After a year away from the postseason, the Bruins will return to the playoff stage when they hit the ice on Sunday night for Game 1 against the Sabres.
Under first-year head coach Marco Sturm, Boston has found success with a structured, defensive-first mentality that relies on the brilliance of goaltender Jeremy Swayman. The Bruins will be the underdog in the first round, though, as they are going head-to-head with a Sabres squad that led the Atlantic Division with 109 points.
Both the Bruins and Sabres defied expectations this season, and now, the two contenders will battle in the postseason for the ninth time. The atmosphere in Buffalo will certainly be electric, as Sabres fans are ready to watch playoff hockey for the first time in 14 years.
Follow along right here for live updates from Game 1 between the Bruins and Sabres.
Bruins vs. Sabres score 123FBruins1012Sabres0044Bruins vs. Sabres live updates, highlights from Game 1
10:23 p.m.: The Sabres take a penalty with 15 seconds remaining, and the Bruins will have a power play.
But, this game is pretty much over.
Sabres 4, Bruins 2
10:21 p.m. GOAL: With Swayman on the bench, it’s the Syracuse native Alex Tuch who ices the game for the Sabres.
Tuch chases down a loose puck and puts it into the empty net, giving the Sabres a 4-2 lead, as the Atlantic Division champions are closing in on their first playoff win in 15 years.
10:20 p.m.: With under two minutes left, the Bruins now need a goal.
Swayman heads to the bench and the extra attacker is out for Boston.
Sabres 3, Bruins 2
10:17 p.m. GOAL: The Sabres have their first lead of the series, storming all the way back from a 2-0 deficit to take the lead.
Mattias Samuelsson finds himself all alone up top and rips it past Swayman, and just like that the Sabres have scored three goals in four minutes to erase the deficit and take the lead.
It’s loud at the KeyBank Center, and now the Bruins trail for the first time.
10:16 p.m.: There’s another scrum after Pekka Luukkonen makes a save, and there are penalties after the play.
Though, it remains 5-on-5.
Bruins 2, Sabres 2
10:13 p.m. GOAL: This game is tied, and it’t the same goalscorer: Thompson.
This time, he finds the puck right in front of Swayman and rips it to his left on a wrister, tying the game at two. Thompson’s 42nd goal (regular and postseason) has brought Buffalo to life, and it’s a brand new hockey game with less than five minutes left in the third.
TAGE NATHANIEL THOMPSON HAS TIED THE GAME ‼️
BUFFALO IS UNGLUED 😱 pic.twitter.com/IwMg3lU6eC
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 20, 2026
10:09 p.m.: With 5:39 left in the third, the Bruins are leading 2-1.
As expected, this game is coming down to the wire.
Bruins 2, Sabres 1
10:05 p.m. GOAL: The Sabres are on the board, courtesy of their top scorer Thompson.
No. 72 finds the puck behind the net and wraps it around before Swayman can hug the post, cutting the Bruins lead in half. With 7:58 remaining, it’s a 2-1 lead.
BUFFALO HAS IT’S FIRST PLAYOFF GOAL IN 15 YEARS AND IN BUFFALO FASHION, A BIG SCRUM BREAKS OUT 🚨 pic.twitter.com/nCqyb31DRi
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 20, 2026
A scrum breaks out after the goal, and the Buffalo crowd is LOUD.
9:59 p.m.: Halfway through the third, and the Buffalo offense is still looking to light the lamp.
Swayman made a few saves during the 10-minute mark, including one on Power. Though, Boston’s defensive system has kept the Sabres offense, who was top-five in the NHL in goals this season, quiet.
9:51 p.m.: Six minutes into the third period, and Boston is in the drivers seat.
First, there’s the insurance goal by Lindholm, followed by another kill. Buffalo’s power play has been limited in its past three opportunities.
9:48 p.m.: With the power play winding down, Bowen Byram gets a shot from the point, but Swayman is in position to swallow the puck in his chest.
There’s four seconds remaining on the power play.
9:46 p.m.: Buffalo will have a chance to cut the lead in half on the power play. Now, Pastrnak goes to the box for a slashing penalty, giving the Sabres their fourth man advantage of the game.
Bruins 2, Sabres 0
9:42 p.m. GOAL: There’s the goal that gives Boston the cushion it needs.
