Buffalo Sabres Aim to End Playoff Drought in Series Against Bruins

Sabres look to make the most of their first postseason appearance in 14 years

Apr. 18, 2026 at 11:34am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game in motion, with players and the puck fragmented into overlapping planes of bright blue, gold, and white.The Sabres' young stars look to shatter the Bruins' playoff hopes in a hard-fought first-round series.Boston Today

The Buffalo Sabres are set to return to the NHL playoffs for the first time in 14 seasons, taking on the Boston Bruins in the opening round. After a long drought, the Sabres are confident they can pull off an upset, led by the strong play of goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and the offensive production of defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and the team's secondary scoring line.

Why it matters

The Sabres' playoff drought has been a source of frustration for the team and its loyal fanbase. This series represents a chance for the franchise to take a major step forward and show they can compete with the league's elite teams. A strong postseason run could also help build momentum for the Sabres heading into next season.

The details

The Sabres and Bruins met four times during the regular season, with Boston winning three of those matchups. However, the games were all close, with the Sabres winning one in regulation and the Bruins taking the other two in overtime. Buffalo's secondary scoring line of Zach Benson, Josh Norris, and Josh Doan has been hot down the stretch and could be a key factor in the series. Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who had a breakout season, will also be counted on to steal some games for the Sabres.

  • The Sabres and Bruins will open their first-round playoff series on Sunday, April 21, 2026.
  • Luukkonen recorded his first shutout of the season on March 17, 2026 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
  • Rasmus Dahlin set a new career-high in points with 74 during the 2025-26 regular season.

The players

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

The Sabres' starting goaltender, who had a breakout season with a 22-9-3 record, .909 save percentage, and 2.52 goals against average.

Rasmus Dahlin

The Sabres' star defenseman, who led the team in scoring with 19 goals and 55 assists for 74 points during the regular season.

Zach Benson

A forward on the Sabres' secondary scoring line, who has been hot down the stretch with 3 goals in the last 5 games.

Josh Norris

A forward on the Sabres' secondary scoring line, who has also scored 3 goals in the last 5 games.

Josh Doan

A forward on the Sabres' secondary scoring line, who has 2 goals in the last 5 games.

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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 represents a chance for the Sabres to end their long playoff drought and prove they can compete with the league's elite teams. The team's strong goaltending, star power on defense, and secondary scoring depth could be the keys to an upset victory over the Bruins.