Buffalo Sabers Tough Schedule Makes Quick Start Crucial – Hockey Writers – Buffalo Sabers

The offseason has gone well for the Buffalo Sabers so far, and now all attention has shifted to the release of the 2026-27 program. The fans are excited to see how the team will follow the streak that made them reach the goal of the Eastern Conference Final.

The program, however, is challenging right out of the gate. The Sabers have had slow starts in the past, but it is imperative that they come out of the first month of the season and put their best foot forward.

The program is difficult

The Sabers have what it takes to get back to the playoffs, but one thing that stands out immediately is how tough the schedule is. Over the course of an 84-game season, there will be many tough draws, especially in the competitive Atlantic Division.

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

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

This is a bad start, especially playing so many on the road at the same time. It’s a lot to ask of any team and only the Blackhawks feel like anything resembling a “gimme” game.

The Sabers Are Historically Slow Starters

The Sabers are not only fighting against high expectations, but also against history. Over the past five seasons, the Sabers have gotten off to a rough start. Here’s how they were in the first half 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 looked like the fans got stuck because they had a slow start. It had everything to do with another tough season, but the team managed to find its footing and have the best record in the league going forward.

The Sabers would do themselves a huge favor by starting early. Having a winning record through the first 14 games of the season will set the tone for the remaining five months and put the Sabers in a position where they have little room for error.

An Important Opportunity to Build Momentum

The main reason for the hot start is to carry the momentum the team brought into the offseason. General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen has done a solid job of mitigating the losses of Bowen Byram and Alex Tuch, strengthening the interior and positioning the prospect pool.

That said, a slow start can feel like the momentum built up over the past 12 months has waned to some extent. The Sabers find themselves in a situation where they have to show that the 2025-26 season was not a fluke and that they will not back down.

First Chance to Show Who They Are

While it’s fun to speculate about trades and other moves, the current iteration of the show is probably what we’ll see on opening night. The Sabers have done well to strengthen their pool but it is almost as important to make the playoffs in 2027 as it was this past season.

A slow start is the kind of negative momentum a team can’t handle. Coming out of the gates strong will let the division and the rest of the league know that last season was no fluke and the Sabers are here to stay.