Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – The National Hockey League has postponed Friday night's Buffalo Sabres game against the Tampa Bay Lightning due to the forecasted winter storm set to impact Buffalo.
The game will be played on Saturday, March 4 with a 12:35 p.m. EST faceoff. The game that was originally scheduled for March 4 against the Philadelphia Flyers has also been moved, now set for Monday, Jan. 9 with a 7:05 p.m. EST faceoff.
With the pending winter storm that is going to hit much of the country, including Western New York, the league had no choice but to postpone the game.
Through the collective bargaining agreement, the NHL must be off from games and practices on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
If Tampa Bay did come here and play the game, there’s no way they would’ve gotten out of town, and likely would’ve had to spend the weekend in Buffalo. The NHL Players' Association wasn’t going to let any players get stranded on a road trip for Christmas.
Buffalo’s next game will be Tuesday in Columbus against the Blue Jackets.
The team can’t travel the day before, so they’ll have their morning skate in Buffalo and then fly to Columbus. That’s what they do for their road preseason games.
