The Buffalo Sabres officially kicked off their preseason schedule with a road game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. With a home game the next night against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Sabres made some important roster decisions, and it was mostly an AHL roster that went to Pittsburgh.
That wasn't the case for the Penguins as they had more of an even split between players expected to be on their NHL roster and others beginning in the AHL. The talent difference was clear in this game, and the Penguins would end up winning 4-1.
While the Sabres didn't get the win, there were a few winners on the ice for Buffalo, along with one player who left with some concerns.
Winner: Jiri Kulich
While most of the roster is expected to be in Rochester for most of the season, that isn't the case for Jiri Kulich. The Sabres forward easily looked like the best player on the ice for them in his first game since November, when it was discovered that he had blood clots.
Kulich got off to a fast start and had the first shot of the game, and then added another shot on their first power play of the game in the first period. He would lead the forwards in shifts (27) and time on ice(19:39), which is great for a player who has been out for as long as he has.
One of the new rules in this CBA is that players who have 100 or more NHL games are limited to only two preseason games. However, Kulich is under that threshold, so in theory he could play all four, but with the next game being the next night, the Sabres might hold him out, with the plan to get him back out there on Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings.
Winner Jake Richard
After three seasons in the NCAA with UConn, Jake Richard signed his entry-level contract this summer and will be playing in Rochester this season. Richard got off to a fast start with a power-play goal for the Sabres in the second period.
Jake Richard taking advantage of the power play 🔋#LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/aahOIqrBW3
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) September 22, 2026
Richard was a sixth-round pick by the Sabres in 2022 and took a step backward this past season with UConn, as he had only 27 points after 43 the season prior. This season will be a big test for the forward and made a great first impression on Monday night.
Loser: Radim Mrtka
If Radim Mrtka hoped to earn a spot with the Buffalo Sabres to begin the season, he was going to have to have a perfect preseason and training camp. Unfortunately, even if he did it might not have been enough to get him to Buffalo but that was really going to be his only shot.
That didn't happen in this game, and he finished the game with a +/- of -2 with two shots and the second most time on ice among defensemen at 19:34. The most surprising stat though among this was he had no hits and really didn't use his size to make an impact.
There really isn't a major concern when it comes to Mrtka but it shows he still needs some time to develop. The best thing for the former first-round pick would be a full-season in Rochester to continue to develop.
Loser: Alex Lyon
It was a shaky performance by Alex Lyon in the first preseason game as he finished the game allowing three goals on 19 shots through two periods. The first two goals Lyon allowed probably weren't his fault, as in the first one he was shielded from seeing the shot, and the second one was right in front of him when the Sabres were trying to kill off a 5-on-3 power play.
As for the third goal, it was a perfect shot from a bad angle in the closing seconds of the second period that Avery Hayes was able to sneak over Lyon's shoulder. Hayes was only able to get the shot off because of a bad play by Dennis Gilbert.
The fact that Lyon let in three goals wasn't great, but that number could have been much higher. In the first period, he couldn't control the puck, and it rolled just outside the post. Then in the second period, the Penguins were able to get a puck through the five-hole past Lyon, but it bounced off the post and was able to be cleared.
Last season, the Sabres were pretty fluid with their rotation as they had to juggle three goalies. The coaching staff is almost certainly going to take a similar approach and go with the hot hand when needed. If Lyon continues to struggle, it wouldn't be surprising if Colten Ellis is seeing more starts as the season goes along.
The Sabres will be on the ice in Buffalo on Tuesday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets in a game that likely will be most of their NHL roster.
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