Buffalo Sabres games are on MSG Western New York, as they were last season — 70 of the 84 games. Two things changed. WGR 550 was confirmed as the radio flagship again on 3 September under a new multi-year deal, which is worth saying plainly because the station lost the Bills and plenty of coverage assumed the Sabres went with them. And the app you stream MSG through is being replaced: DAZN takes over from the Gotham Sports App, at a price that has not been announced.
Which channel are Sabres games on?
MSG Western New York, carried on Spectrum across the region, DIRECTV channel 635-1, Verizon Fios, Atlantic Broadband in parts of Cattaraugus County, and in-territory on DIRECTV Stream and Fubo. Two providers do not carry it and have not for years: DISH, since a dispute in 2010, and Comcast Xfinity.
How do I stream Sabres games, and what does it cost?
Through the Gotham Sports App today, and through DAZN once the migration happens — MSG Networks announced in July 2026 that DAZN becomes its exclusive direct-to-consumer streaming home. DAZN’s price for MSG content has not been announced, and neither has the shutdown date for Gotham. Existing subscribers keep uninterrupted access through the switch, and anyone who already gets MSG in a television package will get DAZN at no additional cost. The last published Gotham price, for reference only, was $29.99 a month or $279.99 a year.
Is the radio station changing?
No, and this is the part worth getting right. WGR 550 AM was confirmed as the Sabres’ flagship on 3 September 2026 under a new multi-year agreement with Audacy, with Dan Dunleavy on play-by-play and Rob Ray on colour. WGR did lose the Buffalo Bills, and some coverage has extended that to the Sabres — incorrectly. New this season: a Sabres Radio Network expanding into additional markets, and SiriusXM carriage for out-of-market fans.
How many games are on MSG?
Seventy of the 84. The other 14 are national exclusives — eight on TNT and HBO Max, three on ESPN or ABC and three streaming — which is the most of any club in this batch and a consequence of last season’s Atlantic Division title.
Am I in-market?
The territory covers Western New York, Central New York and north-western Pennsylvania, with coverage extended across all of Rochester since 2016. Outside it, NHL Power Play through the ESPN app or NHL Center Ice.
Who calls the games on television?
The same people who call them on radio. The Sabres run a simulcast: Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray do both, with Ray working at ice level, and Brian Duff hosting with Martin Biron in studio. It is a model no other NHL club uses, and it means there is no separate television commentary to choose between.
When do the Buffalo Sabres open?
Thursday 1 October, away at Columbus. The home opener is Saturday 3 October against Chicago. Neither is a national game, so both are on MSG Western New York.
| Local network | MSG Western New York |
|---|---|
| Cable and satellite | Spectrum · DIRECTV 635-1 · Verizon Fios · Atlantic Broadband (parts of Cattaraugus County) · DIRECTV Stream and Fubo in-territory |
| Not available on | DISH and Comcast Xfinity |
| Streaming | Gotham Sports App now; DAZN taking over, date not announced |
| Price | Not announced for DAZN |
| Free over the air | No |
| Games available locally | 70 of 84 |
| Blackout territory | Western and Central New York, north-western Pennsylvania |
| Radio | WGR 550 AM — new multi-year deal confirmed 3 September 2026; Dan Dunleavy, Rob Ray; now also on SiriusXM |
| TV team | Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray, simulcast with radio; Brian Duff and Martin Biron in studio |
| National TV games | 14 |
| Opening night | Thu 1 October, at Columbus; home opener Sat 3 October v Chicago |
Last verified 7 September 2026. Prices and carriage change — see our guide to watching every NHL team in 2026-27 for the national packages and how blackouts work.
