Bruins vs Sabres Game 1 Start Time, Prediction & Odds

Published: April 19, 2026 at 4:00 pm EDT

Jeremy Swayman turns aside a shot versus the Lightning. — Apr 4, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman (1) protects the goal during the third period against Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Pablo Robles-Imagn Images

The Sabres are -165 favorites over the Bruins in Game 1 of their 1st Round series tonight
Boston scored 20.94 goals above expectation this season, suggesting they are primed for regression
Keep reading for my top Bruins vs Sabres prediction, plus the latest odds and start time, below

The Sunday NHL Playoff quadruple-header rolls on this evening with Game 1 between the Bruins and Sabres. Buffalo has been starved for postseason success for what feels like an eternity, but online sportsbooks expect them to get off to a fast start in the opener. The Sabres are listed as -165 moneyline favorites in the NHL odds, in a contest I expect to underwhelm offensively.

Here is my favorite Bruins vs Sabres Game 1 prediction, along with the latest odds and the start time for this Eastern Conference clash.

Bruins vs Sabres Game 1 Prediction and Preview

Under 6.5 Goals (-135 at DraftKings)

My favorite wager in this matchup is under 6.5 goals. Playoff hockey breeds low scoring games, and anytime books flash a 6.5 goal total I’m going to be hard pressed to bet the over unless the Oilers are involved. Look at Saturday’s result as an example. Two of the three games easily stayed under their totals, while the Wild vs Stars matchup would have as well if Dallas didn’t pull their goalie with 3+ minutes left down by a bundle.

Boston enters the postseason as one of the biggest longshots in the Stanley Cup odds. The Bruins surprised everyone by reaching this stage, but it’s hard to imagine their success continuing, at least from an offensive standpoint. Boston scored 20.94 goals above expectation this season, which was one of the highest rates among playoff teams. Their elite conversion rate is unsustainable, and it started to swing back the other way over the last few weeks.

The Bruins expected goal share was below 48% over the final 15 games of the season, and they routinely spent less and less time possessing the puck. They don’t do a good job of creating chances off the rush, and I expect them to struggle mightily to score in this series.

Thankfully for Boston fans, their goaltending has been elite all season. Jeremy Swayman played at a Vezina Trophy level, ranking second in the NHL in goals saved above expectation. The Bruins don’t surrender a ton of production off the rush or yield many high danger goals, as their 1-2-2 system is a throwback to the New Jersey Devils of a different era.

Sturm on Swayman's bounce-back season:

"He was amazing. It was a tough year for him last year, but he needed maybe the World Championship. He needed that summer, he maybe needed that coaching change, new guys in the locker room, because he came in with a very big smile, and he… pic.twitter.com/68BnxUulFZ
— Bridgette Proulx (@bridgetteproulx) April 15, 2026

Buffalo meanwhile, have the third shortest odds to emerge from the East side of the draw in the NHL Playoff Bracket. They posted the fourth highest shooting percentage offensively, and finished with a +47 goal differential despite ranking just 16th in expected goal share. What does that tell us? The Sabres offense is likely due for some regression as well, while their goaltending metrics are excellent.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to draw the start tonight, after finishing 9th this season in GAA and 6th in save percentage. He was undefeated in regulation in two starts against the Sabres, posting a 2.49 GAA and .907 save percentage.

Bruins vs Sabres Game 1 Odds

Odds as of April 19. Claim the Bet365 promo code to bet on the Bruins vs Sabres.

In terms of where to bet the under, make sure you visit DraftKings. DK is the lone book at the time of writing to offer a 6.5 goal total, as most other shops are sitting at 6. Moneyline wise, Bet365 has the best odds on both a Sabres win at -165, and a Bruins upset at +140, while they also have the most favorable odds on the over if you like the other side of the total.