Bruins vs Sabres Round 1 Odds, Series Prediction & Preview

• The Sabres opened as series favorites over the Bruins for their Round 1 matchup
• Buffalo is in the playoffs for the first time since 2011, ending the NHL’s longest active drought
• Read on for my early Bruins vs Sabres prediction, opening Round 1 odds and key matchups

The wait is finally over in Buffalo. The Sabres are headed back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2011, ending the longest active postseason drought in NHL history. Their reward? A first-round date with one of the most consistent playoff franchises of the past decade in the Boston Bruins.

Buffalo earned the Atlantic Division title and home ice for this series, but Boston punched its ticket as the East’s first wild card after a strong finish. For the rest of the confirmed first-round matchups, check out our NHL playoff bracket.

Below is my breakdown of the opening Bruins vs Sabres odds, the key matchups and my early lean for Round 1.

Bruins vs Sabres Round 1 Odds

Buffalo’s -180 price translates to a 64.3% implied probability to advance, with Boston coming back at +150 (40% implied) as the underdog. A $100 bet on the Bruins to pull the upset would return $150 in profit.

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Why Buffalo Is Favored in Bruins vs Sabres

The Sabres were simply the better team this season. Buffalo finished with 108 points to Boston’s 100, scored more goals per game (3.46 vs 3.27), and posted the better goal differential. They also have one of the best road records in the East at 24-13-4, which matters in a playoff format.

Tage Thompson leads the way with 81 points and a team-best 41 goals, while captain Rasmus Dahlin put up 74 points (19 goals, 55 assists) from the blueline. Alex Tuch (65), Ryan McLeod (54), Josh Doan (52) and Jack Quinn (51) round out a top-six group that has six players with 50 or more points.

Bruins vs Sabres Team Comparison

Buffalo also has the goaltending edge on paper. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen posted a 2.49 GAA and .910 save percentage, while Alex Lyon went 19-10-4 with a .907 save percentage as the 1B. The Sabres have used a tandem all year, and that should continue into the playoffs.

Bruins’ Path to the Bruins vs Sabres Upset

Boston is the play here. Start with the obvious: David Pastrnak is the best player in this series by a mile. The Czech winger put up 100 points (29 goals, 71 assists) and is a proven playoff difference-maker. Buffalo doesn’t have anyone close to his level.

Then there’s the season series. The Bruins took it 3-1, with Pastrnak leading the way at six points in four games. Boston went 3-0 inside KeyBank Center this year, which directly contradicts the idea that the Sabres get a meaningful boost from home ice.

The biggest matchup edge for Boston is special teams. The Bruins’ 23.4% power play is the best weapon in this series and goes up against a Buffalo penalty kill that, while strong at 82.1%, will be tested by a Pastrnak-led unit. Meanwhile, Buffalo’s 19.8% power play is below average and won’t scare anyone.

Don’t sleep on playoff experience either. Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, Pavel Zacha and Jeremy Swayman have all been through the wringer in past postseasons. Buffalo’s roster, outside of a few veterans like Jason Zucker, is largely unproven in this environment. First-time playoff pressure is real, especially with the weight of a 15-year drought sitting on the home team.

Early Bruins vs Sabres Prediction

• Bruins Series Moneyline (+150)

Give me Boston at +150. The Bruins won the season series 3-1, including all three meetings in Buffalo, and they have the best player on the ice in Pastrnak. That’s a tough combo to bet against at plus money.

Boston’s all-time playoff dominance over Buffalo (6-2 in series) is also worth a mention. The Bruins have been here before, and Swayman has the playoff résumé that the Sabres’ tandem doesn’t.

Buffalo is the better regular season team, but the playoffs are a different beast. Asking a young, drought-ending roster to outlast a battle-tested Bruins group is a lot to ask in Round 1. I’ll take the Bruins to spoil the party.