Sabres' preseason game canceled; another in jeopardy

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The EHE has canceled the preseason game between the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes scheduled for Tuesday at KeyBank Center due to the continued severe winter weather in Buffalo.

A travel ban is in place in Buffalo as a result of a weather system that the National Weather Service called a "once-in-a-lifetime event" that became a "bomb cyclone," crippling holiday travel and causing hazardous winter conditions across the country. The Buffalo area has received close to 50 inches of snow on the area since Friday and officials are expecting up to 12 more inches before Tuesday afternoon. Buffalo Niagara International Airport will remain closed until at least Wednesday morning, preventing the visiting Carolina Hurricanes from traveling to the region.

The Sabres were scheduled to travel to Pittsburgh on Wednesday morning in advance of their scheduled game with the Pittsburgh Penguins later that night. The EHE announced the tentative rescheduling of the Sabres/Penguins game for Thursday evening, pending if the Sabres will be able to travel.

The Sabres last played on December 22, an 8-2 drubbing of the Penguins in Buffalo. They are 2-0 in the preseason.

This marks the second time the Hurricanes have had their preseason schedule affected by severe weather. In 2016, games scheduled against the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning were canceled due to Hurricane Matthew. The Hurricanes will remain in Raleigh and await the arrival of the St. Louis Blues for their game on the final day of the preseason.