Matthew Fairburn
@matthewfairburn.bsky.social
Writing about the Buffalo Sabres and NHL for The Athletic. Occasionally writing about the Buffalo Bills as well.
Pinned
Terry Pegula’s ownership, Kevyn Adams’ rise and the ‘hamster wheel’ of Sabres’ record playoff drought
Buffalo's 14-season playoff drought is tied with the New York Jets for the longest postseason famine in major North American sports.
www.nytimes.com
How did Kevyn Adams earn Terry Pegula’s trust and how has he kept it?
After conversations with 10 people in and around the Sabres the last decade-plus and a lengthy sit down with Adams, a story on a record playoff drought.
“They’re on a hamster wheel.”
www.nytimes.com/athl...
After conversations with 10 people in and around the Sabres the last decade-plus and a lengthy sit down with Adams, a story on a record playoff drought.
“They’re on a hamster wheel.”
www.nytimes.com/athl...
Sabres came away with 3 out of 4 points on their Florida road trip. But that felt a bit disappointing given how the game ended against the Lightning on Tuesday night. Thoughts on the rising expectations in Buffalo, Mattias Samuelsson's big night and more:
Sabres’ disappointing OT loss to Lightning a sign of rising expectations: 5 thoughts
It's a mark of how far the Sabres have come that a 3-point swing through Florida is cause for consternation.
www.nytimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 11:25 AM
Sabres came away with 3 out of 4 points on their Florida road trip. But that felt a bit disappointing given how the game ended against the Lightning on Tuesday night. Thoughts on the rising expectations in Buffalo, Mattias Samuelsson's big night and more:
Jake Guentzel scores in overtime, and the Sabres lose 4-3. Incredibly entertaining game. The Sabres get three of a possible four points on this Florida trip. They return home to play the Penguins on Thursday in their final game before the Olympic break.
February 4, 2026 at 3:14 AM
Jake Guentzel scores in overtime, and the Sabres lose 4-3. Incredibly entertaining game. The Sabres get three of a possible four points on this Florida trip. They return home to play the Penguins on Thursday in their final game before the Olympic break.
The Sabres will get a point as this game goes to overtime tied at 3.
February 4, 2026 at 3:04 AM
The Sabres will get a point as this game goes to overtime tied at 3.
Darren Raddysh rips a 98 miler per hour shot by Colten Ellis with 25 seconds left. Sabres and Lightning tied at 3.
February 4, 2026 at 3:03 AM
Darren Raddysh rips a 98 miler per hour shot by Colten Ellis with 25 seconds left. Sabres and Lightning tied at 3.
Josh Doan scores a power play goal at the net front on a great feed from Tage Thompson. The Sabres take a 3-2 lead with 5:07 to play. A lot of quality chances on that power play for Buffalo and it ends in a goal.
February 4, 2026 at 2:56 AM
Josh Doan scores a power play goal at the net front on a great feed from Tage Thompson. The Sabres take a 3-2 lead with 5:07 to play. A lot of quality chances on that power play for Buffalo and it ends in a goal.
Oliver Bjorkstrand gets a power play goal. Snagged a rebound in front. Sabres and Lightning now tied at 2 with 11 minutes left.
February 4, 2026 at 2:45 AM
Oliver Bjorkstrand gets a power play goal. Snagged a rebound in front. Sabres and Lightning now tied at 2 with 11 minutes left.
Mattias Samuelsson again. Unbelievable. He beat Andrei Vasilevskiy glove side. Nice pass by Ryan McLeod to set him up, too. Sabres have a 2-1 lead in the third period.
February 4, 2026 at 2:36 AM
Mattias Samuelsson again. Unbelievable. He beat Andrei Vasilevskiy glove side. Nice pass by Ryan McLeod to set him up, too. Sabres have a 2-1 lead in the third period.
Sabres and Lightning tied at 1 at the first intermission. Great first period from Colten Ellis, who stopped four high-danger shots in the first 20 minutes.
