An early five-game home stand, two road contests against the Montreal Canadiens in a five-day span in October and a rigorous stretch in which they play 10 of 12 games on the road in late November and early December are among the highlights of the Buffalo Sabres’ 2026-27 schedule the NHL released Thursday.
The 84-game schedule – the NHL has added two regular-season contests and cut the preseason from six games to four – means the Sabres play each of their seven Atlantic Division opponents four times.
The Sabres start the season Oct. 1 on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets before beginning a five-game home stand Oct. 3 versus the Chicago Blackhawks at KeyBank Center.
After a Columbus Day matinee Oct. 12 against the Florida Panthers, the Sabres begin a three-game road trip the next night in Montreal. They get their first glimpse of Maple Leafs rookie Gavin McKenna, the first overall pick, Oct. 15 in Toronto. They close the trip Oct. 17 in Montreal.
The Sabres begin a season-long six-game road trip Nov. 12 in Chicago and a four-game western swing Dec. 1 versus the Edmonton Oilers.
The day before Thanksgiving, Nov. 25, the Sabres host the New York Rangers, and Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins visit Buffalo for a rare 8 p.m. start Nov. 27.
From Oct. 13 to Dec. 6, the Sabres play 17 of 24 games on the road.
Some other notable dates, stretches and nuggets from the schedule:
– The Sabres face old friend Alex Tuch, who last month was dealt to the Capitals in a sign-and-trade deal, for the first time Oct. 24 in Washington.
Tuch and graying superstar Alex Ovechkin, who could be playing his last season, play March 18 in Buffalo.
– The Tampa Bay Lightning, the fierce rival the Sabres beat out for the division title last season, make the first of its two visits to Buffalo on Nov. 11.
– Superstar Connor McDavid and the Oilers make their only trip to Buffalo on Dec. 10.
– The Canadiens visit Buffalo on Dec. 18 for the first time since their overtime win in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinal.
– The Sabres host the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 26. The NHL allows games to be played the day after Christmas if Dec. 26 falls on a Saturday.
– The Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes make the first of their two visits to Buffalo Jan. 9.
– The Sabres are off from Feb. 4 to 12 for the NHL All-Star break and their bye week.
– The Sabres close the season with a three-game home stand against division opponents – the Lightning, Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings – from April 5 to 10.
The complete schedule is below.
Oct 1 7:00 PM AT Columbus
Oct 3 7:00 PM Chicago
Oct 6 8:00 PM Minnesota
Oct 8 7:00 PM Dallas
Oct 10 7:00 PM Utah
Oct 12 1:00 PM Florida
Oct 13 6:30 PM AT Montreal
Oct 15 7:00 PM AT Toronto
Oct 17 7:00 PM AT Montreal
Oct 21 7:30 PM Philadelphia
Oct 24 7:00 PM AT Washington
Oct 27 7:30 PM AT San Jose
Oct 29 7:00 PM AT Anaheim
Oct 31 1:00 PM AT Los Angeles
Nov 4 7:30 PM Ottawa
Nov 6 7:00 PM Columbus
Nov 8 3:30 PM Vegas
Nov 11 7:30 PM Tampa Bay
Nov 12 7:00 PM AT Chicago
Nov 14 7:00 PM AT Dallas
Nov 17 7:00 PM AT Philadelphia
Nov 19 7:00 PM AT Washington
Nov 21 6:00 PM AT Florida
Nov 22 5:00 PM AT Tampa Bay
Nov 25 7:00 PM N.Y. Rangers
Nov 27 8:00 PM Pittsburgh
Dec 1 7:00 PM AT Edmonton
Dec 3 7:00 PM AT Calgary
Dec 4 7:00 PM AT Vancouver
Dec 6 5:00 PM AT Seattle
Dec 10 7:00 PM Edmonton
Dec 12 7:00 PM Anaheim
Dec 14 2:00 PM AT Ottawa
Dec 15 7:00 PM Calgary
Dec 18 7:00 PM Montreal
Dec 20 6:00 PM Los Angeles
Dec 22 7:00 PM AT Pittsburgh
Dec 26 7:00 PM New Jersey
Dec 28 7:00 PM Detroit
Dec 30 7:00 PM AT Florida
Jan 2 7:00 PM AT Tampa Bay
Jan 4 7:30 PM Winnipeg
Jan 5 AT Boston
Jan 8 AT Columbus
Jan 9 Carolina
Jan 12 New Jersey
Jan 14 Colorado
Jan 16 Nashville
Jan 18 Montreal
Jan 20 AT N.Y. Islanders
Jan 21 Seattle
Jan 24 AT Winnipeg
Jan 27 AT Utah
Jan 28 AT Vegas
Jan 30 AT Colorado
Feb 3 N.Y. Islanders
Feb 13 AT Carolina
Feb 15 AT N.Y. Rangers
Feb 18 Carolina
Feb 20 AT New Jersey
Feb 21 AT Detroit
Feb 24 AT Philadelphia
Feb 26 Ottawa
Feb 27 Toronto
Mar 2 Pittsburgh
Mar 4 St. Louis
Mar 6 N.Y. Rangers
Mar 7 AT Ottawa
Mar 9 Vancouver
Mar 12 AT Detroit
Mar 14 AT Minnesota
Mar 15 San Jose
Mar 18 Washington
Mar 20 Florida
Mar 21 AT N.Y. Islanders
Mar 23 AT Boston
Mar 25 Toronto
Mar 28 AT St. Louis
Mar 30 AT Nashville
Apr 1 Boston
Apr 3 AT Toronto
Apr 5 Tampa Bay
Apr 7 Boston
Apr 10 Detroit
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The Rochester Americans on Thursday named Tonawanda native Scott Moser an assistant coach and Neil Conway goalie coach.
Moser, 37, spent the last five seasons as an associate coach at the University of Vermont. He has also coached at RPI and Canisius University, where he played.
Vinny Prospal, the assistant coach who handled the Amerks’ forwards, was recently named an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues.
Conway, 38, spent that last five seasons in the junior United States Hockey League as the Youngstown Phantoms’ director of goaltending.
He began his coaching career in Austria and also coached at Colgate University.
He spent most of his four-year career in the ECHL.