The Buffalo Sabres will take another shot at ending one of professional sports’ longest playoff droughts when they open the season at 7 p.m. Oct. 9 against the New York Rangers at KeyBank Center.
The NHL released its 2025-26 schedule Wednesday. The Sabres’ 82-game schedule includes a six-game road trip that begins in eastern Pennsylvania and ends in the Pacific Northwest in December, and visits from the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Oct. 18 and Jan. 12.
The Sabres face the Toronto Maple Leafs four times, including a home-and-home matchup at 7 p.m. Oct. 24 at KeyBank Center and 7 p.m. Oct. 25 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
The Sabres and right wing Alex Tuch will host the New York Rangers in their season opener at 7 p.m. Oct. 9 at KeyBank Center.
Joed Viera, Buffalo News
This is the last season the NHL will play an 82-game schedule. It will move to an 84-game schedule, with two fewer exhibition games, for the 2026-27 season, part of a new collective bargaining agreement with the NHL Players’ Association. The next CBA goes into effect July 1, 2026, and runs through the 2029-30 season.
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Here’s a look at a few highlights of the Sabres’ 2025-26 schedule:
Season opener
Oct. 9 vs. the New York Rangers
The Sabres host the Rangers in the season opener for the second time in three years, and it’s the first of seven October home games. The Sabres only play four road games in October: Oct. 11 at Boston, Oct. 20 at Montreal, Oct. 25 at Toronto and Oct. 30 at Boston.
The last time the Sabres hosted the Rangers in a season opener, New York won 5-1 in October 2023. The most obvious connection on opening night? Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury played for the Sabres from 2003-2007, and was the Sabres captain from November 2003 to the end of the 2006-07 season.
Longest road trip
Dec. 3 at Philadelphia through Dec. 14 at Seattle
The Sabres open a six-game, transcontinental stretch when they play Dec. 3 at Philadelphia, then quickly open their passports. They’ll play Dec. 5 at Winnipeg, Dec. 8 at Calgary, Dec. 9 at Edmonton, Dec. 11 at Vancouver and Dec. 14 at Seattle. The Sabres then return to KeyBank Center for games Dec. 18 against Philadelphia and Dec. 20 against the New York Islanders.
Say hello to Stanley Cup champs
Oct. 18, Jan. 12 vs. Florida
Leave your plastic rats at home. Littering is bad. But watch a guaranteed winner when the Panthers come to town, fresh off capturing their second Stanley Cup in as many years. And watch former Sabres Sam Reinhart and Evan Rodrigues help the Panthers pursue their third consecutive Stanley Cup. The Panthers aim to become the first NHL team in the salary-cap era to stake that claim.
Say hello to Stanley Cup runner-up
The Edmonton Oilers visit KeyBank Center once next season with Connor McDavid, Darnell Nurse, Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman in tow. Edmonton has lost in the Stanley Cup Final the last two years to the Panthers.
The regional rivalry
Expect Buffalo to become the southernmost suburb of Toronto when Auston Matthews, John Tavares and the Maple Leafs visit KeyBank Center. Buy your tickets early. Otherwise, most of southern Ontario will corner the market on the lower-bowl seats. The Sabres host the Leafs on Oct. 24 and March 14, and play the Leafs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Oct. 25 and Jan. 27.
Atlantic Division matchups
All games matter, but Atlantic Division contests carry extra weight if the Sabres are to end their playoff drought after 14 seasons.
Points will be at a premium in the Atlantic Division. If the Sabres find themselves coming down to the wire for a playoff spot, the math needs to be in their favor. Consider that five points separated sixth-place Detroit from the fifth-place (and playoff-qualifying) Montreal last season.
The Sabres face the Maple Leafs, Panthers, Lightning and Bruins four times, and face the Senators, Red Wings and Canadiens three times.
Boston: Dec. 27, March 25 at KeyBank Center; Oct. 11, Oct. 30 at TD Garden in Boston.Florida: Oct. 18, Jan. 12 at KeyBank Center; Feb. 2 and Feb. 27 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla.Tampa Bay: March 8, April 6 at KeyBank Center; Feb. 3, Feb. 28 at Amalie Arena in Tampa.Toronto: Oct. 24, March 14 at KeyBank Center; Oct. 25, Jan. 27 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.Detroit: Oct. 22, March 27 at KeyBank Center; Nov. 15 at Little Caesars Arena in DetroitMontreal: Jan. 15, Jan. 31 at KeyBank Center; Oct. 20 at Bell Centre in Montreal.Ottawa: Oct. 15 at KeyBank Center; Dec. 23, April 2 at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.
A ‘Prudential’ meeting
The Sabres travel to Newark, N.J., to face the Devils at the Prudential Center in their first visit to New Jersey since Nov. 25, 2023, when the Devils beat the Sabres, 7-2. The December game will be head coach Lindy Ruff’s first visit to New Jersey since the Devils fired Ruff on March 4, 2024. He began his second stint as Sabres coach April 22, 2024. The Sabres did not play in New Jersey last season, as their “road” games against the Devils were in Prague in October, when the Devils beat the Sabres 4-1 and 3-1.
