Buffalo Sabres Faceoff Against Los Angeles Kings in Home Opener

Following their return from the NHL Global Series in Europe, the Buffalo Sabres are set to host the Los Angeles Kings in their 2024-25 season home opener. The matchup at KeyBank Center marks the Sabres’ first game on home ice after falling to the New Jersey Devils in their initial two games abroad.

Sabres captain, Rasmus Dahlin, expressed excitement about the upcoming game, saying, “It’s great to be back in North America playing on home ice in front of our fans. We’ve been waiting for that the whole summer, so I can’t wait.” The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. puck drop.

Fans can expect a lively atmosphere as the home opener will feature pre-game celebrations, including a Party in the Plaza and player arrivals on the Blue & Gold Carpet starting at 3:45 p.m.

The Sabres will have to make some lineup adjustments. JJ Peterka will be sidelined tonight as he continues to recover from a concussion he sustained against the New Jersey Devils, according to head coach Lindy Ruff. Meanwhile, Zach Benson, dealing with a lower body injury, remains a game-time decision.

In preparation for the game, the Sabres have focused on their power play strategy, which struggled with a 0-for-6 performance in the previous two matches. Captain Dahlin stated, “It’s part of it, and these two games [were] two good learners. We won’t do that same mistake again.”

The Los Angeles Kings enter the game with a new lineup led by head coach Jim Hiller, who has instilled a more aggressive playing style. The team is launching their season with an extensive seven-game road trip, commencing in Buffalo. The Kings bring several new additions to their roster, including a new starting goaltender, Darcy Kuemper.

The Kings’ revamped lineup aims to improve on last season’s performance, where they finished with 99 points and made their way to the playoffs for the third consecutive year. Veteran center Anze Kopitar continues to be a pivotal player for the team, maintaining his status as one of the league’s top two-way forwards at age 36.