Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) – On Wednesday the National Hockey League released its 2025-26 schedule.
On Wednesday morning it was announced that the home opener will be Oct. 9 against the New York Rangers. That is also the season opener.
Buffalo’s next game is on the road Oct. 11 against the Boston Bruins. Five of the next six are at home including a 12:35 Columbus Day battle with the Colorado Avalanche. Later that night, the Buffalo Bills play the Atlanta Falcons.
The Toronto Maple Leafs make their first of two appearances in Buffalo on Oct. 24. It’s a home and home weekend as the Sabres travel to Toronto the very next night. This is the only back-to-back games until Nov. 12 when they play the Utah Mammoth and the Avalanche on consecutive nights.
Buffalo gets 19 days off in February for the Olympic Break. The last game before break is at home Feb. 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins and the next game coming out of break is Feb. 25 when Buffalo starts three road games in four nights against the New Jersey Devils, Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.
The final game of the season is April 15 when the Dallas Stars make their only appearance in Buffalo.
The Sabres have two five-game home stands. The first starts Jan. 10 against the Anaheim Ducks. The second begins March 7 vs the Nashville Predators
Buffalo’s longest road trip is six games. They also have one five game-road trip, but on that one, they won’t be on the road the whole time. On Dec. 3 Buffalo heads to Philadelphia and then has stops against the Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks and Seattle Kraken.
In January, they’re in Carolina to play the Hurricanes then stay on the road to play the Nashville Predators, Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders. They then come home before busing to Toronto to play the Leafs.
The Sabres liked playing Saturday afternoon games in the past, but only have two this season.
Connor McDavid and the two-time Western Conference Champion Oilers visit downtown Buffalo for a game on Nov. 17.
Buffalo has 12 sets of back-to-back games.