The Buffalo Sabres are already into the 2026-27 regular season, and the first week has given them a little bit of everything: a road loss, a home win, some early power-play frustration, and a handful of injury updates that matter moving forward.
Buffalo opened the season Thursday night in Columbus and dropped a 6-3 decision to the Blue Jackets. Newly acquired Blue Jacket Matthew Knies made a loud first impression, finishing with two goals and an assist.
The response came Saturday night at home, where the Sabres beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 in their opener at KeyBank Center. Buffalo dug itself out of a 2-0 first-period hole, then watched Chicago take a 3-2 lead into the third. From there, Rasmus Dahlin and Jiri Kulich delivered the goals that pushed the Sabres to a regulation win.
One area that hasn’t clicked yet is the power play. Through two games, Buffalo has gone scoreless on eight chances.
For a team with the talent it has on both units, that’s a rough opening stretch. During training camp, the analytics department reportedly handed the coaching staff 50-60 pages on what makes an elite power play, but the early returns haven’t matched that work.
Lindy Ruff also made it clear this is his power play, not assistant coach Seth Appert’s, even if Appert has taken most of the heat online.
The injury picture is looking a little better in one spot and murkier in others. Olen Zellweger, who missed most of the preseason and the season opener with a concussion, was back in the lineup for the win over Chicago.
Conor Timmins has been sidelined since Sept. 26 with a lower-body injury and was placed on injured reserve before the season. Ruff said he could not say how long Timmins will be out.
Alex Lyon has also been on injured reserve after leaving the preseason game against the Detroit Red Wings on Sept. 24 when he dove for a loose puck. Ruff said Lyon can be activated at any time and should be back at practice within the next few days.
Jason Zucker has been out since the start of training camp after suffering a sports hernia during the offseason. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen said he “could maybe miss a couple weeks of the regular season.”
The Sabres now turn to a week with two games on the calendar. They host the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 7:00 PM ET, then welcome the Utah Mammoth on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 7:00 PM ET.
In Other News...
Nick Lardis Is Giving Blackhawks Fans An Early Jeff Blashill Debate
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The latest turn came Saturday, when his ice time dipped further and he wound up as Chicagos least-used forward. For a player trying to turn a good preseason into a real foothold, it has created an early test of patience under Jeff Blashill, and a reminder that on a rebuilding club, opportunity can disappear just as quickly as it arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks' Shaky Start Just Got Tougher Without Another Key Forward
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Instead, the Blackhawks are staring at an 0-3-0 start without one of their newest forwards and without captain Connor Bedard, who is sidelined with a shoulder injury. That leaves the early-season margin for error looking awfully thin, with Chicago already short on production and now forced to absorb another absence from a roster that needed stability right away. [Read more 🡒]
Connor Bedards Return Brings One Big Question For Blackhawks Fans
The Blackhawks were back on the ice Tuesday with Connor Bedard skating in a non-contact sweater as he continues working his way back from shoulder surgery. It was a welcome sight for a team getting ready for its home opener against the St. Louis Blues, especially with Bedard already back in the building and around his teammates while the ramp-up continues.
Jeff Blashill said Bedard is not yet cleared for contact and did not have a timetable for when that could change, which leaves the biggest question hanging over Chicagos early season plans. The encouraging part for the Blackhawks is that Bedard appears to be moving ahead of the original mid-November expectation, but until he can take contact, there is still a meaningful step left in the recovery process. Bowen Byram also returned to practice after the birth of his twins, giving the group a fuller look as opening night approaches. [Read more 🡒]