🏒 PREGAME · GAME 3 🏒
Minnesota Wild at Buffalo Sabres
🚨 Puck drops at 6:00 PM Central · Tuesday, October 6, 2026
📍 KeyBank Center · Buffalo, NY

Hey Wild fans — Michael here. Two games, two wins. Let’s get you set for the first stop on a three-game road trip!

A perfect start. Minnesota is 2–0–0 after a 3–1 win in Nashville and a 4–1 win over Boston. Buffalo comes in at 1–1–0. Tonight’s game preview

Still short two regulars. Brock Faber and Filip Gustavsson remain on injured reserve. Jesper Wallstedt and Calvin Pickard are Minnesota’s available goalies. Official game notes

A new goalie across the ice. Buffalo expects Colten Ellis to make his first start of the season. Sabres goalie update

Here’s where to find tonight’s game.

In the Wild broadcast market
Wild+ on Prime Video · Separate Wild+ subscription.
A paid Prime membership isn’t required. Check eligibility and viewing options

Already have TV service?
Fubo Pro / Fubo Sports carry Wild+ locally. Spectrum TV also carries Wild+ in the territory. Check your package and local channel before buying another subscription.

Free local TV?
Tonight is not on the Wild’s announced over-the-air schedule. See the free-TV schedule

Elsewhere in the U.S.
NHL Power Play in the ESPN app · ESPN Select or Unlimited.
Local blackouts apply, including in Buffalo’s market. Check tonight’s listing before subscribing. ESPN plan details

In Buffalo’s market: MSG on TV or DAZN for streaming. Sabres viewing information
On the radio: KFAN 100.3 FM.

Check your ZIP and official viewing options
Viewing details checked October 6, 2026, for this edition. Availability depends on location and package.

In / out: Faber and Gustavsson remain on injured reserve. Danila Yurov remains in Minnesota’s projected lineup after leaving Monday’s practice early with an upper-body issue; the final lineup is subject to change.
Starting goalie: Wallstedt — projected; Pickard is the projected backup.
Why it matters: Clean exits and support around the crease can help keep Minnesota’s strong start going.

Support Wild Hockey Insider
Considering Fubo? Compare Fubo plans through our affiliate link. Check that your location and plan include Wild+ before subscribing.
Affiliate disclosure: Wild Hockey Insider may earn a commission if you subscribe through this link.

FORWARDS
Line 1: Blake Coleman – Joel Eriksson Ek – Matt Boldy
Line 2: Kirill Kaprizov – Danila Yurov – Maxim Shabanov
Line 3: Yakov Trenin – Ryan Hartman – Bobby Brink
Line 4: Nick Foligno – Michael McCarron – Marcus Foligno

DEFENSE
Def 1: Quinn Hughes – Jared Spurgeon
Def 2: Olli Määttä – Jonas Brodin
Def 3: Daemon Hunt – Zach Bogosian

GOALTENDERS
In Net: Jesper Wallstedt — projected
Backup: Calvin Pickard — projected
Injured: Faber, Gustavsson
Scratches: Not confirmed at draft time.
Projected for October 6; subject to change. Official projected lineup

🔥 Kaprizov reaches 400. Tonight would be Kirill’s 400th regular-season NHL game. He arrives with 478 career points and three goals this season. Can Buffalo keep him away from the middle, or will Minnesota’s puck movement open those lanes again? Game notes

🧱 Keep helping Wallstedt. He has a .957 save percentage through two starts. Watch the support in front of him: clear sightlines, quick exits and control of the second chance. That becomes especially important when the home team can choose its matchups.

🎯 A special-teams test. Minnesota is 3-for-7 on the power play and 7-for-7 on the penalty kill. Buffalo is 0-for-8 with the extra skater and has moved Noah Östlund onto its first unit. Two games is a tiny sample; staying disciplined still matters. Sabres practice report

🤔 What can we do better?

Reply to this email with any feedback or suggestions. We’re always looking to improve!

Let’s go Wild!
— Michael

Know a fan who is tired of hunting for the right app? Forward this email.
Get Wild game-day emails free

Independent fan newsletter. Not affiliated with the Minnesota Wild or NHL.