The Sabres will host the Bruins on Sunday night in Game 1 of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with first puck drop set for 7:30 p.m. ET. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Buffalo is a -166 favorite on the Moneyline, and the game’s total is set at O/U 6.5 goals.

Here’s a Sabres vs. Bruins Game 1 prediction and pick.

Sabres vs. Bruins Game 1 prediction, preview

Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres are back in the big dance for the first time in 14 years. Many have focused on the lack of playoff experience, but considering how well-rounded the Flyers looked on Saturday, if you have a good team, there’s no reason to believe it will disappear in the playoffs. And the Sabres are a very good team that plays fast and is littered with talent at each level. Buffalo completely flipped a switch after an 11-14-4 start to the season, and it suddenly became the hottest team in the league.

Buffalo was simply electric from that point, dismantling quality opponents consistently. On the season, the Sabres ranked fourth in shooting percentage, third in save percentage and fifth in goal percentage. Their roster is constructed with a healthy mix of size, speed and talent that will make it very hard for opponents to keep up this postseason. A vast majority of Buffalo’s offensive production came while playing 5v5, ranking fourth in 5v5 goals per 60 and third in 5v5 Goals%. The power play is the team’s biggest weakness, ranking 21st in PP%, while the penalty kill has been elite, ranking fourth in PK% in the NHL.

Boston Bruins

The Bruins will look to slow the game down and take away the Sabres’ opportunities on the rush. Boston topped Buffalo three times during the regular season, so it is built well to help combat Buffalo’s young and speedy core. The Bruins are one of the more storied playoff franchises in the NHL, and their roster is no stranger to the playoff atmosphere. Plus, Boston has the goaltending advantage, even if Buffalo’s tandem looked sharp throughout the season. Jeremy Swayman will likely need to stand on his head to give the Bruins a chance in Game 1 and the whole series. On the season, he ranked second in goals saved above expected and 10th in SV% above expected.

While the Sabres were a great 5v5 team, the Bruins weren’t too far behind and should be able to hold their own at even strength. Boston ranked seventh in 5v5 goals per 60 and fifth in 5v5 Goals%. The special teams play will be key to watch, as the Bruins are the opposite of the Sabres. Boston ranked ninth in PP% and 24th in PK%, so something has to give in this department.

Sabres vs. Bruins Game 1 pick, best bet

Both teams ranked inside the top-7 in 5v5 goals per 60, but Buffalo ranked 16th, and Boston ranked 27th in 5v5 xGoals%. Knowing that Swayman will likely stand on his head and the Sabres will likely take a safe approach, I do like the under on the goal total set at O/U 6.5 goals and -135 odds. 72% of the handle and 73% of the bets on DraftKings Sportsbook lie with the under thus far, and I’d expect that to rise closer to puck drop.

The lack of playoff experience may show up, but the Sabres are the better team and will be playing in front of their home crowd that will almost certainly be the loudest it has been for 14 years. Boston handled Buffalo during the regular season, but it was still a very average road team, while Buffalo boasted the fourth-best home record. Give me the Sabres to win Game 1 in regulation.

Best Bet: BUF Sabres 60 Min Line (-105)