Here’s when the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres are returning to Penn State

The NHL is returning to Happy Valley.

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres will play a preseason game at Penn State’s Pegula Ice Arena at 7 p.m. Sept. 16, the university announced Tuesday. It will be the third time in four years that the venue will host a preseason NHL game.

“Our organization is excited to return to Penn State this fall to face the Penguins,” Sabres General Manager Jason Botterill said in a news release. “We know the atmosphere at Pegula Ice Arena will be loud and we look forward to putting on a great show for all of the NHL fans in Hockey Valley.”

Ticket prices, sale dates and parking will be announced at a later date. And Penn State hockey season ticket-holders will have a right-of-first-refusal on the NHL tickets.

Terry Pegula, the owner of the Sabres, is a Penn State graduate who donated $102 million to the university in 2010 to help establish an NCAA Division I hockey program. Penn State made the transition to Div. I in 2013-2014, and Pegula’s Sabres have made appearances at Pegula’s namesake rink twice since then.

In 2016, Buffalo lost 2-1 to the Minnesota Wild on a last-second power play. And, in 2017, the Sabres beat the Penguins 4-3 on Jack Eichel’s overtime winner.

“We appreciate the Buffalo Sabres’ willingness to once again host a preseason contest in Pegula Ice Arena,” Assistant Athletic Director Michael Cross said in a written statement.