Bruins Face Sabres in Buffalo’s First Playoff Hockey Game in 15 Years
Playoff hockey returns to Buffalo after a 15-year absence. The Sabres host the Bruins Sunday at KeyBank Center in the first postseason game at that arena since the drought ended.
Boston brings recent playoff pedigree. The Bruins won the 2011 Stanley Cup and reached the Finals in 2013 and 2019.
Coaches and club posture
Boston is led by Marco Sturm in his first season as head coach. He expressed confidence in the team’s physical style and preparation.
Buffalo players say they have noticed the talk. Forward Josh Doan stressed the Sabres will trust their plan and let performance answer the noise.
Game details and broadcast
Face-off is Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. Broadcasts include NESN and ESPN, and radio coverage on WBZ-FM 98.5.
The betting line lists Buffalo at -165 with an over/under of 6.0.
Season records and form
| Team | Record | Last 10 | Spread vs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Bruins | 45-27-10 | 5-3-2 | 54-28 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 50-23-9 | 6-3-1 | 48-34 |
Team statistics
| Category | Boston | Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| Goals scored | 268 | 283 |
| Goals allowed | 247 | 240 |
| Power play | 23.4% | 19.5% |
| Penalty kill | 76.9% | 81.9% |
| Penalty minutes | 978 | 797 |
| Faceoffs won | 53.1% | 45.9% |
Key players
David Pastrnak finished the regular season with exactly 100 points. He scored 29 goals and added 71 assists.
Morgan Geekie was the Bruins’ next-highest point producer. He had 68 points with a team-leading 39 goals.
Tage Thompson paced Buffalo’s offense again. He recorded 40 goals and 41 assists this season.
Rasmus Dahlin posted 74 points for the Sabres. He scored 19 goals and contributed 55 assists.
Matchup notes
Boston won three of four regular-season meetings with Buffalo. The most recent clash was a 4-3 overtime win for Boston on March 25.
Sturm does not expect Lindy Ruff to change his usual approach much. Historically, Ruff has not focused heavily on matchup tweaks.
Buffalo ended the NHL’s longest active playoff drought at 14 years. The Sabres also captured the Atlantic Division by three points over Tampa Bay.
Special teams and tendencies
- Boston possesses a stronger power play percentage than Buffalo.
- Buffalo holds an edge on the penalty kill.
- Faceoff advantage favors the Bruins, while Boston takes more penalties.
Information in this report used Field Level Media details. Filmogaz.com compiled the preview and game facts for readers.
