

51 games with the Sabres · ~28-23

Win rate

54.9%

Team baseline 51.1%

+3.8 pts vs team
Totals

7.3 avg

58.8% over 7.3

+0.0 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

-0.4

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

TJ Luxmore

31 games with the Sabres · ~17-14

Win rate

54.8%

Team baseline 51.1%

+3.7 pts vs team
Totals

7.2 avg

54.8% over 7.3

-0.1 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

+0.0

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Mark Shewchyk

75 games with the Sabres · ~41-34

Win rate

54.7%

Team baseline 51.1%

+3.6 pts vs team
Totals

7.4 avg

69.3% over 7.3

+0.1 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

-0.3

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Michel Cormier

75 games with the Sabres · ~41-34

Win rate

54.7%

Team baseline 51.1%

+3.6 pts vs team
Totals

7.1 avg

61.3% over 7.3

-0.2 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

-0.1

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Jean Hebert

37 games with the Sabres · ~20-17

Win rate

54.1%

Team baseline 51.1%

+3.0 pts vs team
Totals

7.1 avg

48.6% over 7.3

-0.2 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

+0.2

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Kiel Murchison

63 games with the Sabres · ~34-29

Win rate

54.0%

Team baseline 51.1%

+2.9 pts vs team
Totals

7.1 avg

50.8% over 7.3

-0.2 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

+0.2

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Brandon Gawryletz

34 games with the Sabres · ~18-16

Win rate

52.9%

Team baseline 51.1%

+1.8 pts vs team
Totals

7.1 avg

61.8% over 7.3

-0.2 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

+0.0

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Frederick L'Ecuyer

57 games with the Sabres · ~30-27

Win rate

52.6%

Team baseline 51.1%

+1.5 pts vs team
Totals

7.3 avg

63.2% over 7.3

+0.0 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

-0.1

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Chris Lee

75 games with the Sabres · ~39-36

Win rate

52.0%

Team baseline 51.1%

+0.9 pts vs team
Totals

7.5 avg

70.7% over 7.3

+0.2 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

-0.4

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Francis Charron

64 games with the Sabres · ~32-32

Win rate

50.0%

Team baseline 51.1%

-1.1 pts vs team
Totals

7.1 avg

59.4% over 7.3

-0.2 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

-0.6

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Ryan Daisy

32 games with the Sabres · ~16-16

Win rate

50.0%

Team baseline 51.1%

-1.1 pts vs team
Totals

7.5 avg

62.5% over 7.3

+0.2 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

-1.2

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Opponent tendency

Trevor Hanson

30 games with the Sabres · ~15-15

Win rate

50.0%

Team baseline 51.1%

-1.1 pts vs team
Totals

7.3 avg

73.3% over 7.3

+0.0 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

+0.0

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Furman South

16 games with the Sabres · ~8-8

Win rate

50.0%

Team baseline 51.1%

-1.1 pts vs team
Totals

7.4 avg

62.5% over 7.3

+0.1 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

-1.8

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Opponent tendency

Peter MacDougall

14 games with the Sabres · ~7-7

Win rate

50.0%

Team baseline 51.1%

-1.1 pts vs team
Totals

8 avg

78.6% over 7.3

+0.7 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

+0.4

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

David Brisebois

12 games with the Sabres · ~6-6

Win rate

50.0%

Team baseline 51.1%

-1.1 pts vs team
Totals

7.3 avg

75.0% over 7.3

+0.0 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

-1.7

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Opponent tendency

Eric Furlatt

70 games with the Sabres · ~34-36

Win rate

48.6%

Team baseline 51.1%

-2.5 pts vs team
Totals

7.2 avg

64.3% over 7.3

-0.1 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

+0.4

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Wes McCauley

29 games with the Sabres · ~14-15

Win rate

48.3%

Team baseline 51.1%

-2.8 pts vs team
Totals

7.4 avg

62.1% over 7.3

+0.1 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

-1.0

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Jonny Murray

27 games with the Sabres · ~13-14

Win rate

48.1%

Team baseline 51.1%

-3.0 pts vs team
Totals

7.3 avg

51.9% over 7.3

+0.0 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

-0.9

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Chris Rooney

34 games with the Sabres · ~16-18

Win rate

47.1%

Team baseline 51.1%

-4.0 pts vs team
Totals

7.3 avg

64.7% over 7.3

+0.0 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

-1.4

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Opponent tendency

Ryan Gibbons

17 games with the Sabres · ~8-9

Win rate

47.1%

Team baseline 51.1%

-4.0 pts vs team
Totals

7.3 avg

70.6% over 7.3

+0.0 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

-0.6

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Brad Kovachik

49 games with the Sabres · ~23-26

Win rate

46.9%

Team baseline 51.1%

-4.2 pts vs team
Totals

7.4 avg

57.1% over 7.3

+0.1 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

+0.1

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Jake Brenk

47 games with the Sabres · ~22-25

Win rate

