The Buffalo Sabres opened 2026-27 with a rough one, dropping a 6-3 decision to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, and the loss came with more than one problem attached. Buffalo’s goaltending took heat, but it wasn’t the only issue in a game where the Sabres never really got control.
If there was one bright spot, it came from Owen Power. The defenseman finished with two assists and a plus-2 rating in his first game of the season, while logging 25:25 of ice time - nearly matching captain Rasmus Dahlin.
For a Sabres team that didn’t have many positives to point to, Power’s start offered something worth building on, especially with the 23-year-old trying to put together a bounce-back year offensively. The challenge now is turning one good night into something more consistent at both ends of the ice.
The biggest concern was in net. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s consistency has been a talking point for years, and the pressure on him is only growing after Buffalo’s season opener.
He posted a .910 SP in 35 appearances last year, and the Sabres are expected to need him far more often than that. But if outings like this become the norm, coach Lindy Ruff may have no choice but to look harder at Colten Ellis and/or Alex Lyon, with Luukkonen headed to the bench.
Buffalo tried to trade chances with Columbus, but the Blue Jackets had the heavier hands. Newly acquired star winger Matthew Knies made a loud first impression, scoring twice and finishing with three points in his Blue Jackets debut. Charlie Coyle also piled up three assists and three points, helping fuel a Columbus attack that answered every Sabres push.
In the end, Buffalo looked sloppy, and while the lack of a preseason can be used as part of the explanation, it doesn’t change the result. The Sabres are already in the loss column, and they’ll get their next shot Saturday at home against the Chicago Blackhawks. With Connor Bedard out, Buffalo won’t have much of an excuse if it can’t come away with a win.
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Devon Levi's Fast Start Is Making Buffalo's Goalie Problem Worse
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Buffalos own situation in net remains unsettled, and the conversation around it has only gotten louder as trade speculation continues to swirl. Connor Hellebuyck has been part of that rumor mill, underscoring how much the Sabres are still searching for a clearer answer in goal. Levis resurgence does not solve anything for Buffalo, but it does sharpen the frustration, because the one they moved on from is suddenly looking like a better version of himself somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]