Sabres to Face Bruins in Round 1 of Stanley Cup Playoffs

Buffalo and Boston set to renew longtime postseason rivalry

Apr. 15, 2026 at 1:51am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game between the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins, with sharp, overlapping planes of blue, gold, and black capturing the intensity of the playoff matchup.The long-standing playoff rivalry between the Sabres and Bruins is set to be renewed in a high-stakes opening-round series.Boston Today

The Buffalo Sabres will face the Boston Bruins in the opening round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with Game 1 scheduled for either Saturday or Sunday. As Atlantic Division champions, the Sabres will host the first two games at KeyBank Center before the series shifts to TD Garden for Games 3 and 4.

Why it matters

This marks the ninth postseason meeting between the longtime rivals, who have developed a fierce on-ice competition over the years. The regular-season series was closely contested, setting the stage for what should be an intense and evenly matched playoff clash.

The details

The Sabres and Bruins split their four-game regular-season series, with Buffalo earning three of a possible four points at home. Tage Thompson led the Sabres with five assists, while Jason Zucker scored three goals. For Boston, David Pastrnak paced the attack with six points. The Bruins' success often starts in net, where Jeremy Swayman has delivered a strong season.

  • Game 1 is scheduled for either Saturday or Sunday.
  • The full playoff schedule is expected to be announced on Thursday.

The players

Tage Thompson

A key offensive contributor for the Sabres, leading the team with five assists in the regular-season series against the Bruins.

Jason Zucker

Scored three goals for the Sabres in the regular-season matchups with the Bruins.

David Pastrnak

The Bruins' leading scorer in the regular-season series, tallying six points.

Jeremy Swayman

The Bruins' starting goaltender, who has posted a .906 save percentage and a 2.76 goals-against average this season.

Morgan Geekie

A key member of the Bruins' dangerous scoring depth, playing on the top line alongside David Pastrnak.

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What’s next

The full playoff schedule is expected to be announced on Thursday, providing more details on the Sabres-Bruins series.

The takeaway

The Sabres and Bruins have a long history of playoff battles, and this year's opening-round matchup promises to be another closely contested series between the two Atlantic Division foes. Special teams and goaltending could prove to be the difference-makers as these two teams vie for a spot in the next round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.