All signs point to the Rangers hosting the Sabres at Citi Field on New Years Day, according to Newsday (http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/rangers/2018-nhl-winter-classic-likely-to-be-held-at-citi-field-with-rangers-vs-sabres-sources-say-1.13268887)
Buffalo appeared in the first Winter Classic game against Pittsburgh in 2008. Including the Sabres is a nod to the 10th anniversary of the game. The Rangers faced the Flyers in the 2012 game at Citizens Bank ballpark. In addition, there were two “Stadium Series… games, featuring the Rangers playing the Devils and Islanders, at Yankee Stadium in late January, 2014. For tax reasons, the Rangers are required to be the road team in any of these matchups.
I get the annoyance with the game having Buffalo and not the Islanders in it. Two local rival teams, each with marquee players, Henrik Lundqvist and John Tavares, and the Islanders have not appeared in a Winter Classic seemed to make perfect sense. Look for the NHL to market the heck out of Jack Eichel prior to the game. Personally, I would have loved the classic to be played at West Point, but it sounds as if talks to have the game there really didn't go anywhere.
More to come.