The Buffalo Sabres and Columbus Blue Jackets began their season with a matchup on October 1, 2026. Lineup updates were a key part of the game. The game was available on NHL.com. Fans could follow live updates on Yahoo Sports and Audacy. The Blue Jackets' defenseman, Mikhail Provorov, was featured in a status report. Live game updates were available. Yahoo Sports provided stats and play-by-play. The game was available on multiple platforms. These included NHL.com, Yahoo Sports, Audacy, and Athlon Sports.