The Buffalo Sabres’ opener started with a jolt and ended with the same old frustration.
Buffalo scored first, grabbed an early lead, and still walked out of Columbus with a 6-3 loss to the Blue Jackets - its fourth straight season opening defeat. The Sabres looked lively at the start, but once the Blue Jackets seized control late in the first period, they never let it go.
The opening minutes hinted at a different night. Tage Thompson rang a shot off the post in the first 10 seconds, and Buffalo kept the pressure on before Mattias Samuelsson put the Sabres ahead 1-0.
From there, though, the game flipped fast. Columbus scored three straight in the final 10 minutes of the period and took a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.
Buffalo did make things interesting in the next two periods, trimming the deficit to one goal twice. But every time the Sabres had a chance to fully climb back in, the Blue Jackets had an answer.
Special teams was another sore spot. The Sabres entered the season hoping for a better power play after two years of trouble, and there was even a new wrinkle with former player Eric Staal working with the group.
None of it showed up in the box score. Buffalo went 0-for-5 on the power play, including two minutes of 5-on-3, and managed just five shots on goal with the man advantage.
There’s still a long way to go, of course. The Sabres have 83 games left, and one loss in October doesn’t define a season. They came into this game dealing with a shortened training camp, fewer preseason games, and a pile of injuries, so there’s still time to sort things out.
Next up is Saturday’s home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks, where Buffalo will try to get the season pointed in the right direction.
In Other News...
Sabres Just Sent A Big Message About Their Blue Line Plans
The Sabres are wasting no time getting a look at Louis Crevier as part of their blue-line future, locking up the defenseman on a four-year extension before he has even played a regular-season game for Buffalo. Acquired from Chicago, Crevier arrives with 134 NHL games on his resume and 32 points, and the early move suggests the organization sees him as more than a short-term addition.
For a team still sorting out its defensive identity, the timing matters almost as much as the deal itself. Buffalo did not bring Crevier in to sit and wait, and the expectation is that he will step into a prominent role right away, giving the Sabres another big piece to shape their back end around as the roster continues to take form. [Read more 🡒]
Lindy Ruff Is Sending A Clear Early Message To The Sabres
Lindy Ruff is making it plain what he wants to see from the Sabres when the 2026-27 season opens against the Columbus Blue Jackets: a fast, focused start. For a Buffalo team still trying to turn promise into consistency, the message is less about style points than about establishing habits early and setting the tone from night one.
That urgency fits with the organizations recent commitment to the blue line, including the long-term extension for Louis Crevier after he came over in the Bowen Byram trade. The Sabres are clearly betting on his development, and the next question is how quickly he settles into a meaningful role as Buffalo reshapes its defense around younger pieces and higher expectations. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Make A Long-Term Bet On A Defenseman Fans Barely Know
The Sabres are making a notable commitment on the blue line with Louis Crevier, a 25-year-old right-shot defenseman who arrived from the Chicago Blackhawks and has quietly worked his way into Buffalos plans. It is the kind of move that says as much about what the organization sees behind the scenes as it does about what fans have seen on the ice so far.
Creviers new deal keeps him in Buffalo through his late twenties, giving the club a longer runway to see whether his size and right-handed presence can become part of the defensive mix. For a player who has not yet suited up in a regular-season game for the Sabres, the extension is a meaningful vote of confidence, and it adds another layer of interest to how the team is trying to shape its defense for the long term. [Read more 🡒]