Buffalo Sabres: 3 nationally televised games you must watch in 2022
The Buffalo Sabres will play in twelve nationally-televised games in 2022-23. Here are three games you must tune in for this fall.
Since we know when the Buffalo Sabres will appear on national television, it’s time to choose which of the five games televised in 2022 are the most notable. The five games are as follows:
- vs Pittsburgh Penguins – November 2nd/7:30pm; TNT
- at Carolina Hurricanes – November 4th/7pm; ESPN+/Hulu
- at Detroit Red Wings – November 30th/7pm; TNT
- at Columbus Blue Jackets – December 7th/7:30pm; TNT
- at Columbus Blue Jackets – December 27th/7:30pm; ESPN+/Hulu
Additionally, the Sabres will have seven more nationally-televised games in 2023. And in a separate piece, we will cover those contests. So now it bodes the question: Which three of the five games listed above are the most intriguing? Keep reading for more and have a marker nearby because you will want to mark your calendars for this one.
Top three nationally-televised Buffalo Sabres games to watch in 2022: Game #1 – vs Pittsburgh Penguins, November 2nd/7:30pm TNT
It seems like, no matter how stable the Penguins are or how unstable the Buffalo Sabres have been, playing the Pens is always an intriguing matchup. And somehow, some way, the Penguins have kept a solid core of players, which is something the Sabres are striving to emulate.
Further, this matchup symbolizes a game between one of the older, more established teams in hockey against a younger, upstart squad in the Sabres. And while the Penguins once again figure to contend for a playoff spot this season, the Sabres are merely interested in progress.
Despite the discrepancy in experience here, the the last time these two teams met, the Sabres won in a thriller. And with the home crowd at their backs, this game once again has all the makings of a potential upset. Tune in to see how the Sabres fare in their first game on national television in 2022-23.
at Carolina Hurricanes, November 4th/7pm ESPN+/Hulu
The Hurricanes were one of the toughest teams in the NHL last season. This year, it appears they have gotten better with their eyes set on winning a Stanley Cup as one of the Eastern Conference’s top franchises. And despite yet another gap in experience, the Buffalo Sabres have an opportunity just 48 hours after their tilt vs the Penguins to pull off a massive upset on the national stage.
And for a fun fact, the Jack Eichel Trade helped indirectly contribute to the mighty Hurricanes roster in 2022-23 when they traded future considerations to the Vegas Golden Knights for Max Pacioretty and Dylan Coghlan. The trade showed the extent of the cap trouble Vegas found themselves in less than a year after acquiring Eichel.
While Pacioretty (Achilles) won’t be playing in this one, it still doesn’t blemish just how much of an opportunity it is for the Sabres to knock off what may be the Eastern Conference’s most dangerous team. If they can get a win against Pittsburgh, Carolina, or both teams, it will set the stage for a strong November 2022.
at Detroit Red Wings, November 30th/7pm TNT
And finally, the Buffalo Sabres matchup against the Red Wings is interesting in so many ways as it pits two franchise heading into midseason who have built their teams in polar opposite ways for 2022-23. You have the Sabres, who built through their prospect pool and have just started extending their own young talent with lucrative contracts.
Then you have the Red Wings, who clearly tried to build through free agency and trades, despite boasting a strong prospect pool themselves. For their November 30th meeting, both teams should have meshed somewhat, and it will be one of a few tests regarding who has taken the more effective approach.
Personally, I’m feeling the Sabres had the better offseason because my personal philosophy has always aligned with what general manager Kevyn Adams is doing. But the test will come on the national stage against Detroit, which will fare as Game 2 in the season series since the teams’ first meeting occurs on October 31st.
With 12 total nationally-televised games, it will be fun to see how the Sabres fare in front of the nation this season. If they finish with a positive record, then we can consider it to be yet another stepping stone in their overall development. I’m feeling optimistic, but we will see what happens when the puck drops on November 2nd vs Pittsburgh.