How to Watch Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres in Game 1 of Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round
On Sunday, the Boston Bruins begin their quest for the Stanley Cup as they take on the Buffalo Sabres in Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y.
Boston is making its first playoff appearance since the 2023-24 season and its first Stanley Cup since 2011. Buffalo, on the other hand, is seeking its first Stanley Cup and is making its first playoff appearance since the 2010-11 season.
The pair met four times during the regular season. The Bruins took the first two games, the first 3-1 on Oct. 11, 2025, and the other 4-3 in overtime on Oct. 30, both at home. The Sabres took the first game in Buffalo 4-1 on Dec. 27, but lost 4-3 in overtime in the fourth game on March 25.
The Bruins clinched a spot into the postseason as the No. 5 seed after boasting a 45-27-10 record while the Sabres claimed the No. 4 seed with a 50-23-9 campaign.
Offensively, the Sabres have the edge coming into the matchup. In total, Buffalo has notched 761 total points compared to the Bruins' 733. Tage Thompson leads the way for Buffalo with 81 points on 40 goals and 41 assists which is the most and second-most among the team. Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin is second in scoring with 74 points on 19 goals and 55 assists.
As for Boston, right winger David Pastrnak is right at 100 with 29 goals and 71 assists. Center Morgan Geekie is second on the team with 68 points on 39 goals and 29 assists. Pastrnak is the only player on either team with at least 100 points and is one of only eight players in the league to hit that milestone so far this season.
Below is all the information for the upcoming matchup.
How to Watch: Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres:
Who: Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres
When: Sunday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, N.Y.
TV: ESPN, NESN, MSG-B
Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub
Last Outing, Buffalo: The Sabres suffered a 4-3 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars at home on Wednesday night.
Last Outing, Boston: The Bruins earned a 4-0 home win over the New Jersey Devils at home on Tuesday night.
Last Meeting: The last time these two teams met was on March 25. The Bruins beat the Sabres 4-3 in overtime at Buffalo.
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Kim Rankin is one of the lead writers for Boston Bruins on SI and Boston College On SI. A 2020 graduate of the University of Alabama. she joined Alabama Crimson Tide On SI in February 2024 covering baseball, softball, football, men’s basketball, and more for BamaCentral, but has also contributed to Missouri Tigers On SI. She previously worked as the brand manager at Tide 100.9 FM in Tuscaloosa, Ala. She has covered a wide variety of events including SEC Championships, NCAA Regionals, and bowl games.