Sabres’ Tough Schedule Makes a Fast Start Vitally Important

The offseason has gone well for the Buffalo Sabres so far, and now all the attention has shifted to the release of the 2026-27 schedule. Fans are excited to see how the team will follow up a run that saw them come within a goal of the Eastern Conference Final.

The schedule, however, is challenging right out of the gate. The Sabres have been slow starters in the past, but it is imperative that they come out during the first month of the season and put their best foot forward.

The Schedule Is Tough

The Sabres have what it takes to return to the playoffs, but one thing that jumps out immediately is just how tough the schedule is. Over the course of the now-84-game season, there are going to be tough matchups more often than not, especially in the competitive Atlantic Division.

That said, the slate is rough. The Sabres have six home games on their schedule in October: the Chicago Blackhawks (Oct. 3), Minnesota Wild (Oct. 6), Dallas Stars (Oct. 8), Utah (Oct. 10), Florida Panthers (Oct 12.), and Philadelphia Flyers (Oct. 21).

The road slate is even tougher. They open the season on Oct. 1 against the Columbus Blue Jackets before enjoying five straight at home. Then, they embark on the second half of the month that sees them play seven of eight on the road: the Montreal Canadiens (Oct. 13 & 17), Toronto Maple Leafs (Oct. 15), Washington Capitals (Oct. 24), San Jose Sharks (Oct. 27), Anaheim Ducks (Oct. 29), and Los Angeles Kings (Oct. 31).

That is a brutal start, especially playing so many on the road in one stretch. It is a lot to ask of any team and only the Blackhawks feel like anything resembling a “gimme” game.

The Sabres Are Historically Slow Starters

The Sabres are not only fighting against larger expectations, but they are also fighting against history. The past five seasons, the Sabres have started poorly. Here’s how they have been in the opening portion of the season:

• 2021-22: 7-10-2
• 2022-23: 7-11-0
• 2023-24: 7-9-1
• 2024-25: 4-7-1
• 2025-26: 5-8-4

Last season, it felt as if the fan base was at a breaking point because of the slow start. It had all the makings of another tough season, but the team managed to find its grove and have one of the best records in the league going forward.

The Sabres could do themselves a big favor by starting quickly. Having a winning record over the first 14 games of the season would set the tone for the remaining five months and put the Sabres in a position where they have a little more room for error.

An Important Chance to Build Momentum

The most important reason to get off to a hot start is to carry over the momentum the team brought with them into the offseason. General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen did a solid job of mitigating the loss of Bowen Byram and Alex Tuch, bolstering from within and stocking the prospect pool.

That said, a slow start would feel like the momentum built over the last 12 months has slipped away to some degree. The Sabres find themselves in a position where they need to prove that the 2025-26 season wasn’t an anomaly and that they aren’t going to backslide.

An Early Chance to Show Who They Are

While it is fun to speculate on trades and other moves, the current iteration of the roster is likely what we will see on opening night. The Sabres have done well to bolster their prospect pool but it is nearly as important to make the playoffs in 2027 as it was this past season.

Starting slowly is the kind of negative momentum the team can’t afford to take on. Coming out of the gates strong will give notice to the division and the rest of the league that last season was no fluke and the Sabres are here to stay.