The Bruins top line starts the third period in the offensive zone, and a Pastrnak pass to Geekie is saved, but Lindholm is there to bury the rebound. It’s now 2-0 Bruins, with an early response by the Bruins.
LINDHOLM PUTS THE B’S UP 2-0, THIS BUFFALO CROWD IS PROBABLY STUNNED!!! 😳🚨 pic.twitter.com/1cO5EhGsW2
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 20, 2026
It’s Lindholm’s 14th career playoff goal, and now the Bruins have some insurance in the final period.
9:41 p.m.: The third period is underway in Game 1.
The Bruins are looking to hold onto the narrow 1-0 lead with Buffalo outshooting them by a vast margin. Expect the Sabres to continue to press, which should give Boston a few counter attack opportunities.
End of the second period: Bruins 1, Sabres 0
9:21 p.m.: To end the second period, Swayman takes away another scoring chance from Owen Power, and the teams head to the locker room with the game 1-0.
The Bruins goaltender has 27 saves as Boston takes the lead into the third period. Only 20 more minutes stand between Boston and a statement Game 1 win. Though, Sturm’s team would like some chances on the offensive end and a possible insurance goal.
Let’s see how the final 20 minutes unfold.
9:18 p.m.: Now, Swayman makes a save on Thompson, keeping the Sabres scoreless. Though shots are 25-13 Buffalo, the Boston goaltender has been the great equalizer.
9:12 p.m.: It’s a great kill by Boston, who allows zero Buffalo shots on the power play. The Bruins penalty kill is now 3-for-3, and the Sabres unit has not capitalized on its last 25 opportunities.
The clock goes under five minutes in the second with the game still 1-0.
9:09 p.m.: Buffalo is headed to the power play for the third time.
It’s a holding penalty on Andrew Peeke, giving the Sabres their third man advantage of the game.
9:03 p.m.: Pastrnak has his second breakaway of the period, and this one is also saved by Pekka Luukkonen. Boston has had a few counter attack chances, but the Sabres goaltender has made every save but one.
8:58 p.m.: As the period continues, Buffalo has been on the attack. Boston has lacked offensive zone time since the Pastrnak giveaway.
At the 10:30 mark, Josh Norris has a chance, but it looked like a Bruins stick got in the way, and it stays 1-0.
8:52 p.m.: The Sabres have had their fair share of chances this period, now with Jack Quinn alone right in front of Swayman. But, the goaltender was in good position and made the save.
We’re five minutes through the second.
8:49 p.m.: It’s a prime opportunity for Pastrnak, who gets the puck behind defenders and has a breakaway. But, his backhander is saved by Pekka Luukkonen.
8:48 p.m.: Buffalo’s power play is over, making both teams 0-for-2 tonight.
This one was a lot different for Boston, who got a few clearances and kept the pressure off Swayman.
8:44 p.m.: Now, Pavel Zacha takes a holding penalty, ending the Bruins power play.
It will be a 4-on-4 for 23 seconds, then Buffalo will have its second man advantage of the night.
8:42 p.m.: The second period is underway in Boston.
The Bruins lead 1-0 courtesy of the Geekie goal.
End of the first period: Bruins 1, Sabres 0
8:25 p.m.: Geekie had a prime opportunity to give Boston a 2-0 lead, but his eyes were down and he didn’t see an empty net. The Sabres’ goaltender had no chance if Geekie ripped it. But, instead, he chose to pass, and time expires in the first.
Still, the Bruins have a 1-0 lead behind Geekie’s goal and Swayman’s strong performance. Both teams head to the locker room and look to come out in the second period firing.
8:23 p.m.: The Bruins are heading back to the penalty, with Jason Zucker now taking a penalty for holding. The power play will go into the second period, if Boston doesn’t score.
8:19 p.m.: It’s a big kill for the Bruins, and now both teams are 0-for-1 on the power play. With three minutes left in the first, the Bruins are holding onto a 1-0 lead.
Swayman has 13 saves so far.
8:18 p.m.: Swayman picks up right where he left off in the playoffs, now making a save on Ryan McLeod, who burst from end-to-end to get right in front of No. 1.
He’s made three saves this power play.
