Former Sabres light up the scoreboard during NHL's Opening Night

It was a fruitful NHL Opening Night if you once played for the Buffalo Sabres.

Four players who once donned a Blue and Gold jersey lit the lamp in their first games of the 2026-27 season, including one who departed the organization this summer.

It's a notable occurrence given the Sabres have received criticism for failing to replace winger Alex Tuch, leaving uncertainty about who's going to step up to fill the void offensively.

Let's check out which former Buffalo skaters scored a goal on Tuesday night.

Jordan Greenway (Chicago Blackhawks)

We'll start with the most surprising inclusion on this list. Jordan Greenway scored just 18 goals across 158 appearances for the Sabres, including only one tally in 40 games last season.

His Blackhawks tenure got off to a roaring start offensively as he scored the team's first goal of the campaign in the second period of a 5-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights:

Greenway was dealt to Chicago in June as part of the blockbuster Bowen Byram trade, essentially serving as a salary-cap dump as Buffalo's front office opened the offseason with limited financial flexibility, though the club is in a far better spot now.

While the 6-foot-6 power forward struggled to make a consistent attacking impact during his time with the Sabres, his value on the penalty kill will be missed this season.

JJ Peterka (Boston Bruins)

JJ Peterka was traded from Buffalo to the Utah Mammoth last offseason for Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring (now a member of the San Jose Sharks). The Mammoth flipped him to the Bruins in June in exchange for a pair of first-round draft picks.

The 24-year-old German sniper (how is he still only 24?), a second-round selection of the Sabres in 2020, scored one of three third-period goals for Boston in its shutout win over the New York Rangers, and it was one for the highlight reel:

Peterka never had much trouble scoring for Buffalo, highlighted by 55 goals over his final two years with the club, but the other areas of his game were a frequent source of frustration. Most notably, his on-and-off effort defensively was often an issue.

He'll aim to become a more complete player in Boston without losing his offensive flair.

Jack Eichel (Vegas Golden Knights)

Yes, Jack Eichel is still playing at an elite level for the Golden Knights. The former Sabres captain has recorded 346 points (128 goals and 218 assists) in 316 games since being traded to Vegas in 2021.

The Boston University opened the new season with three points in the team's win over the Hawks, including a second-period goal:

Although the divorce between Eichel and the Sabres became inevitable at a certain point, the club's inability to fill the crucial No. 1 center role since his departure — Tage Thompson would play on the wing in a perfect world — is a lingering sting from the entire ordeal.

He still receives a chorus of boos every time he returns to the KeyBank Center.

Victor Olofsson (Vegas Golden Knights)

If you guessed Victor Olofsson's first goal of 2026-27 season came on the power play, you'd be correct.

The three-time 20-goal scorer for Buffalo opened his second tenure in Vegas with a gino midway through the first period while on the man advantage:

Olofsson hasn't found regular success since leaving the Sabres while bouncing from the Knights to the Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames and now back to Sin City. He's tallied a modest 29 goals in 135 contests since his departure from Western New York.

The 31-year-old Swede has always been a threat on the power play because of his elite shot, however, and that was on display once again on Opening Night in the NHL.

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