Sabretooth is turning the preseason finale into a full-on party.
Before the Sabres face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 3 p.m., Sabretooth’s Preseason Bash presented by Ticketmaster will take over Ticketmaster Alumni Plaza starting at 12 p.m. The event runs until puck drop, with KeyBank Center doors opening at 1:30 p.m.
The plaza festivities are free and open to the public, though fans need a game ticket to attend the preseason matchup against Pittsburgh.
Sabretooth won’t be celebrating alone. Billy Buffalo, Buster Bison, Rax and Moose are all set to join in, giving fans a chance to spend the afternoon with a crowd of mascots and family-friendly activities.
The stage schedule starts early, with Tooth and his friends set for a lip sync battle at 1 p.m. From there, the lineup rolls into Puckdoku, trivia and more, with the possibility of fans getting pulled up to join the action. DJ P will handle music from 12 to 1:30, then Cami and the Fringe will perform from 1:30 to 3.
Kids can get in on the action too. The “Kids combine” area features an inflatable rink where young fans can test their rapid shot, grip strength and broad jump to see if they have what it takes to be the next NHL draft pick.
There’s also an inflatable hockey shot challenge aimed at accuracy, with the invite to show off those Tage Thompson impressions. Fans can make their own “Hockey is Back” sign at the sign-making station, then head around the plaza for photo opportunities with Sabretooth and his mascot friends, available from 12 to 12:30.
The rest of the afternoon includes facepainting, balloon animals, airbrush tattoos, a “Rinko” game with prizes and a gaming trailer with NHL 2027.
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The Sabres preseason opener against Columbus offered plenty of reasons for optimism, even if the scoreboard will matter less in September than the habits behind it. Buffalo rolled to a 5-1 win, with Noah Ostlund scoring twice, Owen Power logging more than 25 minutes and finishing with three points, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen looking sharp by turning aside all 13 shots he faced through the first two periods.
For a team trying to set a tone early, the bigger takeaway may have been the way the night unfolded physically. Mattias Samuelsson and Olen Zellweger both had to leave early, and Jiri Kulich was shaken up before coming back to finish, leaving Buffalo with at least one concern to sort through after a night that otherwise read like a strong opening statement. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Suddenly Face A Blue-Line Problem They Couldn't Afford
Buffalos blue line took a hit during the game when Mattias Samuelsson and Olen Zellweger both left with injuries and did not return for the third period. Samuelsson came out after blocking a shot and briefly came back for one shift before his night was done, while Zellweger was forced out after taking a hit and needed assistance getting to the locker room.
For a team already working with limited depth on defense, losing two regulars in the same game quickly changes the look of the lineup. The Sabres had to get through the final period short-handed on the back end, and the bigger concern now is whether either player will be available if this carries beyond one night and forces another adjustment. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres May Have Found A Blue Line Piece Nobody Saw Coming
Louis Creviers first appearance in a Sabres sweater offered a quick look at why Buffalo thought he was worth adding to the blue line mix. The defenseman, acquired from Chicago, stepped into preseason action and talked afterward about the work it took to settle his nerves early in his career, crediting the Blackhawks mental coach for helping him handle the pressure that comes with trying to stick in the NHL. He described himself as a defense-first player, but one with some offensive upside, which is exactly the sort of blend teams like to find in camp.
Lindy Ruff seemed to notice the same thing. The Sabres coach praised Creviers abilities and pointed to the role he has been carving out during training camp as Buffalo keeps sorting through its defensive options. For a player who did not arrive with much fanfare, every practice rep and preseason shift matters, and Crevier has at least given the coaching staff a reason to keep watching closely as the roster picture comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]