Boston Bruins
The Bruins may have a troublesome take a look at in opposition to a Sabres group that has posted a file of 39-9-4 since Dec. 9.
The Boston Bruins now know their opponent for the primary spherical of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Boston will start their newest playoff run with a matchup in opposition to the Buffalo Sabres, with the Bruins securing that showdown on Tuesday by beating the New Jersey Devils of their regular-season finale.
Boston’s 4-0 win over the Devils locked the Bruins into the primary wild-card spot within the Jap Convention — setting them up for a bout with the Atlantic Division champion in Buffalo.
Playoff video games set to start on Saturday and Sunday; the NHL has not but introduced a schedule for Boston’s first-round matchup. Buffalo holds home-ice benefit within the sequence, with Video games 1 and a couple of to be held at KeyBank Heart.
It’s been an sudden season for each the Bruins and Sabres.
After plummeting close to the underside of the Jap Convention standings with a 33-39-10 file (76 factors) final season, the Bruins have righted the ship in brief order beneath Marco Sturm.
Spurred by the first-year head coach, a number of star abilities, and buy-in from a number of newcomers, the Bruins closed out the regular-season slate with a 45-27-10 file (100 factors).
The Sabres secured their first playoff berth since 2011, snapping what was the longest energetic postseason drought within the NHL.
Fueled by a promising younger core of gamers headlined by Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson, the Sabres stormed their approach into the playoff image by means of an sudden run that started in December.
On Dec. 9, Buffalo sat lifeless final within the Jap Convention with an 11-14-4 file. Since then, they’ve been top-of-the-line groups within the league — going 39-9-4 since bottoming out.
Regardless of the Sabres’ lofty file, the Bruins have held their very own in opposition to Buffalo this season, sporting a 3-1-0 file in opposition to them.
Buffalo has loads working in its favor on the subject of its dynamic, puck-moving D corps and a balanced scoring output.
However, for the entire Sabres’ prolonged momentum, they’re additionally an unproven group within the postseason, whereas Boston ought to have the sting in internet with Jeremy Swayman when in comparison with each Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Boston punched its ticket to Buffalo on Tuesday with a convincing efficiency in opposition to New Jersey, with the Bruins leaping out to a four-goal lead after the primary 20 minutes of play.
Mark Kastelic scored twice, whereas David Pastrnak recorded his a centesimal level of the season off a main helper on Morgan Geekie’s opening tally simply 53 seconds into the competition.
Pastrnak turned simply the third Bruins participant in franchise historical past to file no less than 4 consecutive 100-point seasons after Bobby Orr (six instances) and Phil Esposito (5 instances).
Tuesday additionally marked James Hagens’ first recreation at TD Backyard. The 19-year-old greater than held his personal with a number of spectacular O-zone shifts and sound performs throughout board battles. The Bruins’ top prospect logged 15:58 of ice time, touchdown one shot on purpose.
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