The Buffalo Sabres weren't sure if Mattias Samuelsson was going to be available for the first game of the regular season after suffering an injury in the preseason. However, Samuelsson was able to suit up, and the Sabres certainly were happy he did because he scored the first goal of the 2026-27 season for them.
About midway through the first period, the Sabres went on their first power play of the season but it didn't last long, as Tage Thompson would be called for hooking. The two teams would then play some 4v4 hockey.
The Sabres kept the pressure on the Blue Jackets, and the Sabres were moving the puck around. Owen Power passed it off to Noah Ostlund who would find a trailing Samuelsson and the Sabres defenseman wasted no time shooting the puck and beat Jet Greaves for the goal.
Our first goal of the 2026-27 season belongs to Mattias Samuelsson! 🚨#LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/QMY2akiDVM
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) October 1, 2026
This is now the second time in three seasons that the Sabres have had a defenseman score the team's first goal as Owen Power did it in the season opener of the 2024-25 season. However, it is the first time since the season opener of the 2021-22 season that the Sabres scored the first goal of the game as the prior four games the other team gained the early lead.
Mattias Samuelsson showing early that last season was not a fluke
Last season, Mattias Samuelsson found his shot and finished the season with 13 goals after having only seven in his first 212 career NHL games. He continued to score at a high rate in the playoffs with three goals in 13 games.
The good news for the Buffalo Sabres and this defense is that Samuelsson looks like he is going to continue to be a scoring threat. Entering this season, the Sabres are trying to figure out how to replace Bowen Byram, who had 11 goals, and if Samuelsson can at least continue to be a 12-15 goal scorer, it will help.
The Buffalo Sabres are looking for their first win in a season opener since the 2022-23 season and while they had the lead, it was short-lived as the Blue Jackets would tie it up later in the first period.
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