8:16 p.m.: There’s some chaos in front of the Boston net. After Swayman makes a save, a scrum ensues as the Bruins goaltender is pushed into the net after the whistle is blown. There’s 51 seconds left in the power play.
The puck ended up in the net, but not before the play was waved off.
8:13 p.m.: Now, the Sabres will head to the power play for the first time.
It’s Nikita Zadorov going to the box for Boston, a two-minute penalty for cross-checking. For the first time tonight, the Boston kill takes the ice.
8:08 p.m.: Boston’s had a fair share of shots during the power play, but Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has made the saves.
Now, Elias Lindholm gets shoved into the net fishing for a rebound and a scrum ensues.
8:04 p.m.: Now, Geekie creates more chaos in the offensive zone and drives the first penalty of the series. It’s a hooking call on Dahlin, sending the Buffalo captain to the box and giving Boston the first power play tonight.
There’s 7:57 remaining in the first.
Bruins 1, Sabres 0
8:02 p.m. GOAL: The Boston Bruins have the first goal of the series, and it’s their leading scorer from the regular season.
That’s Morgan Geekie, who had a career-high 39 goals. Here, he hits a one-timer after David Pastrnak’s shot is blocked by Rasmus Dahlin and it goes into the net; Geekie picks up right where he left off, and it gives Boston the lead and silences the crowd.
GEEKIE RIPS HOME THE REBOUND TO OPEN THE SCORING IN BUFFALO 👀🚨 pic.twitter.com/ZjseHXWi9Q
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 20, 2026
The Bruins are up and running.
7:58 p.m.: Nearly halfway through the first, Buffalo has been the better team, using their speed to create chances and being physical from the jump.
Though, Swayman has stood tall.
7:53 p.m.: Thompson has his first scoring chance of the series, getting a shot from the right circle, but Swayman staves it away.
The Sabres forward, who also won gold with team USA this season, had his second consecutive 40-goal season.
7:50 p.m.: Boston’s first established zone time in the offensive end comes five minutes in, but it results in only one shot.
Charlie McAvoy brought the puck below the red line, but Mattias Samuelsson made a block to prevent a pass from going to the point.
7:47 p.m.: Four minutes in, this game has lived up to the bargain.
Both teams have landed big hits, including one from Alex Tuch on Viktor Arvidsson, much to the roar of the crowd.
7:44 p.m.: Swayman is getting “swayed” by the Buffalo crowd in the early minutes, with chants from the stands raining down.
Two minutes in, the game has a high pace.
7:42 p.m.: We are underway in Buffalo.
Boston wins the opening faceoff, and away we go.
7:37 p.m.: The teams are on the ice in front of an electric Buffalo crowd.
It’s time for Boston’s 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs debut.
7:32 p.m.: It’s time for puck drop.
Will it be the Bruins who take a 1-0 lead, or will the home town Sabres make a statement?
Follow along for live updates throughout the game.
7:25 p.m.: To advance, Boston needs to win a game in Buffalo. Why not make it tonight?
Into enemy territory. pic.twitter.com/H3jRRJum6a
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 19, 2026
Puck drop is almost here.
7:15 p.m.: Puck drop is getting closer, and the Bruins aren’t the only Boston team to play a playoff game today.
Earlier this afternoon, the Celtics took a 1-0 series lead with a dominating win over the 76ers at TD Garden. Then, the Celtics sent their luck to their TD Garden partners ahead of tonight’s contest.
Nothing like playoff hockey 🏒
Let’s go @NHLBruins *clap clap clapclapclap* pic.twitter.com/Wsgz72LXHD
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 19, 2026
7:04 p.m.: If Boston is going to have a chance in the series, expect Jeremy Swayman to be a reason why.
Swayman enters the 2026 postseason boasting an elite career playoff save percentage of .922 and a 2.38 goals-against average across 20 appearances. He remains a cornerstone for Boston after a historic 2023-24 playoff run where he posted a .933 save percentage over 12 games, proving he can shoulder the weight of an entire series.
Do the @NHLBruins hold a goaltending edge with Jeremy Swayman against the @BuffaloSabres in their #StanleyCup Playoffs matchup? 👀
Game 1 between the Bruins and Sabres is TONIGHT at 7:30p on @espn, @Sportsnet, & @TVASports!
