Casey Mittelstadt Eager To Play 'Villain Role' For Bruins Against Sabres

Boston Bruins forward Casey Mittelstadt

Casey Mittelstadt Eager To Play 'Villain Role' For Bruins Against Sabres originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Bruins are ready to be the villains against the Buffalo Sabres.

Buffalo snapped its 14-year playoff drought by winning the Atlantic Division and will host the Bruins in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Sabres have been dying for playoff hockey for years, and Mittelstadt, who played parts of seven seasons in Buffalo, said he’s excited to be the villain and end their dreams early.

“I know what the atmosphere is going to be like, and it’s going to be nuts,” Mittelstadt said after practice on Thursday. “I think that is going to be really fun for us. Especially to go on the road to start and play the villain role early. I think our teams are built maybe a little bit differently, in terms of they’re a little smaller and faster, and we’re probably bigger and heavier.

“I think it will be a good contrast of that. I think it’s a good matchup for us. Obviously, going to have to come in and manage the puck and defend hard. But I think if we can do that, we will have a good chance. It is going to be a battle either way.”

Buffalo selected Mittelstadt eighth overall in the 2017 NHL Draft, and he was expected to be a key part of the Sabres’ core. Yet, it didn’t work out, and after a year with the , he was traded to Boston and has made an impact.