A rivalry will be reborn in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs when the Boston Bruins meet the Buffalo Sabres in a much-anticipated first-round series.
The Sabres are making their first postseason appearance since 2010 when they lost to the B’s in Round 1. It’s been a long time coming for Buffalo. But the Sabres have been picking in the top 10 of the NHL Draft for more than a decade, and eventually they were going to break through.
They did so in impressive fashion, too. The Sabres didn’t just limp into the playoffs. They won the Atlantic Division and were one of the highest-scoring teams in the league. Buffalo’s roster is loaded with scoring depth up front and has a great blue line, led by potential Norris Trophy finalist and captain Rasmus Dahlin.
The one thing the Sabres don’t have is playoff experience. Many of their best players have never played in a postseason matchup. Will the moment be too big for the Sabres? How will they handle the pressure?
The Bruins have a lot more playoff experience. They also have a huge goaltending advantage. There are also more unknowns with the B’s.
Will their power play, which ranked 28th post-Olympic break, rediscover its elite form from earlier in the season? Will the bottom-six forwards provide enough offense? Can 19-year-old rookie James Hagens make an impact? The Bruins also struggled on the road for much of the season, and they don’t have home-ice advantage in this series.
Which team has the upper hand in this first-round showdown? Here’s a roundup of expert predictions:
Nick Goss, NBC Sports Boston: Bruins in six
Matthew Fairburn, The Athletic: Sabres in seven
Tom Gulitti, NHL.com: Sabres
Dan Rosen, NHL.com: Sabres
Amalie Benjamin, NHL.com: Bruins
Matt Larkin, Daily Faceoff: Sabres in five
Sara Civian, Bleacher Report: Sabres in seven
Austin Nivison, CBS Sports: Sabres in five
Alexander Baumgartner, CBS Sports: Sabres in six
MoneyPuck’s analytics model: Bruins have 45.7 percent chance to win