Fantasy on Ice x @bet365ca! pic.twitter.com/dpduIMRjvu
— NHL Fantasy (@NHLFantasy) April 19, 2026
Following a bounce-back regular season with 31 wins, the recently crowned Olympic gold medalist is now tasked with neutralizing a high-powered Buffalo offense as he makes his fifth career postseason appearance.
6:55 p.m.: Buffalo isn’t the only team to have exceeded expectations in this matchup. Enter the Bruins, who many thought would miss the postseason outright with a roster that looked like it was in a transition year.
Instead, Boston is back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with plenty of life.
“Never say die.”
The Sabres may have their burn book, but the #NHLBruins have receipts too.
Tonight, the battle begins in Buffalo.
Video by the talented @nesn team.
Enjoy and Go Bs. pic.twitter.com/fjIAniYCYw
— Kasey Hudson (@TheSportsKase) April 19, 2026
6:44 p.m.: It’s safe to say that Boston is walking into one of the most hostile environments its faced in recent memory.
Keybank Arena is going to be a madhouse tonight
Sabres fans have waiting so long to be back in Stanley Cup Playoffs pic.twitter.com/0PVVf8PfjR
— BET99 Sportsbook (@BET99Sportsbook) April 19, 2026
6:35 p.m.: Boston is on-site in Buffalo, with puck drop an hour away.
Suited up 👔 pic.twitter.com/Q5N6HwR96U
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 19, 2026
6:34 p.m.: The Bruins are staring across the ice at a playoff opponent that feels entirely unfamiliar yet dangerously rejuvenated.
The 2025-26 Buffalo Sabres didn’t just break the longest postseason drought in NHL history; they kicked the door down by finishing first in the Atlantic Division with a staggering 109 points. This wasn’t a fluke of a season, but rather a dominant 50-win campaign where Buffalo sat among the league’s top five offensive units, averaging nearly 3.5 goals per game.
Better Days are here. 💙💛#LetsGoBuffalo | @googoodolls pic.twitter.com/X4RGMT2iXr
— y – Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) April 17, 2026
The middle of the season saw the Sabres transform into a historical juggernaut, at one point embarking on a 32–6–2 run —the best 40-game stretch the NHL has seen in 30 years. Tage Thompson led the charge with a 40-goal season, while captain Rasmus Dahlin anchored a blue line that evolved from a liability into a position of strength, helping Buffalo secure their first division title since 2010.
What makes this iteration of the Sabres so terrifying is their ability to control the pace through elite skating and opportunistic finishing. While they struggled in the early weeks, they ended the year as one of the most efficient teams in the league, ranking 5th in shooting percentage (12.3%). With Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen coming into his own between the pipes and a roster full of young stars like Zach Benson and Bowen Byram hitting their stride, the Sabres enter the first round not as happy-to-be-here underdogs, but as a genuine threat to hoist the Cup.
6:30 p.m.: It’s time for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
After one year away, the Boston Bruins have returned to the dance, putting up a 100-point season under first-year head coach Marco Sturm. The Bruins clinched the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, setting up a matchup with the Atlantic Division champion Buffalo Sabres in Round 1.
Tune in for live updates throughout the night as Boston gets its Stanley Cup Playoff campaign started.
How to watch Bruins vs. Sabres Game 1: TV channel, live stream
Bruins vs. Sabres will air locally on NESN. Game 1 will also be available to stream on NESN 360 and fubo.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100-plus top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
Bruins vs. Sabres Game 1 start timeDate: Sunday, April 19Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Bruins vs. Sabres is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 19. Game 1 will be played at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y.
Bruins vs. Sabres scheduleDateGameTime (ET)TV/Live streamApril 19Game 1: Bruins vs. Sabres7:30 p.m.NESN, NESN 360, fuboApril 21Game 2: Bruins vs. Sabres7:30 p.m.NESN, NESN 360, fuboApril 23Game 3: Sabres vs. Bruins7 p.m.NESN, NESN 360, fuboApril 26Game 4: Sabres vs. Bruins2 p.m.NESN, NESN 360, fuboApril 28Game 5*: Bruins vs. SabresTBDTBDMay 1Game 6*: Sabres vs. BruinsTBDTBDMay 3Game 7*: Bruins vs. SabresTBDTBD
*If necessary
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