The NHL slate on Saturday features a showdown between the Buffalo Sabres (0-1) and the Chicago Blackhawks (0-2), starting at 7 p.m. ET at KeyBank Center and broadcast on ESPN+.
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Blackhawks vs. Sabres: Oct. 3 Viewing Options
- Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- How to watch on TV: ESPN+
- Location: Buffalo, New York
- Venue: KeyBank Center
- Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
Sabres' 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 3.45 | 5th |
| Goals Allowed | 2.93 | 10th |
| Shots | 28.1 | 11th |
| Shots Allowed | 28.9 | 23rd |
| Power Play % | 19.51% | 20th |
| Penalty Kill % | 81.9% | 4th |
Blackhawks' 2025-26 Stats
| Stat | Per-Game Average | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 2.56 | 30th |
| Goals Allowed | 3.29 | 27th |
| Shots | 24.5 | 32nd |
| Shots Allowed | 29.9 | 31st |
| Power Play % | 16.95% | 29th |
| Penalty Kill % | 83.54% | 2nd |
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Blackhawks vs. Sabres Top Players
Sabres
- Tage Thompson, a leading offensive player a season ago for Buffalo, totaled 81 points on the season.
- Rasmus Dahlin had 19 goals and 55 assists for Buffalo last season, totaling 74 points (0.9 per game).
- In 81 games a season ago, Ryan McLeod proved to be an important offensive option for Buffalo. He posted 54 points on the year (14 goals and 40 assists).
- Last season for Buffalo, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (22-9-3) recorded a 2.5 goals-against average, and a save percentage of .909.
Blackhawks
- Tyler Bertuzzi scored 32 goals (0.4 per game) and collected 26 assists (0.3 per game) last season, fueling the Chicago offense with 58 total points (0.7 per game). He took 2.0 shots per game, shooting 19.5%.
- Patrick Kane racked up 57 total points (0.7 per game) last season. He had 16 goals and 41 assists.
- Bowen Byram scored 11 goals last season, plus 31 assists.
- Spencer Knight was 19-25-11 last season, allowing 155 goals (2.8 goals against average) with a .902 save percentage (24th in the league).
Blackhawks vs. Sabres Injury Report
Sabres
Jason Zucker: Out (Abdomen),
Conor Timmins: Out (Lower Body),
Alex Lyon: Out (Upper Body)
Blackhawks
Andrew Mangiapane: Out (Lower Body),
Bowen Byram: Day-To-Day (Personal),
Connor Bedard: Out (Shoulder)
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Sabres' Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/1/2026 | Blue Jackets | L 6-3 | Away |
| 10/3/2026 | Blackhawks | - | Home |
| 10/6/2026 | Wild | - | Home |
| 10/8/2026 | Stars | - | Home |
| 10/10/2026 | Mammoth | - | Home |
Blackhawks' Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/29/2026 | Golden Knights | L 5-2 | Away |
| 10/1/2026 | Mammoth | L 6-0 | Away |
| 10/3/2026 | Sabres | - | Away |
| 10/6/2026 | Blues | - | Home |
| 10/8/2026 | Islanders | - | Away |
| 10/10/2026 | Hurricanes | - | Home |