The NHL lockout just got tangible.
The league announced this afternoon that it has canceled all preseason games through Sept. 30. Four exhibitions featuring the Buffalo Sabres are affected, including two home games.
"The cancellation of the schedule was necessary because of the absence of a Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL Players’ Association and the NHL," the league said in a statement.
The Sabres were scheduled to open the preseason Monday in Montreal. Next Wednesday's game against Boston in First Niagara Center is canceled, as are the Sept. 28 visit by the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Sabres' Sept. 29 trip to Toronto.
Three games remain on Buffalo's exhibition slate: at Columbus on Oct. 2; at Boston on Oct. 5; and at home against the Blue Jackets on Oct. 6.
Training camp is supposed to open Friday.
---John Vogl
