Sabres Respond To Bruins Coach's Claim That 'A Lot Of Teams Are Afraid Of' Them

Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff and forward Josh Doan react to Marco Sturm's comments about the Bruins' size and physicality ahead of their playoff series.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 2:18pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the abstract forms of hockey players engaged in a physical confrontation on the ice, with the puck and rink surface represented by intersecting lines and shapes.A cubist interpretation of the intense physical battle between the Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres as they clash in the NHL playoffs.Boston Today

Boston Bruins coach Marco Sturm recently stated that his team is 'bigger, stronger' and 'more physical' and that 'a lot of teams are afraid of us.' The Buffalo Sabres, who have home-ice advantage in their first-round playoff matchup against the Bruins, responded to Sturm's comments. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said he respects how his team plays and their speed, while forward Josh Doan said the team will 'stick to our game plan' and let the series play out.

Why it matters

The comments from Bruins coach Marco Sturm could be seen as bulletin board material for the Sabres, who will look to use them as motivation in their playoff series. The matchup between the two physical, hard-hitting teams is expected to be a close and intense one, and Sturm's remarks about the Bruins' size and strength advantage could add an extra layer of drama and competitiveness to the series.

The details

Sturm said the Bruins are 'bigger, stronger' and 'more physical' than the Sabres, and that 'a lot of teams are afraid of us.' Sabres coach Lindy Ruff responded by saying he has 'a lot of respect for what our team has done and how we play and the speed we play in the game.' Sabres forward Josh Doan said the team has seen Sturm's comments but will 'just let that play out throughout the series' and 'stick to our game plan.'

  • The Bruins and Sabres will face off in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The players

Marco Sturm

First-year head coach of the Boston Bruins.

Lindy Ruff

Head coach of the Buffalo Sabres.

Josh Doan

Forward for the Buffalo Sabres.

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What they’re saying

“We're bigger, stronger. We are more physical. I know a lot of teams are afraid of us.”

— Marco Sturm, Head Coach, Boston Bruins

“We've all seen (Sturm's comments). It is everywhere right now. At the end of the day, our group trusts what we're doing here. We'll just let that play out throughout the series, and we're going to stick to our game plan. It's one of those things that you see, but at the end of the day, there's no real response from us in this room.”

— Josh Doan, Forward, Buffalo Sabres

“That's his take on his team. I have a lot of respect for what our team has done and how we play and the speed we play in the game. They've got a good team. They know who they are. We know who we are.”

— Lindy Ruff, Head Coach, Buffalo Sabres

What’s next

Game 1 between the Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres is scheduled for Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The takeaway

The comments from Bruins coach Marco Sturm about his team's size and physicality advantage over the Sabres could provide extra motivation for Buffalo as they prepare for their first-round playoff matchup. Both teams are confident in their identities and playing styles, setting the stage for what should be an intense and hard-fought series.