The Sabres and Bruins will meet in the first round of the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. This is big for Buffalo and its fans, as the club snapped its 14-year playoff drought and will play meaningful hockey in April for the first time since the 2010-11 season. Despite missing the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons last season, the Bruins remain one of the more storied playoff franchises in the NHL, and they’ll certainly be hungry to make a statement against the Atlantic Division winners.

These two teams have faced each other in the playoffs nine times, with Boston claiming all but two of those series. One year before the Sabres’ dreaded playoff drought began, the Bruins sent them packing in the Conference Quarter-Finals in six games. During the 2025-26 regular season, Boston won three of four matchups, outscoring Buffalo, 12-11.

Game 1 is set for Sunday, April 19 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Below, I’ve provided a series preview as well as my top prediction on DraftKings Sportsbook for the highly anticipated first-round matchup between the Sabres and Bruins.

Sabres vs. Bruins preview, prediction

Buffalo Sabres

Perhaps there has been a legitimate culture and organizational shift over in Buffalo because not only did the club snap its 14-year-long playoff drought, it also won the Atlantic Division. The Sabres began the season with an 11-14-4 record, and their fans likely thought the playoff drought was extending to 15 years. The club had other plans; however, as it went 39-9-5 to end the season with multiple four or five-game winning streaks sprinkled throughout. Surprisingly, the Sabres are one of the deepest teams in the league, with production coming from all four lines. On top of that, the club received above-average goaltending for the first time in a long time, and it was even able to rotate through three goaltenders at a consistent rate.

The Sabres were quite fun to watch during the regular season. The club ranked fourth in 5v5 goals per 60 and allowed the 11th-fewest 5v5 goals against per 60. It is admittedly hard to gauge whether or not their style of play was “sustainable”, considering they ranked 16th in 5v5 xGoals% and 17th in 5v5 Corsi%. However, we’re talking about actual goals versus imaginary expected goals, and last I checked, actual goals win games. Buffalo’s primary weakness and potential backbreaker when it comes to facing a team like Boston in the playoffs is its uneventful power play unit, which ranks 21st in PP%. Luckily, the Sabres are a top penalty-kill team, ranking fourth in PK%, which should even things out when it comes to special-teams play throughout the series.

Boston Bruins

While the Bruins enter this series as an underdog, their playoff experience will certainly have an impact. While the Sabres provided more overall depth production, the Bruins’ consistent goal-scoring was a pleasant surprise, and it will always be a tough task to hold down players like David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy, among others. Boston was a rather inconsistent 5v5 team, which likely won’t bode well against a team like the Sabres. However, the Bruins play a physical brand of hockey and are much healthier than the Sabres entering the series.

On the season, Boston completely outperformed its metrics. For example, the club ranked 27th in 5v5 xGoals% but fifth in 5v5 Goals%. Defensively, the Bruins ranked 28th in 5v5 xGoals against per 60, but they allowed the sixth-fewest 5v5 goals against per 60. These metrics suggest that Boston was saved by opportune goals and stellar goaltending, something that must continue if it wants to advance. The Bruins are on the opposite end of the spectrum in the special-teams department, deploying the ninth-ranked power play unit and 24th-ranked penalty kill unit. Jeremy Swayman is likely the key for the Bruins, as he has prior playoff experience and has posted a 2.20 GAA and .918 SV% across 17 games since returning from the break.

Sabres vs. Bruins prediction, pick

The Sabres are currently -175 favorites to win the series and advance to the next round. If there was one division foe that gave them issues during the regular season, it was the Bruins. I fully understand the hesitancy in backing the Sabres due to their lack of playoff experience; however, this team has been an absolute wagon for the back half of the season, and they should be extra hungry to make some serious noise for the city of Buffalo. Plus, I simply don’t think the Bruins are good enough to outlast the Sabres for seven games.

I’d expect the Sabres to win the series in five games, but there will be hiccups, I’m sure. Swayman has more playoff starts than all of the Sabres’ goaltenders combined, and he is more than capable of stealing a game or two.

Best Bet: BUF Sabres to Win the Series, 4-2 (+400)