February 4, 2026 at 1:15 AM
Sabres and Lightning tied at 1 at the first intermission. Great first period from Colten Ellis, who stopped four high-danger shots in the first 20 minutes.
What a ridiculous shot from Mattias Samuelsson. From the bottom of the faceoff circle at an odd angle, Samuelsson finds a way to sneak one by Andrei Vasilevskiy. That's Samuelsson's 10th goal of the season. Sabres and Lightning tied at 1.
February 4, 2026 at 1:09 AM
What a ridiculous shot from Mattias Samuelsson. From the bottom of the faceoff circle at an odd angle, Samuelsson finds a way to sneak one by Andrei Vasilevskiy. That's Samuelsson's 10th goal of the season. Sabres and Lightning tied at 1.
Nikita Kucherov scores after a turnover from Rasmus Dahlin. Dahlin broke his stick and had Jason Zucker's stick, which may have contributed to the failed clearing attempt from Dahlin. Sabres down 1-0.
February 4, 2026 at 12:56 AM
Nikita Kucherov scores after a turnover from Rasmus Dahlin. Dahlin broke his stick and had Jason Zucker's stick, which may have contributed to the failed clearing attempt from Dahlin. Sabres down 1-0.
Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will miss the Olympics due to his lower body injury. Team Finland has replaced him with Bruins goalie Joonas Korpisalo:
Sabres’ Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen out for Olympics, will be replaced by Bruins’ Joonas Korpisalo
Team Finland announced Tuesday that Buffalo Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will miss the Olympics with a lower-body injury.
www.nytimes.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will miss the Olympics due to his lower body injury. Team Finland has replaced him with Bruins goalie Joonas Korpisalo:
Reposted by Matthew Fairburn
If you didn’t see my interview with TSN’s Claire Hanna tonight about my upcoming book Black Aces, watch it here!
Black Aces is available everywhere as of tomorrow! It’s a book on Black hockey players and people and I hope everyone enjoys it!
www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/20...
Black Aces is available everywhere as of tomorrow! It’s a book on Black hockey players and people and I hope everyone enjoys it!
www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/20...
- TSN
The Athletic's Julian McKenzie - the author of the book 'Black Aces,' joins TSN's Claire Hanna during the intermission of the Senators game to discuss why it is important to him to shed a light on the...
www.tsn.ca
February 3, 2026 at 2:23 AM
If you didn’t see my interview with TSN’s Claire Hanna tonight about my upcoming book Black Aces, watch it here!
Black Aces is available everywhere as of tomorrow! It’s a book on Black hockey players and people and I hope everyone enjoys it!
www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/20...
Black Aces is available everywhere as of tomorrow! It’s a book on Black hockey players and people and I hope everyone enjoys it!
www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/20...
“Honestly they’re way more skilled than us, that team,” Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk said of the Sabres after the game. “From an individual standpoint skill, they have us by a lot."
On the Sabres passing another big test with a comeback in Florida:
On the Sabres passing another big test with a comeback in Florida:
Peyton Krebs shines, Sabres pass another big test in win vs. Panthers: 5 thoughts
The Panthers struck first, but the Sabres pulled back control of the game thanks to a sterling performance from Krebs.
www.nytimes.com
February 3, 2026 at 1:52 PM
“Honestly they’re way more skilled than us, that team,” Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk said of the Sabres after the game. “From an individual standpoint skill, they have us by a lot."
On the Sabres passing another big test with a comeback in Florida:
On the Sabres passing another big test with a comeback in Florida:
Peyton Krebs help spark the Sabres’ comeback win over the Panthers last night. Thought on Buffalo passing another big test and getting 10 points of separation on Florida in the standings
Peyton Krebs shines, Sabres pass another big test in win vs. Panthers: 5 thoughts
The Panthers struck first, but the Sabres pulled back control of the game thanks to a sterling performance from Krebs.
www.nytimes.com
February 3, 2026 at 12:13 PM
Peyton Krebs help spark the Sabres’ comeback win over the Panthers last night. Thought on Buffalo passing another big test and getting 10 points of separation on Florida in the standings
The Sabres beat the Panthers 5-3. Huge win. Buffalo is now 10 points ahead of Florida in the standings. Sabres head to Tampa to play the Lightning tomorrow night.
