Blackhawks Lose 4-3 To Sabres, Accrue No Points in Season-Opening Road Trip

October 4, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

The Chicago Blackhawks (0-3-0) had a prime opportunity to earn their first win of the 2026-27 regular season on Saturday, leading 3-2 after two periods at KeyBank Center.

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Ryan Donato and Tyler Bertuzzi’s first-period goals gave the Blackhawks their first two-goal lead of the season, and Oliver Moore’s late second-period tally restored their advantage with 20 minutes remaining.

But with the stats through 40 minutes heavily favoring the opponent for the third straight game, it almost felt inevitable that the Blackhawks’ style of play wouldn’t maintain the one-goal lead. Ultimately, they didn’t, as the Buffalo Sabres (1-1-0) scored two unanswered goals in the third period, flipping a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 victory.

After two disheartening losses in Las Vegas and Utah, in which they were outscored 11-2 and outshot 69-41, the Blackhawks desperately needed to get the train back on the tracks in Buffalo. Still without star center Connor Bedard due to injury, and without new No. 1 defenseman Bowen Byram, who missed his return to Western New York due to a personal matter, that was unsurprisingly challenging.

Overall, the Blackhawks gave an improved effort and played more cohesive hockey, although the bar was as low as possible following Thursday’s disastrous 6-0 loss to the Mammoth. They had better collective moments and more standout individual performances than the first two games, but it still wasn’t enough to earn two points.

Offensively, it’s hard to win in this league with just 15 shots on goal, the Blackhawks total from Saturday’s defeat. Breaking through the neutral zone with possession was an issue again, leading to few offensive-zone cycles and little sustained pressure. Patrick Kane, usually a persistent threat when playing in his hometown, failed to record a shot in 19 minutes of ice time, and no one had more than two in the game.

Defensively, the structure still had too many glaring breakdowns, with the Sabres out-chancing the Blackhawks 32-16. Defending off the rush remains a glaring issue, as Spencer Knight was tested far too often from prime real estate. Buffalo generated both third-period goals off the rush, and the Hawks’ shoddy coverage in transition cost them their lead.

Coming away with no wins, and not even a single point, from the season-opening three-game road trip is undeniably discouraging for a Blackhawks fanbase that had high hopes that this year would finally be different. So far, it’s been too much of the same from seasons past, and it will be fascinating to see how the team is received in Tuesday’s home opener against the St. Louis Blues.

Here are the highlights from the Blackhawks’ 4-3 loss to the Sabres, which drops their record to 0-3-0 in the regular season.

First Period

Donato gave the Blackhawks their first lead of the season at 7:59, burying a feed from Alex Vlasic while crashing the net. Vlasic activated off the rush and found Donato in the slot for his first goal of the year. Nick Lardis also recorded his first point of the season with the secondary assist. 1-0, Chicago.

Nick Lardis➡️Alex Vlasic➡️Ryan Donato🚨

Vlasic sets up Donato to give the #Blackhawks a 1-0 lead! pic.twitter.com/Ax1OYSDpQa

— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) October 3, 2026

The Sabres found their groove as the period wore on and nearly tied the score just past the midway point. Peyton Krebs set up a streaking Konsta Helenius on a breakaway, but Knight made a terrific glove save to maintain the Blackhawks’ lead.

Big save by Knight on Helenius: pic.twitter.com/3Ei3WhPMkI
— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) October 3, 2026

Knight’s save on Helenius loomed even larger just moments later as Bertuzzi added to the Blackhawks’ lead at 11:24, capping off a sweet passing play between the second line. Teuvo Teravainen slipped a feed to Anton Frondell in the slot, and the big Swede made a stupendous extra pass to give Bertuzzi a yawning cage for his first goal of the season. 2-0, Chicago.

Teuvo Teravainen➡️Anton Frondell➡️Tyler Bertuzzi🚨

Frondell with a pretty pass to give Bertuzzi an open net! #Blackhawks lead 2-0. pic.twitter.com/2KPu8MFpg3

— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) October 3, 2026

The Sabres started stacking scoring chances, as the Blackhawks defense again struggled to defend off the rush. After Wyatt Kaiser committed a defensive-zone turnover, Jack Quinn gained possession, shook past Oliver Moore, and fired a shot through traffic to get Buffalo on the board at 16:24. 2-1.

