NHLPreview
Stanley Cup playoffs daily: What to watch in Sunday's four Game 1s
What to watch in Sunday's four Game 1s of the Stanley Cup playoffs
ESPN News1 min read
NHLPreview
Bruins Round 1, Game 1: Notes, Lines, and How to Watch vs. Sabres
TL;DR
The Boston Bruins face the Buffalo Sabres in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on Sunday night. The Bruins finished with 45 wins, while the Sabres had a strong season with 50 wins and a division title.
Key points
- Bruins face Sabres in Game 1 of Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
- Bruins finished as top wild card with 45 wins and 100 points
- Sabres won their division with 50 wins and 109 points
- Last division win for Sabres was in 2010
- Bruins eliminated Sabres in playoffs after their last division win
Boston BruinsBuffalo Sabres
Bruins Round 1, Game 1: Notes, Lines, and How to Watch vs. Sabres
BUFFALO, NY β The Boston Bruins (0-0) will take on the Buffalo Sabres (0-0) in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on Sunday night in Western New York.
The Bruins finished as the top wild card in the Eastern Conference, closing the season with 45 wins and 100 points. The Sabres won their division for the first time since 2010, posting a 50-win season and 109 points.
Last time the Sabres won the division, the Bruins knocked them off in six games.
These teams met four times this season (BOS: 3-1-0); two of them came in October. The Sabres are a different team now. They made a front office change, and the results showed up on the ice. The Sabres posted a 36-9-5 record since Jarmo Kekalainen took over as GM, which is the best record in the league by far.
The Bruins will lean on their physical game this series, led by Nikita Zadorov and the fourth line. The only concern? Staying disciplined. So long as the Bruins can do that, their physical game can disrupt Buffaloβs fast-paced game and possibly tilt a few games, if not the series.
Jeremy Swayman will be another important piece to this series. He is coming off a career-high season, and last time he played in the playoffs, he led goals saved above expected (13.3), though the Bruins were bounced in Round 2.
This season, Tage Thompson led the Sabres with 40 goals and 81 points. Alex Tuch scored 33 times, and Rasmus Dahlin had 55 assists from the blue line.
Q&A
What time does the Bruins vs. Sabres Game 1 start?
Game 1 between the Bruins and Sabres is scheduled to start on Sunday night.
How did the Bruins and Sabres perform in the regular season?
The Bruins finished with 45 wins and 100 points, while the Sabres achieved 50 wins and 109 points, winning their division.
When was the last time the Sabres won their division?
The Sabres last won their division in 2010.
What is the historical matchup between the Bruins and Sabres in the playoffs?
The last time the Sabres won their division, the Bruins eliminated them in six games.
