Sabres vs. Bruins Game 1 TV, Live Stream Info for NHL Playoffs Opener

Everything you need to know to watch the first-round matchup between the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 10:10am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game between the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins, with the players and action broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes of color.The Sabres and Bruins clash in a high-stakes first-round playoff series, with both teams vying for a chance to advance in the 2026 NHL Playoffs.Boston Today

The Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins will meet in the first round of the 2026 NHL Playoffs, with Game 1 scheduled for Sunday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN, and fans can also stream it live on DIRECTV, the ESPN app, or fubo.

Why it matters

This first-round playoff series features two of the top teams in the Atlantic Division. The Sabres are making their first postseason appearance since 2010-11, while the Bruins are looking to upset the division champions after clinching a wild-card spot.

The details

The Sabres finished the regular season with 109 points, the second-highest total in the Eastern Conference. They'll be led by Tage Thompson, who scored 40 goals and recorded 81 points. The Bruins, meanwhile, are led by David Pastrnak and Jeremy Swayman as they aim to pull off the upset.

  • Game 1 is scheduled for Sunday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
  • Game 2 will be played on Tuesday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
  • Game 3 is set for Friday, April 23 at 7 p.m. ET.
  • Game 4 will take place on Monday, April 26 at 2 p.m. ET.

The players

Tage Thompson

The Sabres' leading scorer, with 40 goals and 81 points in the regular season.

David Pastrnak

A star forward for the Bruins who will look to lead his team to an upset in the first round.

Jeremy Swayman

The Bruins' starting goaltender, who will be crucial to their playoff success.

Rasmus Dahlin

The Sabres' defenseman who led the team with 55 assists in the regular season.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to be back in the playoffs and have a chance to compete for the Stanley Cup. This is what we've been working towards all season.”

— Tage Thompson, Sabres forward

“The Bruins may have clinched a wild-card spot, but we're not going to roll over. We're going to give it everything we've got against the division champs.”

— David Pastrnak, Bruins forward

What’s next

The winner of this series will advance to the second round of the 2026 NHL Playoffs.

The takeaway

This first-round matchup between the Sabres and Bruins promises to be an exciting and hard-fought series, as both teams look to make a deep playoff run and compete for the Stanley Cup.