Bruins vs. Sabres Score, Live Updates, Highlights From Game 1 of NHL Playoffs Series

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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.

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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

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Bruins vs. Sabres live updates, highlights from Game 1

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

6:35 p.m.: Boston is on-site in Buffalo, with puck drop an hour away.

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.

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 time

  • Date: Sunday, April 19
  • Time: 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 schedule

DateGameTime (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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