The Buffalo Sabres and Columbus Blue Jackets began their season with a matchup on October 1, 2026. The game showcased lineup changes. NHL.com provided live coverage. Yahoo Sports and Audacy offered live updates. The Blue Jackets' defenseman, Mikhail Provorov, was featured in a status report. Fans could track live game updates. Stats and play-by-play were on Yahoo Sports. Viewers had multiple options to watch the game. These included NHL.com, Yahoo Sports, Audacy, and Athlon Sports.