Quinner staying HOT to start the season! 💥#LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/z3Zh3t5BKM
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) October 3, 2026

The Blackhawks top line almost regained the two-goal advantage in the final minute, with Roman Kantserov making a heads-up pass to hand Patrick Kane an open net. Unfortunately, Kane didn’t seem to realize Luukkonen was out of position, and his one-timer missed the target wide. Still 2-1.

Kane can't hit the open net from a sharp angle. Nice plays by Nazar and Kantserov to set it up: pic.twitter.com/1VSKHszpna
— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) October 3, 2026

Through 20 minutes, the Blackhawks led 2-1, but the Sabres were ahead 13-5 in shots on goal and 16-6 in scoring chances. Knight played terrific to keep his team in front by one.

Second Period

Thompson tied the game 2-2 at 5:41 in the second period, deflecting a shot from former Blackhawks defenseman Louis Crevier at the right point. That’s Thompson’s 10th goal in 16 career games against Chicago. He also has five goals in seven career games against Knight.

Tage has his first of the year! 😮‍💨#LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/tAtZ8LK1Ig
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) October 4, 2026

With Moore in the penalty box for interference, Frank Nazar had a shorthanded breakaway opportunity to regain the Blackhawks’ lead. Nazar slipped the puck through Luukkonen’s five-hole, but the Sabres’ goalie caught just enough of it with his pad to steer it wide. Still 2-2.

Nazar beats Luukkonen on a shorthanded breakaway but the puck slides just wide: pic.twitter.com/vfXb19beg7
— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) October 4, 2026

Moments after Moore stepped out of the penalty box, he helped the Blackhawks restore their one-goal advantage on an odd-man rush with Frondell. Moore and Frondell executed a give-and-go to perfection, with the former burying a shot past Luukkonen for his first goal of the season at 18:18. 3-2, Chicago.

Anton Frondell➡️Oliver Moore🚨

Moore gets his 1st goal of the season to put the #Blackhawks ahead 3-2! Frondell with his 2nd primary assist of the game. pic.twitter.com/Mbp2knRWCM

— Talkin’ Hawkey (@TalkinHawkey) October 4, 2026

Despite the Sabres leading 21-9 in shots on goal and 28-12 in scoring chances, the Blackhawks carried a 3-2 lead into the second intermission. Knight, with 19 saves, was to thank for that.

Third Period

With Kane in the penalty box for high-sticking Noah Ostlund early in the third period, the Blackhawks penalty-kill unit generated its second high-quality scoring opportunity of the night. A successful flip pass from Kaiser found Teravainen with space in the offensive zone, and his shot got past Luukkonen’s glove, only to hit the post. Still 3-2.

What a flip pass from Kaiser to set Teravainen up for a shot that rings off the post: pic.twitter.com/id44ih19gn
— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) October 4, 2026

Not too long after Kane stepped out of the box, Rasmus Dahlin tied the game 3-3. Dahlin joined the rush and found an open pocket in the Blackhawks’ coverage, took in a pass from Krebs, and quickly fired a shot past Knight at 6:10.

Rasmus Dahlin finds the open space for Krebs, immediate release and its a tied game. 3-3 #LetsGoBuffalo #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/JUe7IhnSoH
— Buffalo Hockey Moments (@SabresPlays) October 4, 2026

Seven minutes later, the Sabres grabbed their first lead of the night, with Owen Power setting up Jiri Kulich in front at 13:20. The Blackhawks got caught in scramble mode, with Levshunov leaving Kulich open at the far post. 4-3, Buffalo.

Welcome back, Jiri Kulich! 💙#LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/ggXw81Vhfs
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) October 4, 2026

In the final 6:40, the Blackhawks registered one shot on goal, and they couldn’t get Knight off the ice for the extra attacker until 60 seconds remained. Luukkonen wasn’t forced to make any high-leverage saves, and the Sabres coasted to a 4-3 win.

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