Bruins and Sabres Set to Clash in Playoffs

Boston and Buffalo renew postseason rivalry after 14-year drought for Sabres

Apr. 15, 2026 at 6:05pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game, with players and the puck fragmented into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes in a variety of colors, conceptually representing the clash of styles between the experienced Bruins and the upstart Sabres.The Bruins and Sabres' first playoff clash in over a decade promises an intense, high-stakes battle between Boston's veteran experience and Buffalo's youthful exuberance.Boston Today

The Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres are set to meet in the first round of the NHL playoffs, with the Bruins holding a 3-1-0 edge over the Sabres in the regular season series. The Sabres are making their first playoff appearance since 2011, led by a promising young roster anchored by Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson. However, the Bruins have the edge in playoff experience, with stars like David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy combining for 181 games of postseason action. The series could come down to goaltending, with Bruins netminder Jeremy Swayman looking to build on his strong 2024 playoff run, while the Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen makes his first career playoff start.

Why it matters

This series marks the renewal of a long-standing playoff rivalry between the Bruins and Sabres, who last met in the 2010 postseason. The Sabres' return to the playoffs after a 14-year drought is a significant milestone for the franchise, but their lack of playoff experience could be a factor against the battle-tested Bruins. The goaltending matchup between Swayman and Luukkonen could also play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the series.

The details

The Bruins went 3-1-0 against the Sabres during the regular season, outscoring Buffalo by a slim 12-11 margin. The Sabres have been one of the NHL's hottest teams over the past few months, going 39-9-4 after a slow start to the season. Buffalo boasts a balanced roster with 14 players recording at least 25 points, led by 40-goal scorer Tage Thompson and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. However, the Sabres' power play has struggled down the stretch, ranking 19th in the NHL at 19.8%. The Bruins will look to take advantage of Buffalo's special teams woes, but the Sabres' strong penalty kill could pose a challenge.

  • The Bruins and Sabres last met in the playoffs in 2010, with the Bruins winning the first-round series in six games.
  • The Sabres snapped the longest playoff drought in the NHL earlier this month, punching their first ticket to the postseason since 2011.

The players

Rasmus Dahlin

A do-it-all, franchise defenseman for the Sabres who posted 74 points in 77 games while averaging 24:11 of ice time.

Tage Thompson

The Sabres' go-to goal scorer, lighting the lamp 40 times this season.

Jeremy Swayman

The Bruins' starting goaltender, who is looking to build on his strong 2024 playoff run when he posted a .933 save percentage across 12 games.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

The Sabres' likely Game 1 starting goaltender, who will be making his first career playoff appearance.

David Pastrnak

The Bruins' star forward, who has a combined 181 games of postseason experience.

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What they’re saying

“It's up to us to use it to our advantage. In the playoffs, you can have as much experience and as much [of an] advantage as you can — but all that matters is how you challenge and how you do it.”

— David Pastrnak

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This series between the Bruins and Sabres will pit Boston's playoff-tested veterans against Buffalo's promising but inexperienced young core. The goaltending matchup between Swayman and Luukkonen could be the deciding factor, as the Bruins look to capitalize on the Sabres' special teams struggles.