The wait is officially over. For the first time since April 2011, the Buffalo Sabres are playing playoff hockey. Puck drop for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Boston Bruins is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at KeyBank Center. The 15-year postseason drought is dead.
Buffalo comes into Sunday night riding a massive home-ice advantage. The team locked up the Atlantic Division with 108 points. The turnaround started back in December. Management fired GM Kevyn Adams and brought in Jarmo Kekalainen. The roster responded immediately. A 10-game winning streak altered the trajectory of the entire franchise.
While Western Conference contenders like the Avalanche are busy shattering franchise records, Buffalo built its identity on a mid-season revival. Now, they face a seasoned Boston squad. The Bruins grabbed the top Eastern Conference Wild Card spot with 100 points. Head coach Marco Sturm orchestrated a rapid one-year roster retool to get them back to the postseason.
Boston’s game plan relies heavily on a bruising physical style through the neutral zone. They want to slow the pace and lean on goaltender Jeremy Swayman to steal games.
Sturm made his intentions clear ahead of puck drop. He stated Boston is “bigger, stronger” and plans to physically “go after them.” The Sabres heard the noise. Coach Lindy Ruff dismissed the remarks, expressing total confidence in his squad’s puck management.
Buffalo is finalizing its roster right now. Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is the projected starter in net. Buffalo got some good news this week, with Alex Lyon and Noah Ostlund returning to practice after dealing with injuries.
This series completely shifts the power dynamics in the Atlantic Division. Buffalo is no longer the underdog. Ruff brings 132 games of postseason experience behind the bench. Boston wants to bully them out of the building tonight. The Sabres have the skill to skate right past them.