Five must-see games of the Buffalo Sabres season

The Buffalo Sabres and NHL schedules were released last week and, as we already knew, the Sabres will open the season against the New Jersey Devils in the NHL World Series. Buffalo will then begin its home leg of the season on Thursday, October 10 against the Los Angeles Kings.

We can’t know what next season will bring, but we can draw a lot of conclusions based on what Kevyn Adams and his teammates have or haven’t done so far this offseason. Regardless, if you’re looking ahead to next season and wondering what games to watch, here are five that are sure to keep you entertained. All five will be at home at the KeyBank Center.

Saturday, October 12 vs. Florida Panthers, 1 p.m.

It’s always fun to see the Stanley Cup champions come to town. The Panthers are only in their second game of the season and are still in great shape to win the NHL’s ultimate prize. Add to that the multitude of former Sabres players on the team, including Sam Reinhart (who deserves the world and more!), and it’s going to be a fun matchup.

Saturday, December 7 vs. Utah Hockey Club, 1 p.m.

New guys are coming to town. Utah will be interesting to watch this year because they are fresh and new, but also very uncertain. They are still largely the old Arizona Coyotes roster, but add a guy like Mikhail Sergachev getting a fresh start and it adds a new level of intrigue. This will be Utah’s first visit to Buffalo, and hey, it’s not often you get to see a franchise for the first time.

Friday, January 31 vs. Nashville Predators, 7 p.m.

The Nashville Predators are having a pretty good offseason, if I may say so myself. They recently signed Steven Stamkos, who had spent his entire career in Tampa up until this point, and it will be very interesting to see how he integrates with his new club and uses that fresh start. Add in Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei, and I think the Predators will be a team to watch next season.

Monday March 10 against the Edmonton Oilers, 6:30 p.m.

The fateful return of Jeff Skinner. Hopefully the tribute video will be as comedic and lighthearted as Skinner always was, with plenty of The High School Musical references and maybe a good old “Party in the USA” highlight since he’s not partying in the USA anymore. Of course, it’s also a chance to see Connor McDavid, which is always a highlight of the Buffalo calendar, especially given his junior roots in nearby Erie, Pennsylvania.

Tuesday, April 15 vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.

The final home game of the regular season between the Leafs and Sabres is shaping up to be a promising one. At this point in the season, it’s possible that a playoff spot could be on the line for either team (hey, we can dream!), which would raise the bar even higher than the rivalry already is.

Check out the full program here.