The organization also sold its unprofitable Northeast division in 2000.
Two years later, they won the Northeast Division and had the second best regular season record of the league.
They went on to finish second in the four-team Northeast Division with a 24-35 record.
They finished 27-34-9, fifth, and last, in the Northeast Division.
Buffalo has an 11-point lead in the Northeast Division over Pittsburgh.
In 2010, the club finished fourth in the expanded 16-team Northeast Division.
Teams in the Northeast Division have had the second most players win the trophy, with six players winning and at least one from each team.
They ended the season with four straight victories and finished in third place in the Northeast Division.
The team played in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference.
Tonight's game moved them past the idle Whalers and into first place in the Northeast Division.