Jonathan Tanner Miller and Rasmus Dahlin headline the talent on display when the New York Rangers square off with the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. ET.
Mike Sullivan’s Rangers hit the road for the first time this season after a rough debut in which they were blanked 3–0 by the Pittsburgh Penguins. That performance left plenty of concerns, especially on the offensive end, and New York will be eager to put that showing behind them with a stronger response in Buffalo.
Meanwhile, the Sabres enter their season opener fresh and hoping to reset the narrative after a forgettable 2024–25 campaign. Under Lindy Ruff, Buffalo stumbled to a 14th-place finish in the Eastern Conference and extended their playoff drought to a staggering 14 consecutive seasons. This opener marks their first chance to show that this year could be different.
Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch Buffalo Sabers vs New York Rangers NHL game, plus plenty more.
Buffalo Sabres vs New York Rangers: Date and puck-drop time
Buffalo Sabres will take on New York Rangers in a highly anticipated NHL game on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 10:00 pm ET or 7:00 pm PT at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
| Date | Thursday, October 9, 2025 |
| Puck-Drop Time | 10:00 pm ET or 7:00 pm PT |
| Venue | KeyBank Center |
| Location | Buffalo, New York |
How to watch Buffalo Sabres vs New York Rangers on TV & stream live online
National TV channel: N/A
Local TV channel: MSG-B, MSG
Streaming service: ESPN+
The Buffalo Sabres vs New York Rangers NHL game will be available to stream live on NHL Power Play via ESPN+. Viewers on the Local market can also watch the clash on Fubo.
If you don't have cable TV, the best way to watch almost every NHL playoff game online is with Fubo, which offers a free-trial to new subscribers so you can try before you buy!
Streaming the game with a VPN
Unable to watch this game due to broadcast restrictions? A VPN could be the answer to your problems.
You can watch the game from wherever you are in the world by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service such as Express VPN. A VPN will allow you to create a secure connection online when you are abroad on holiday or for work, and you want to stream the game live. You can eventry ExpressVPN risk-freewith a 30-day money-back guarantee.
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Buffalo Sabres vs New York Rangers team news
Buffalo Sabres team news
For Buffalo, Tage Thompson remains the star attraction, finishing last year with 72 points on 44 goals and 28 assists. J.J. Peterka was right behind him, tallying 68 points (27 goals, 41 assists), and Rasmus Dahlin put together another standout campaign from the back end with 17 goals and 51 assists, good for 68 points of his own.
The Sabres struggled defensively last season, giving up 3.50 goals per game, placing them 29th in the league. Their penalty kill wasn’t much better, finishing 23rd overall and often failing to bail them out in key moments.
Between the pipes, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen posted a 24-24-5 record across 55 games, but his 3.20 GAA and .887 save percentage paint a picture of Buffalo’s defensive problems. Interestingly, he has played some of his best hockey against New York, going 3-3-2 in eight meetings with a sharp 2.13 GAA and a .929 save percentage against the Rangers.
New York Rangers team news
Artemi Panarin was the engine of the Rangers’ offense last season, piling up 89 points behind 37 goals and 52 assists. Mika Zibanejad followed with 62 points (20 goals, 42 helpers), and Adam Fox wasn’t far behind, producing 61 points thanks to his playmaking from the blue line with 10 goals and 51 assists.
Defensively, New York hovered around the middle of the pack, surrendering 3.11 goals per contest, ranking 19th in the NHL. That trend continued in their season opener when they allowed three goals in the loss.
Igor Shesterkin was one of the bright spots in that game, stopping 27 of the 28 shots he faced. Historically, he’s been solid against Buffalo, carrying a 10-3-2 record in 15 appearances with a 2.59 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage against the Sabres.
Buffalo Sabres vs New York Rangers head-to-head record
| Date | Competition | Home Team | Away Team | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23.02.25 | NHL | Buffalo Sabres | New York Rangers | 8 - 2 |
| 12.12.24 | NHL | Buffalo Sabres | New York Rangers | 2 - 3 |
| 08.11.24 | NHL | New York Rangers | Buffalo Sabres | 1 - 6 |
| 24.12.23 | NHL | New York Rangers | Buffalo Sabres | 4 - 3 (SO) |
| 28.11.23 | NHL | New York Rangers | Buffalo Sabres | 1 - 5 |