How To Watch the Buffalo Sabres: 2025–2026 Season TV Guide

Like a softball team hitting the patio for a plate of wings, the Buffalo Sabres are hungry to end the NHL’s longest active playoff drought—they haven’t reached the postseason since 2011.

As someone living just a short drive from Buffalo, I’ve seen firsthand how much this team means to the city and its fans. Now, with Lindy Ruff—the last coach to take the Sabres to the playoffs—back behind the bench, there’s a renewed sense of optimism. With a young core featuring Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Owen Power, the Sabres have built a fast, skilled, and physical roster that feels closer than ever to finally getting over the hump. And with one of the most passionate fanbases in hockey packing KeyBank Center, every home game has the energy of a playoff night.

Of course, catching every Sabres game can be trickier than stopping a one-timer from the faceoff dot. Between regional sports networks, national TV broadcasts, and exclusive streaming deals, you need a solid game plan to follow the action from October to April.

That’s where we come in. This guide breaks down exactly how and where to watch the Sabres all season long—including the complete TV schedule, the best streaming options for in-market and out-of-market fans, and tips for tuning in without cable.

Jump to:

• Buffalo Sabres channels
• Buffalo Sabres TV schedule
• Best Buffalo Sabres TV plans
• Watch Buffalo Sabres for free

What channels have Buffalo Sabres games?

In the U.S., most Buffalo Sabres games air on the MSG regional sports network, available in most of New York State (excluding the New York City metro area) and parts of Pennsylvania. You can get MSG through a local cable provider or stream it directly with The Gotham Sports App. If you’re an out-of-market fan, nearly all of those same games will be available to stream on ESPN+.

Nationally televised matchups will appear on ABC, ESPN, or TNT throughout the season. These games are available through most major TV providers and are typically blacked out on regional viewing options.

How to watch in Canada

In Canada, Sabres games sometimes appear on Sportsnet or TSN when picked up for national coverage. But the vast majority require access to a U.S.-based feed like MSG through a specialty sports package.

If you want to watch every game without hunting for streams or flipping between services, Sportsnet+ with NHL Live is the way to go. It gives you every out-of-market game, including the full Sabres game slate, without local blackouts.

As someone in Canada who follows U.S.-based NHL teams, I can say Sportsnet+ is the most headache-free option I’ve found. It’s a single subscription that works on all my devices, and it means I’m not stuck piecing together different providers just to see Buffalo play.

2025–2026 Buffalo Sabres TV schedule

Due to their extended playoff drought, the Sabres don’t have many truly heated rivalries at the moment. Still, cross-border clashes with the nearby Toronto Maple Leafs or a visit from Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights always add extra intrigue.

The schedule is also packed with key Atlantic Division matchups against teams Buffalo must outperform to reach the postseason. Those high-stakes games are the perfect showcase for stars like Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin to shine.

Here’s the full 2025–2026 Sabres TV schedule, complete with start times and channel listings.

Data effective as of post date.

Best TV plans for watching the Buffalo Sabres

The best way to watch the Sabres depends on where you’re tuning in from. To help you catch every game, I’ve broken down the top TV plans for fans in both the U.S. and Canada.

Sabres coverage in the United States

For U.S.-based fans, the most complete setup for watching the Buffalo Sabres is a combination of ESPN+ and a live TV streaming service that includes ESPN, TNT, and ABC for nationally televised games.

ESPN+ carries every out-of-market Sabres game that isn’t nationally broadcast, while services like Hulu + Live TV, Stream with DIRECTV, and YouTube TV cover the national channels. Personally, I recommend Hulu + Live TV for Sabres fans. It bundles in ESPN+ with its live TV package, so you get both national coverage and every out-of-market game in one subscription.

If you’re in the Sabres’ home market, you’ll need a provider that carries MSG to watch most regular-season games. While Hulu + Live TV doesn’t offer the channel, it’s available as a standalone streaming subscription through The Gotham Sports App. You can also get MSG with a live TV streaming service like DIRECTV or Fubo, or find it on local cable TV providers.

Sabres coverage in Canada

For Canadian fans, following a U.S.-based NHL team like Buffalo is a bit different. Most games aren’t on national channels like Sportsnet or TSN, so the easiest way to get full-season coverage is through Sportsnet+ with NHL Live.

This combination streams every out-of-market game—including the full Sabres schedule—without blackout restrictions. Speaking from experience, it’s the most reliable way to watch Buffalo from north of the border without juggling multiple services.

How to watch the Buffalo Sabres for free

If you’re hoping to watch Sabres games without spending anything, your best options are free trials from live TV streaming services.

In the U.S., platforms like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Fubo, and DIRECTV often offer trials of various lengths that include ESPN, TNT, and ABC. You can also subscribe to ESPN+ on a monthly basis and cancel before the first billing date if you’re targeting a short viewing window.

Canadian fans can sometimes watch Sabres games for free during national broadcasts on Sportsnet or TSN if those channels are part of an existing TV package. Sportsnet+ and TSN+ also occasionally run trial offers for new subscribers. Just remember that these are limited-time trials, so it’s smart to time them around games you really want to see.

How to watch the Buffalo Sabres FAQ

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