The Great 8’s visit
Nov. 1, March 12 vs. Washington
Alex Ovechkin, one of the most dynamic generational players, comes to Western New York as the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer (897 and counting), and shows no signs of stopping. Ovechkin turns 40 in September and could be on pace for another prolific scoring season when the Capitals visit the Sabres.
JJ Peterka’s return
Three nights after Ovechkin’s visit, JJ Peterka returns to Buffalo as a member of the newly minted Utah Mammoth (the team formerly known as the Utah Hockey Club, and formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes, Phoenix Coyotes or Winnipeg Jets). The Sabres traded Peterka to Utah on June 25 for defenseman Michael Kesselring and forward Josh Doan.
Olympics break
Here’s a lengthy window where you can spend time with your family, catch up on your Netflix or Hulu binge-watching, do all the laundry you’ve ignored or take a breather from watching hockey … or you can simply watch international hockey.
The NHL goes on hiatus when select NHL players will participate in the Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy, for the first time since 2014, including Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who will play for Sweden.
The Sabres’ season will resume Feb. 25 at New Jersey.
Regular-season finale
You might be lining up for playoff tickets at KeyBank Center by mid-April. Or you might be saying, “maybe next year” for the 15th consecutive spring by the time the Sabres close the regular season against the Stars, who have played in the last three Western Conference finals.
Oct. 9 vs. New York Rangers, 7 p.m.
Oct. 11 at Boston, 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 vs. Colorado, 12:30 p.m.
Oct. 15 vs. Ottawa, 7 p.m.
Oct. 18 vs. Florida, 1 p.m.
Oct. 20 at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 22 vs. Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 24 vs. Toronto, 7 p.m.
Oct. 25 at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Oct. 28 vs. Columbus, 6:45 p.m.
Oct. 30 at Boston, 7 p.m.
Nov. 1 vs. Washington, 7 p.m.
Nov. 6 vs. St. Louis, 7 p.m.
Nov. 8 at Carolina, 7 p.m.
Nov. 13 at Colorado, 9 p.m.
Nov. 15 at Detroit, 7 p.m.
Nov. 17 vs. Edmonton, 7 p.m.
Nov. 19 vs. Calgary, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 21 vs. Chicago, 7 p.m.
Nov. 23 vs. Carolina, 1 p.m.
Nov. 26 at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Nov. 28 vs. New Jersey, 4 p.m.
Nov. 29 at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Dec. 1 vs. Winnipeg, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 3 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 5 at Winnipeg, 7 p.m.
Dec. 8 at Calgary, 9 p.m.
Dec. 9 at Edmonton, 9 p.m.
Dec. 11 at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Dec. 14 at Seattle, 8 p.m.
Dec. 18 vs. Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Dec. 20 vs. New York Islanders, 5 p.m.
Dec. 21 at New Jersey, 7 p.m.
Dec. 23 at Ottawa, 7 p.m.
Dec. 27 at Boston, 7 p.m.
Dec. 29 at St. Louis, 8 p.m.
Dec. 31 at Dallas, 8 p.m.
Jan. 3 at Columbus, 3 p.m.
Jan. 6 vs. Vancouver, 7 p.m.
Jan. 8 at New York Rangers, 7 p.m.
Jan. 10 vs. Anaheim, 7 p.m.
Jan. 12 vs. Florida, 7 p.m.
Jan. 14 vs. Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 15 vs. Montreal, 7 p.m.
Jan. 17 vs. Minnesota, 12:30 p.m.
Jan. 19 at Carolina, 1:30 p.m.
Jan. 20 at Nashville, 8 p.m.
Jan. 22 at Montreal, 7 p.m.
Jan. 24 at New York Islanders, 1 p.m.
Jan. 27 at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Jan. 29 vs. Los Angeles, 7 p.m.
Jan. 31 vs. Montreal, 7 p.m.
Feb. 2 at Florida, 7 p.m.
Feb. 3 at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.
Feb. 5 vs. Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Feb. 25 at New Jersey, 7 p.m.
Feb. 27 at Florida, 7 p.m.
Feb. 28 at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.
March 3 vs. Vegas, 7 p.m.
March 5 at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
March 7 vs. Nashville, 5:30 p.m.
March 8 vs. Tampa Bay, 6 p.m.
March 10 vs. San Jose, 7 p.m.
March 12 vs. Washington, 7 p.m.
March 14 vs. Toronto, 7 p.m.
March 17 at Vegas, 10 p.m.
March 19 at San Jose, 10 p.m.
March 21 at Los Angeles, 4 p.m.
March 22 at Anaheim, 8 p.m.
March 25 vs. Boston, 7 p.m.
March 27 vs. Detroit, 7 p.m.
March 28 vs. Seattle, 5:30 p.m.
March 31 vs. New York Islanders, 7 p.m.
April 2 at Ottawa, 7 p.m.
April 4 at Washington, 7 p.m.
April 6 vs. Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.
April 8 at New York Rangers, 7 p.m.
April 9 vs. Columbus, 7 p.m.
April 13 at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
April 15 vs. Dallas, 7 p.m.
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