The Buffalo Sabres got the kind of night that can kickstart a season: a home opener, a division banner ceremony, and a comeback win that gave the building something to roar about. Chicago spoiled the early mood by grabbing a 2-0 lead in the first period and taking a 3-2 edge into the third, but Buffalo steadied itself and finished the job for a 4-3 win on Saturday.
There was plenty of extra attention around the lineup, too. Olen Zellweger made his Sabres debut after missing the season opener, Louis Crevier faced his former team for the first time, and Jordan Greenway returned to Buffalo in the first game against his old club since the trade. Bowen Byram was supposed to be back in Buffalo as well, but he was out because of a family matter.
Buffalo came out flying again, just like it did in its previous game, but the early energy didn’t turn into an early lead. The Sabres pushed the pace and created chances, yet Chicago made the most of its looks and struck twice before Buffalo could settle in. Jack Quinn did cut the deficit before the intermission with a beautiful goal, but the opening frame still ended with the Sabres chasing the game.
The goalie battle helped tell the story of that first period. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was not really at fault on either Chicago goal, but the contrast at both ends was hard to ignore. The Blackhawks converted two of their three high-danger chances, while Spencer Knight turned aside all eight high-danger looks Buffalo generated in the opening 20 minutes, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Luukkonen’s overall start to the season has not been clean, and Saturday added another uneasy chapter. Buffalo held Chicago to just 15 shots on goal, but Luukkonen still allowed three goals. Through two games, he has surrendered eight goals on 34 shots for a save percentage of .783.
That leaves the Sabres with a decision to make in net, especially with Alex Lyon out because of a shoulder injury. The team may be considering a rotation that includes Colten Ellis, and Monday’s game against the Minnesota Wild could be the next chance to make that move if the coaching staff wants to see a different look.
Buffalo’s power play also left a lot on the table. The Sabres went 0-for-3 and managed only one shot on goal with the extra man. That followed a 0-for-5 night against Columbus, though the two games played out differently: against the Blue Jackets, Buffalo had two full minutes of 5-on-3 time and couldn’t cash in, while one of Saturday’s chances against Chicago lasted just seven seconds after Zach Benson was called for a penalty that made it 4-on-4.
In the end, though, the Sabres found the answer they needed at five-on-five. Jiri Kulich delivered the winner after initially missing a shot, Buffalo kept the puck alive in the zone, and Owen Power found Kulich across the ice for the finish.
It was Kulich’s first goal in almost a year, with his previous one coming on October 24th, 2025, against the Toronto Maple Leafs. After missing almost all of last season because of blood clots, he gave Buffalo the kind of goal that can mean more than just two points.
The Sabres have the day off before facing the Minnesota Wild on Monday night.
In Other News...
Sabres Home Opener Just Lost One Of Its Biggest Storylines
The Sabres home opener still has plenty of intrigue, but one of the bigger subplots is suddenly off the board. Buffalo was set to get an early look at Bowen Byram in a matchup that carried extra attention, and instead he is expected to miss the Chicago Blackhawks game for a personal matter. Even without that wrinkle, the night has enough around it to feel like a true opening-night test, with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen projected to get the start in goal as the Sabres settle into their first game at home.
There is still a familiar face returning to the building, as former Sabres forward Jordan Greenway is expected to suit up for Chicago. Buffalo also appears poised to add a fresh look on defense, with Olen Zellweger anticipated to make his debut after coming back from a concussion. The opener has lost one headline, but it still carries the kind of lineup questions and old connections that tend to give these early-season games a little extra edge. [Read more 🡒]
Daxon Rudolph Is Giving Sabres Fans A New Blueline Question
Daxon Rudolphs first night at the University of Denver gave Buffalo a promising glimpse of why the Sabres used the fourth overall pick on him in the 2026 NHL Draft. The defenseman jumped straight into NCAA action and looked the part in a comfortable win over Alaska Anchorage, adding to the growing sense that his development is going to be one of the more closely watched storylines in the organization.
For the Sabres, that matters because the blueline picture is already crowded enough to force some long-range thinking. Buffalo has several defensemen signed in the pipeline and prospects moving through the system, so Rudolphs progress could eventually factor into more than just player development meetings. It may help shape what the front office decides to keep, move, or reconfigure as the roster picture gets clearer. [Read more 🡒]
Patrick Kane Gave Sabres Fans A Brutal Free Agency What If
Patrick Kanes free-agent decision brought an uncomfortable reminder for Sabres fans, because Buffalo was in the mix before he ultimately went back to Chicago on a two-year, $16 million deal. The veteran forward is returning to the place where he won three Stanley Cups, and in talking about the choice, he made clear the Sabres were not a passive bidder in the process.
Kane also said the Blackhawks start has been slow, but he framed his return as a chance to help a rebuilding club push forward while playing alongside names like Bowen Byram and Connor Bedard. For Buffalo, it leaves behind a familiar kind of what-if: a marquee scorer on the market, a real chase from the Sabres, and a decision that could have looked very different if the bounce had gone the other way. [Read more 🡒]