The Buffalo Sabres will open the 2026-27 season Oct. 1 on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets and hold their home opener Oct. 3 versus old friend Bowen Byram and the Chicago Blackhawks at KeyBank Center.
The NHL this morning announced the home openers for all 32 teams. The rest of the 84-game schedule will be released Thursday.
The Sabres, of course, recently traded Byram to Chicago in a blockbuster deal, so the home opener has a little extra jam.
The NHL added two games to its schedule this season and cut the preseason slate from six games to four.