Bruins and Sabres Begin First Round Playoff Series

The long-awaited matchup between the two teams tips off tonight in Buffalo.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 11:00am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a hockey game between the Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres, with the players and action broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color.The first-round playoff clash between the Bruins and Sabres promises to be a hard-fought, geometric battle on the ice.Buffalo Today

The Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres will begin their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series tonight at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. This is the Sabres' first playoff appearance since 2011, and they will be led by the strong goaltending of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and the offensive firepower of Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Alex Tuch. The Bruins will counter with playoff veteran Jeremy Swayman in net and a lineup that is mostly healthy, with the exception of the status of James Hagens.

Why it matters

This series marks the first playoff meeting between the Bruins and Sabres since 2010, and it pits two teams with contrasting playoff histories. The Bruins are perennial contenders, while the Sabres are looking to end their long postseason drought. The outcome of this series could have significant implications for the future of both franchises.

The details

The Sabres will be led by their top scorers Tage Thompson (40 goals, 41 assists), Rasmus Dahlin (19 goals, 55 assists), and Alex Tuch (33 goals, 33 assists). In net, they will turn to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who had a strong regular season with a 22-9-3 record, 2.52 goals-against average, and .910 save percentage. The Bruins will counter with playoff veteran Jeremy Swayman, who has had success against the Sabres in the past, going 8-1-1 in 10 career games. The Bruins are mostly healthy, with Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt available after each had a baby earlier this week. The status of James Hagens is uncertain, but he looked fine in his NHL tune-up.

  • The series begins tonight, April 19, 2026, at 7:30 PM ET in Buffalo.
  • Game 1 will be the Sabres' first home playoff game since April 24, 2011.

The players

Tage Thompson

The Sabres' leading scorer during the regular season with 40 goals and 41 assists.

Rasmus Dahlin

The Sabres' star defenseman who had 19 goals and 55 assists in the regular season.

Alex Tuch

A key offensive contributor for the Sabres, scoring 33 goals and adding 33 assists.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

The Sabres' starting goaltender, who had a strong regular season with a 22-9-3 record, 2.52 goals-against average, and .910 save percentage.

Jeremy Swayman

The Bruins' starting goaltender, who has had success against the Sabres in the past, going 8-1-1 in 10 career 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 first-round playoff series between the Bruins and Sabres promises to be an exciting matchup, with the Sabres looking to end their long postseason drought and the Bruins aiming to continue their perennial contender status. The outcome could have significant implications for the future of both franchises.