dailyloe.com – The Buffalo Sabres host Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins tonight at KeyBank Center. The game starts at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, 2026. This is Buffalo’s first playoff game since April 26, 2011.
Ticketmaster is the Official Ticket Marketplace for Sabres tickets. The game will be broadcast on MSG in the Buffalo market. National television coverage is on ESPN. Radio coverage is on WGR 550 and the Buffalo Sabres App.
Streaming in the Buffalo broadcast market is available via the Gotham Sports App or Fubo TV. The Sabres held a practice on Saturday ahead of the game.
Alex Lyon and Noah Ostlund both returned to practice on Saturday. Lyon is expected to be available for Game 1. He will likely serve as backup to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Noah Ostlund has not played since March 25 due to an upper-body injury. Coach Lindy Ruff said Ostlund is expected to play at some point in the series. The rookie has not been officially ruled out for Game 1.
Saturday’s practice saw Josh Dunne centering the fourth line. He was between Jordan Greenway and Beck Malenstyn. Logan Stanley and Conor Timmins were the third defense pair.
The Sabres’ morning skate is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on game day. Potential lineup updates will be available after that skate. The full group lined up as practiced on Saturday.
Much conversation about Boston has focused on its physicality. Bruins coach Marco Sturm commented on this on Friday. “We are bigger, stronger,” Sturm said. “We are more physical. We just have to be smart, but we’re gonna go after them.”
Multiple Sabres members were asked about Sturm’s comments on Saturday. This included coach Lindy Ruff and forwards Alex Tuch and Josh Doan. Their answers all struck the same confident tone.
“That’s his take on his team,” Ruff said. “I have a lot of respect for what our team has done and how we play and the speed we play the game. They’ve got a good team.” The Sabres are confident in their identity entering the playoffs.