February 3, 2026 at 2:40 AM
The Sabres beat the Panthers 5-3. Huge win. Buffalo is now 10 points ahead of Florida in the standings. Sabres head to Tampa to play the Lightning tomorrow night.
Peyton Krebs makes a great play to hang onto the puck and set up Josh Doan for a goal on a two-on-one. That puts the Sabres up 5-3 with two minutes to go. Krebs has three points in this one.
February 3, 2026 at 2:36 AM
Peyton Krebs makes a great play to hang onto the puck and set up Josh Doan for a goal on a two-on-one. That puts the Sabres up 5-3 with two minutes to go. Krebs has three points in this one.
Zach Benson briefly tried to return to the game for the Sabres but skated off after his shift and went right back down the tunnel.
February 3, 2026 at 2:16 AM
Zach Benson briefly tried to return to the game for the Sabres but skated off after his shift and went right back down the tunnel.
Sabres get a power play and convert. Josh Doan made a great play to buy some time behind the net and set up Jason Zucker for a goal at the front of the net. Sabres up 4-3.
February 3, 2026 at 2:11 AM
Sabres get a power play and convert. Josh Doan made a great play to buy some time behind the net and set up Jason Zucker for a goal at the front of the net. Sabres up 4-3.
Zach Benson down on the ice in pain after crashing into the end boards after narrowly missing on a scoring chance. Looked like he was hooked. Benson was favoring his left shoulder. Went right to the dressing room.
February 3, 2026 at 2:09 AM
Zach Benson down on the ice in pain after crashing into the end boards after narrowly missing on a scoring chance. Looked like he was hooked. Benson was favoring his left shoulder. Went right to the dressing room.
Sabres and Panthers tied at 3 at the second intermission. Buffalo is 5-4-4 this season when tied after two.
February 3, 2026 at 1:41 AM
Sabres and Panthers tied at 3 at the second intermission. Buffalo is 5-4-4 this season when tied after two.
Panthers score on the power play. Balinskis on a one-timer. Sabres and Panthers now tied at 3 late in the second period.
February 3, 2026 at 1:39 AM
Panthers score on the power play. Balinskis on a one-timer. Sabres and Panthers now tied at 3 late in the second period.
Sergei Bobrovsky got caught way out of the net. Ryan McLeod beat him to the puck and found Zach Benson for a look at the wide open net. Benson converts, and the Sabres are up 3-2.
February 3, 2026 at 1:15 AM
Sergei Bobrovsky got caught way out of the net. Ryan McLeod beat him to the puck and found Zach Benson for a look at the wide open net. Benson converts, and the Sabres are up 3-2.
Sabres and Panthers tied at 2 at the first intermission. Impressive response from Buffalo after falling behind 2-0 early.
February 3, 2026 at 12:46 AM
Sabres and Panthers tied at 2 at the first intermission. Impressive response from Buffalo after falling behind 2-0 early.
Pretty pass from Rasmus Dahlin to set Peyton Krebs up for a net-front tap in. Sabres and Panthers now tied at 2.
February 3, 2026 at 12:44 AM
Pretty pass from Rasmus Dahlin to set Peyton Krebs up for a net-front tap in. Sabres and Panthers now tied at 2.
Wow what a move by Tage Thompson to find some time and space. Then he beat Bobrovsky clean from the slot. Sabres now down 2-1.
February 3, 2026 at 12:37 AM
Wow what a move by Tage Thompson to find some time and space. Then he beat Bobrovsky clean from the slot. Sabres now down 2-1.