46.8%

Team baseline 51.1%

-4.3 pts vs team
Totals

7.1 avg

63.8% over 7.3

-0.2 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

-0.2

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Matt MacPherson

106 games with the Sabres · ~48-58

Win rate

45.3%

Team baseline 51.1%

-5.8 pts vs team
Totals

7.2 avg

60.4% over 7.3

-0.1 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

+0.1

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Tom Chmielewski

20 games with the Sabres · ~9-11

Win rate

45.0%

Team baseline 51.1%

-6.1 pts vs team
Totals

6.8 avg

40.0% over 7.3

-0.5 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

+0.3

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Dan O'Rourke

9 games with the Sabres · ~4-5

Win rate

44.4%

Team baseline 51.1%

-6.7 pts vs team
Totals

7.2 avg

55.6% over 7.3

-0.1 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

-0.4

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Bevan Mills

9 games with the Sabres · ~4-5

Win rate

44.4%

Team baseline 51.1%

-6.7 pts vs team
Totals

6.4 avg

44.4% over 7.3

-0.9 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

-0.1

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Bryan Pancich

56 games with the Sabres · ~24-32

Win rate

42.9%

Team baseline 51.1%

-8.2 pts vs team
Totals

7.3 avg

62.5% over 7.3

+0.0 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

+0.1

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Kyle Rehman

74 games with the Sabres · ~31-43

Win rate

41.9%

Team baseline 51.1%

-9.2 pts vs team
Totals

7 avg

55.4% over 7.3

-0.3 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

+0.1

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Kelly Sutherland

43 games with the Sabres · ~18-25

Win rate

41.9%

Team baseline 51.1%

-9.2 pts vs team
Totals

7.2 avg

53.5% over 7.3

-0.1 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

-0.2

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Shandor Alphonso

36 games with the Sabres · ~14-22

Win rate

38.9%

Team baseline 51.1%

-12.2 pts vs team
Totals

6.9 avg

44.4% over 7.3

-0.4 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

-0.2

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Steve Barton

18 games with the Sabres · ~7-11

Win rate

38.9%

Team baseline 51.1%

-12.2 pts vs team
Totals

7.4 avg

61.1% over 7.3

+0.1 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

+0.8

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Garrett Rank

21 games with the Sabres · ~8-13

Win rate

38.1%

Team baseline 51.1%

-13.0 pts vs team
Totals

6.8 avg

42.9% over 7.3

-0.5 vs league
Whistle differentialAverage fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).Average fouls on one team minus the opponent per game. Positive means that team is whistled less (or the opponent more).

+0.2

More fouls on the Sabres's opponents when positive

Balanced

Late-game proxy

How Buffalo Sabres compares in competitive late-game windows vs full games. Proxy windowsA competitive late-game window derived from final margins, pregame spreads, or overtime, not official NBA Last Two Minute (L2M) play-by-play reports. Useful for spotting whistle/scoring shifts in tight games, with honest partial-coverage labels.A competitive late-game window derived from final margins, pregame spreads, or overtime, not official NBA Last Two Minute (L2M) play-by-play reports. Useful for spotting whistle/scoring shifts in tight games, with honest partial-coverage labels., not official NBA L2M reports.

Overtime / shootout games

Games that required extra time; the clearest late-game pressure proxy in our logs. Includes OT and SO scoring.

92 of 411 games match this window

Derived from historical game logs · proxy window, not official L2M play-by-play

MetricOvertime / shootout gamesFull gameΔ vs full
Avg combined goals7.67.2+0.4
Avg PIM14.815-0.2
Over rate35.9%40.6%-4.7 pts

Over benchmark: 7.3 combined goals · Seasons: 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26 · 411 total games in sample

One-goal or OT games

Regulation one-goal games plus any overtime, competitive games where third-period whistles matter most.

209 of 411 games match this window

Derived from historical game logs · proxy window, not official L2M play-by-play

MetricOne-goal or OT gamesFull gameΔ vs full
Avg combined goals7.47.2+0.2
Avg PIM15.215+0.2
Over rate33.0%40.6%-7.6 pts

Over benchmark: 7.3 combined goals · Seasons: 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26 · 411 total games in sample

What am I looking at?
  • Individual refs: stats for one official across all Sabres games they worked, even with different partners.
  • Ref crews: stats when the same four officials worked together on the Sabres games (5+ games shown by default).
  • Team baseline: the Sabres went 210-201 (51.1%) across this sample. Ref and crew win rates show how they compare to that team average.
  • Whistle differential: PIM differential. A positive number means opponents are penalized more often than the Sabres.

Historical stats are still loading for some teams; check back after the next data refresh.

League-wide ref profiles

Matt MacPherson61.2% over 7.3Mark Shewchyk62.5% over 7.3Francis Charron61.9% over 7.3Michel Cormier62.4% over 7.3Chris Lee62.3% over 7.3Scott Cherrey59.1% over 7.3Derek Nansen62.9% over 7.3Eric Furlatt60.5% over 7.3Kiel Murchison62.8% over 7.3Brad Kovachik59.7% over 7.3Kyle Rehman61.8% over 7.3Bryan Pancich62.2% over 7.3