Key dates on Sabres’ 2026-27 schedule

The Buffalo Sabres’ 2026-27 schedule is here.

With the NHL regular season now expanded to 84 games, the Sabres’ quest to build upon last year’s breakout will run from Oct. 1 to April 10 (and hopefully beyond).

Single-game tickets are now on sale, so get yours today.

Whether you’re planning a trip to KeyBank Center or watching all 84 from home, here are some key dates to know on the 2026-27 schedule.

• Theme night and giveaway schedule for 2026-27 season
• Print a copy of the 2026-27 schedule
• Add Sabres' schedule to your digital calendar

Home opener

vs. Chicago | Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m.

After opening on the road Oct. 1 in Columbus, the Sabres begin their 42-game home slate versus the Blackhawks, whom they've beaten five straight times at home by a combined score of 27-12. The Saturday night opener kicks off a five-game homestand that will also bring the Wild, Stars, Mammoth and Panthers to KeyBank Center.

Playoff rematches

The 84-game schedule means four matchups with each Atlantic Division team, so the Sabres will have plenty of time to renew the bad blood with their 2026 playoff opponents.

Montreal

Away: Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m. | Saturday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.

Home: Friday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. | Monday, Jan. 18 at 1 p.m.

Boston

Away: Tuesday, Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m. | Tuesday, March 23 at 7 p.m.

Home: Thursday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. | Wednesday, April 7 at 7 p.m.

Thanksgiving week

vs. NYR | Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m.

vs. PIT | Friday, Nov. 27 at 8 p.m.

Weekend matinees at home

vs. VGK | Sunday, Nov. 8 at 3:30 p.m.

vs. NYR | Saturday, March 6 at 3 p.m.

vs. FLA | Saturday, March 20 at 1 p.m.

Sabres/Bills home weekends

Make it back-to-back nights of Buffalo sports with home games at both KeyBank Center and Highmark Stadium:

Oct. 3-4 | Sabres vs. CHI | Bills vs. Patriots

Nov. 25-27 | Sabres vs. NYR | Bills vs. Chiefs (Thanksgiving) | Sabres vs. PIT

Dec. 18-20 | Sabres vs. MTL | Bills vs. Bears | Sabres vs. LAK

Taking on Tampa

Home: Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. | Monday, April 5 at 7 p.m.

Away: Sunday, Nov. 22 at 5 p.m. | Saturday, Jan. 2 at 7 p.m.

Last season’s matchups with the Lightning featured some serious fireworks, highlighted by the 8-7 thriller on home ice. What will this year’s games against the Atlantic Division rivals have in store?

All-Star break

Feb. 4-12

The NHL is returning to an All-Star game this year, which means nine days without Sabres hockey in early February. Which Buffalo players will head to Long Island as 2027 All-Stars?

Notable visitors

• Matthew and Brady Tkachuk (FLA): Monday, Oct. 12 at 1 p.m.; Saturday, March 20 at 1 p.m.
• Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner (VGK): Sunday, Nov. 8 at 3:30 p.m.
• Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl (EDM): Thursday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m.
• Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar (COL): Thursday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m.
• Auston Matthews and No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna (TOR): Saturday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.; Thursday, March 25 at 7 p.m.
• Macklin Celebrini and No. 2 pick Ivar Stenberg (SJS): Monday, March 15 at 7 p.m.
• Alex Tuch and Alex Ovechkin (WSH): Thursday, March 18 at 7 p.m.

Schedule stats

More things to know about the 2026-27 regular season:

• 14 back-to-back sets. The Sabres went 9-1-3 in the second game of back-to-backs last season.
• 12 games scheduled for 4 p.m. ET or earlier: 5 home, 7 away
• 8 games scheduled for 9 p.m. ET or later
• 2 visits from the Stanley Cup-champion Hurricanes: Jan. 9 and Feb. 18
• Games by division: 28 vs. Atlantic, 24 vs. Metropolitan, 16 vs. Central, 16 vs. Pacific