Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins will renew their rivalry in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Boston had the edge in the regular season series between the teams, with Buffalo going 1-1-2 against the Bruins. Their most recent meeting was March 25th at KeyBank Center. Boston won that game 4-3 in overtime.
Games 1 and 2 will be played at KeyBank Center, with the series shifting to Boston for games 3 and 4. Games 5, 6 and 7 will alternate between Buffalo and Boston, with Buffalo hosting games 5 and 7 if necessary.
The Sabres enter the postseason as Atlantic Division champions. Buffalo last won its division in 2010. Coincidentally, that year's first round opponent was Boston. The Bruins won that series 4-2.
Buffalo is a playoff newcomer, making their first playoff appearance since 2011. Boston is a playoff mainstay with nine appearances in their last eleven seasons.
What to know about the Bruins:
Boston is led by one of the league's top goal-scorers in David Pastrnak. He's scored 29 goals and 71 assists in 77 games this season. It was his fourth-straight year with 100 or more points.
Morgan Geekie and Pavel Zacha are two other names to watch on offense. Geekie is a pure goal scorer, netting 39 this season. Zacha has a knack for scoring on the Sabres. In 36 career games against Buffalo he has 11 goals, including the OT winner in their last meeting, and 17 assists.
On defense, Boston is led by US Olympian Charlie McAvoy.
Boston also has former Sabres first-round picks Casey Mittelstadt at forward and Nikita Zadorov on defense.
In goal for Boston will be Jeremy Swayman. In the 2023-24 playoffs Swayman led all goaltenders with a .933 save percentage in 12 games. He has 31 wins and 2 shutouts this season.
The NHL has yet to release its schedule of games, though the playoffs begin Saturday, April 18.
It's the ninth time Buffalo and Boston will meet in the postseason
It's the ninth time Buffalo and Boston will meet in the postseason
