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...
The Sabres sent Konsta Helenius, Isak Rosen and Zach Metsa back to the AHL. That will give them a chance to get games in Rochester during the break.
February 6, 2026 at 3:46 AM
The Sabres sent Konsta Helenius, Isak Rosen and Zach Metsa back to the AHL. That will give them a chance to get games in Rochester during the break.
Penguins get an empty netter to take a 5-2 lead with 13.6 seconds left. Sabres will head to the Olympic break with a loss.
February 6, 2026 at 2:48 AM
Penguins get an empty netter to take a 5-2 lead with 13.6 seconds left. Sabres will head to the Olympic break with a loss.
Tommy Novak scores on a rebound at the front of the net, and the Penguins are up 4-2 with 4:27 to play.
February 6, 2026 at 2:41 AM
Tommy Novak scores on a rebound at the front of the net, and the Penguins are up 4-2 with 4:27 to play.
Peyton Krebs and Connor Clifton drop the gloves after Krebs crashed into Silovs. Decent back and forth between two old teammates. Krebs gets two extra minutes for goalie interference.
February 6, 2026 at 2:31 AM
Peyton Krebs and Connor Clifton drop the gloves after Krebs crashed into Silovs. Decent back and forth between two old teammates. Krebs gets two extra minutes for goalie interference.
Nifty goal from Tage Thompson on the power play. Caught Silovs cheating and beat him up top from a tight angle. Sabres now down 3-2 with 18:05 to play.
February 6, 2026 at 2:11 AM
Nifty goal from Tage Thompson on the power play. Caught Silovs cheating and beat him up top from a tight angle. Sabres now down 3-2 with 18:05 to play.
Sabres head to the second intermission trailing the Penguins 3-1. Rough 40 minutes for Buffalo so far.
February 6, 2026 at 1:48 AM
Sabres head to the second intermission trailing the Penguins 3-1. Rough 40 minutes for Buffalo so far.
Jacob Bryson coughs up a puck at the offensive blue line and it leads to a 2-on-1 the other way. Ben Kindel scores to make it 3-1 Penguins.
February 6, 2026 at 1:25 AM
Jacob Bryson coughs up a puck at the offensive blue line and it leads to a 2-on-1 the other way. Ben Kindel scores to make it 3-1 Penguins.
Avery Hayes now has two goals in his first NHL game. Puck took a weird bounce off the boards, and Hayes snuck free to get an open shot in front. Tage Thompson was closest in coverage at the end, but looked like Michael Kesselring got caught a bit too high in the zone as well.
February 6, 2026 at 12:51 AM
Avery Hayes now has two goals in his first NHL game. Puck took a weird bounce off the boards, and Hayes snuck free to get an open shot in front. Tage Thompson was closest in coverage at the end, but looked like Michael Kesselring got caught a bit too high in the zone as well.
Playing in his first NHL game, Avery Hayes got behind Jacob Bryson and scored. Sabres and Penguins tied at 1.
February 6, 2026 at 12:32 AM
Playing in his first NHL game, Avery Hayes got behind Jacob Bryson and scored. Sabres and Penguins tied at 1.
Jason Zucker picks a corner after a perfect pass from Ryan McLeod, and the Sabres have a 1-0 lead on the Penguins 1:46 into the game.
February 6, 2026 at 12:15 AM
Jason Zucker picks a corner after a perfect pass from Ryan McLeod, and the Sabres have a 1-0 lead on the Penguins 1:46 into the game.
Lindy Ruff said the Sabres are still weighing options on Jordan Greenway. Another surgery is an option. Conor Timmins is still on crutches, so Ruff doesn't think he'll be available right after the break but he's hopeful he'll be skating by then.
February 5, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Lindy Ruff said the Sabres are still weighing options on Jordan Greenway. Another surgery is an option. Conor Timmins is still on crutches, so Ruff doesn't think he'll be available right after the break but he's hopeful he'll be skating by then.
Lindy Ruff said Josh Norris is not quite ready but he anticipates him being in the Sabres lineup after the break. Zach Benson should be back after the break as well.
February 5, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Lindy Ruff said Josh Norris is not quite ready but he anticipates him being in the Sabres lineup after the break. Zach Benson should be back after the break as well.
Alex Lyon is in the starter’s net at the Sabres’ morning skate ahead of their final game before the Olympic break.
February 5, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Alex Lyon is in the starter’s net at the Sabres’ morning skate ahead of their final game before the Olympic break.
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...