An early three-game home stand that concludes against the two-time Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, a home-and-home series with the Toronto Maple Leafs later in October and a six-game road trip in December are among the highlights of the Buffalo Sabres’ 2025-26 schedule the NHL released Wednesday.
The Sabres open the season against the New York Rangers on Oct. 9 at KeyBank Center before visiting the Boston Bruins on Oct. 11.
They begin their three-game set Oct. 13, Columbus Day, with an afternoon start against the Colorado Avalanche before concluding it with another afternoon contest Oct. 18 against the Panthers.
The Sabres play the Maple Leafs on Oct. 24 in Buffalo before facing their closest Atlantic Division rival the next night in Toronto.
Seven of the Sabres’ first 10 games are at home.
They begin a six-game, 12-day road trip – their longest since January 2012 – Dec. 3 against the Philadelphia Flyers and end it Dec. 14 versus the Seattle Kraken.
Buffalo plays five of its division opponents – the Bruins, Panthers, Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning – four times each and the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators three times each.
Some other notable dates, stretches and nuggets from the Sabres’ 82-game slate:
– Superstar Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins make their lone visit to Buffalo on Feb. 8, the Sabres’ last game before beginning a 19-day Olympic break for the Milano Cortina Games.
The Sabres resume their schedule Feb. 25 against the New Jersey Devils, the start of a three-game road trip.
– Superstar Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers make their only trip to Buffalo on Feb. 17.
– Former Sabres winger JJ Peterka, who on June 26 was traded to the Utah Mammoth, makes his first visit to Buffalo on Nov. 4.
– The Sabres close the regular season April 15 at home against the Dallas Stars.
The complete 2025-26 schedule is below.
Oct 9 7:00 PM N.Y. Rangers
Oct 11 7:00 PM AT Boston
Oct 13 12:30 PM Colorado
Oct 15 7:00 PM Ottawa
Oct 18 1:00 PM Florida
Oct 20 7:30 PM AT Montreal
Oct 22 7:30 PM Detroit
Oct 24 7:00 PM Toronto
Oct 25 7:00 PM AT Toronto
Oct 28 6:45 PM Columbus
Oct 30 7:00 PM AT Boston
Nov 1 7:00 PM Washington
Nov 4 7:00 PM Utah
Nov 6 7:00 PM St. Louis
Nov 8 7:00 PM AT Carolina
Nov 12 7:00 PM AT Utah
Nov 13 7:00 PM AT Colorado
Nov 15 7:00 PM AT Detroit
Nov 17 7:00 PM Edmonton
Nov 19 7:30 PM Calgary
Nov 21 7:00 PM Chicago
Nov 23 1:00 PM Carolina
Nov 26 7:00 PM AT Pittsburgh
Nov 28 4:00 PM New Jersey
Nov 29 7:00 PM AT Minnesota
Dec 1 7:30 PM Winnipeg
Dec 3 7:30 PM AT Philadelphia
Dec 5 6:00 PM AT Winnipeg
Dec 8 7:00 PM AT Calgary
Dec 9 7:00 PM AT Edmonton
Dec 11 7:00 PM AT Vancouver
Dec 14 5:00 PM AT Seattle
Dec 18 7:00 PM Philadelphia
Dec 20 5:00 PM N.Y. Islanders
Dec 21 7:00 PM AT New Jersey
Dec 23 7:00 PM AT Ottawa
Dec 27 7:00 PM Boston
Dec 29 7:00 PM AT St. Louis
Dec 31 7:00 PM AT Dallas
Jan 3 3:00 PM AT Columbus
Jan 6 7:00 PM Vancouver
Jan 8 7:00 PM AT N.Y. Rangers
Jan 10 7:00 PM Anaheim
Jan 12 7:00 PM Florida
Jan 14 7:30 PM Philadelphia
Jan 15 7:00 PM Montreal
Sat. Jan 17 12:30 PM Minnesota
Jan 19 1:30 PM AT Carolina
Jan 20 7:00 PM AT Nashville
Jan 22 7:00 PM AT Montreal
Jan 24 1:00 PM AT N.Y. Islanders
Jan 27 7:00 PM AT Toronto
Jan 29 7:00 PM Los Angeles
Jan 31 7:00 PM Montreal
Feb 2 7:00 PM AT Florida
Feb 3 7:00 PM AT Tampa Bay
Feb 5 7:00 PM Pittsburgh
Feb 25 7:00 PM AT New Jersey
Feb 27 7:00 PM AT Florida
Feb 28 7:00 PM AT Tampa Bay
Mar 3 7:00 PM Vegas
Mar 5 7:00 PM AT Pittsburgh
Mar 7 5:30 PM Nashville
Mar 8 6:00 PM Tampa Bay
Mar 10 7:00 PM San Jose
Mar 12 7:00 PM Washington
Mar 14 7:00 PM Toronto
Mar 17 7:00 PM AT Vegas
Mar 19 7:00 PM AT San Jose
Mar 21 1:00 PM AT Los Angeles
Mar 22 5:00 PM AT Anaheim
Mar 25 7:00 PM Boston
Mar 27 7:00 PM Detroit
Mar 28 5:30 PM Seattle
Mar 31 7:00 PM N.Y. Islanders
Apr 2 7:00 PM AT Ottawa
Apr 4 7:00 PM AT Washington
Apr 6 7:00 PM Tampa Bay
Apr 8 7:00 PM AT N.Y. Rangers
Apr 9 7:00 PM Columbus
Apr 13 7:30 PM AT Chicago
Apr 15 7:00 PM Dallas