Photo: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago Blackhawks visit the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Saturday, October 3, 2026, with puck drop set for 7:00 PM EDT.
Matchup: Chicago Blackhawks (0-2-0, 0 points in 2026-27) at Buffalo Sabres (0-1-0, 0 points in 2026-27)
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
Puck drop: 7:00 PM EDT
Venue: KeyBank Center
How to watch: BUF: MSG-B · CHI: CHSN
Chicago Blackhawks News & Notes
Chicago opened the season on Sept. 30 against Vegas and had its defense shredded in a loss to the Golden Knights. The club announced its 2026-27 opening night roster earlier in the week, a group shaped by competition up front that carried past the end of camp. Landon Slaggert was placed on waivers as the roster took form, with the battles for forward jobs involving Andrew Mangiapane and Teuvo Teravainen expected to continue into the regular season.
Head coach Jeff Blashill has provided injury updates on Connor Bedard and Jordan Greenway over the past week and a half. The latest word on Bedard left doubt about a firm return date, while the organization issued a more positive update on Greenway’s status. Bedard’s situation remained a talking point around the team after the opener. For the social media crowd, Chicago’s official hashtag for the 2026-27 season is #Blackhawks.
Buffalo Sabres News & Notes
Buffalo’s prospects dropped both ends of a two-game showcase against Boston in mid-September. The Bruins took the opener 6-2 behind two goals from James Hagens, with Scott Ratzlaff starting and Talyn Boyko relieving him for the third period, and Dylan Dumont and Doman Szongoth scoring on the power play. Samuel Meloche was busier in the 4-3 overtime loss that followed, turning aside three breakaways, while Gavin McCarthy and Maxim Strbak staked Buffalo to a 2-0 lead before Hagens scored four times.
The blue line was reshaped over the summer, with Buffalo acquiring Olen Zellweger to help replace Bowen Byram and adding Louis Crevier and Conor Sheary. Crevier signed a four-year extension this week. Rasmus Dahlin remains the club’s most recognizable figure after a long playoff drought drew league-wide attention to the market. The Sabres opened the 84-game season on the road against Columbus, and their official team hashtag for 2026-27 is #LetsGoBuffalo.
Chicago Blackhawks Projected Lines
Line 1: Tyler Bertuzzi – Anton Frondell – Patrick Kane
Line 2: Teuvo Teravainen – Frank Nazar – Roman Kantserov
Line 3: Nick Lardis – Ryan Donato – Oliver Moore
Line 4: Cole Smith – Ryan Greene – Jordan Greenway
Pair 1: Alex Vlasic – Bowen Byram
Pair 2: Wyatt Kaiser – Artyom Levshunov
Pair 3: Ian Cole – Sam Rinzel
Goaltenders: Spencer Knight – Arvid Soderblom
Chicago Blackhawks Special Teams
Power play, First unit: Tyler Bertuzzi – Roman Kantserov – Anton Frondell – Patrick Kane – Bowen Byram
Power play, Second unit: Ryan Donato – Frank Nazar – Nick Lardis – Oliver Moore – Sam Rinzel
Penalty kill, First unit: Oliver Moore – Cole Smith – Alex Vlasic – Ian Cole
Penalty kill, Second unit: Frank Nazar – Jordan Greenway – Wyatt Kaiser – Artyom Levshunov
Buffalo Sabres Projected Lines
Line 1: Josh Norris – Tage Thompson – Josh Doan
Line 2: Zach Benson – Noah Ostlund – Jack Quinn
Line 3: Peyton Krebs – Ryan McLeod – Konsta Helenius
Line 4: Jiri Kulich – Sam Carrick – Beck Malenstyn
Pair 1: Rasmus Dahlin – Mattias Samuelsson
Pair 2: Owen Power – Olen Zellweger
Pair 3: Matt Grzelcyk – Louis Crevier
Goaltenders: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen – Colten Ellis
Buffalo Sabres Special Teams
Power play, First unit: Jack Quinn – Zach Benson – Josh Doan – Tage Thompson – Rasmus Dahlin
Power play, Second unit: Konsta Helenius – Ryan McLeod – Noah Ostlund – Owen Power – Josh Norris
Penalty kill, First unit: Ryan McLeod – Beck Malenstyn – Owen Power – Mattias Samuelsson
Penalty kill, Second unit: Josh Norris – Zach Benson – Rasmus Dahlin – Louis Crevier
Players To Watch
Anton Frondell — Chicago Blackhawks
With Bedard on injured reserve and Mangiapane out, Frondell’s role grows. He led Chicago’s forwards with three shots last time out while logging 18:10, though he didn’t register a point. If the minutes hold in that range, he’s a reasonable shots-on-goal play tonight even without the finish yet.
Jack Quinn — Buffalo Sabres
Quinn was Buffalo’s most active shooter last time out, firing four shots and converting one of them in 20:46 of ice time. That’s top-six usage with volume behind it, and with Zucker on injured reserve, the looks should keep coming. A sensible anytime-goal or shots-over option.
Injury Report
Chicago Blackhawks
Andrew Mangiapane (LW) — Out, Lower Body, expected back Tuesday, October 6
Connor Bedard (C) — Injured Reserve, Shoulder, expected back Saturday, November 7
Buffalo Sabres
Alex Lyon (G) — Injured Reserve, Upper Body, expected back Saturday, October 3
Conor Timmins (D) — Injured Reserve, Lower Body, expected back Saturday, October 17
Topias Leinonen (G) — Injured Reserve, Lower Body, expected back Saturday, October 10
Jack Rathbone (D) — Injured Reserve, Undisclosed, expected back Saturday, October 3
Jason Zucker (LW) — Injured Reserve, Abdomen, expected back Thursday, October 15
Injury information via ESPN.
Next Up
Chicago Blackhawks: host the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, October 6.
Buffalo Sabres: host the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday, October 6.