Here are 3 issues to watch in Game 1:
1. Playoff newbies
Though there’s lots of playoff expertise on either side — from the 66 video games by Sabres ahead Alex Tuch to the 91 performed by Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy — lots will make their NHL postseason debut.
That contains notable names like Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin and ahead Tage Thompson. Ruff had some recommendation.
“I’ve told a few guys, as soon as you get one shift in the playoffs, you’ve got some playoff experience,” Ruff mentioned. “That’s all you need.”
All advised, the Sabres have performed a grand complete of 387 postseason video games and the Bruins 651, although all three who’re Stanley Cup champions play for the Sabres: Luke Schenn in 2020 and 2021 with the Lightning; Bowen Byram in 2022 with the Colorado Avalanche; and Tanner Pearson with the Los Angeles Kings in 2014.
Even for the Bruins, there are notable exceptions, together with the whole lot of their third line, a child line made up of James Hagens, Fraser Minten and (*3*). That’s very true for Hagens, the No. 7 choose within the 2025 NHL Draft, who has an help in two NHL video games after debuting one week in the past.
2. Who is greater and badder?
When Sturm mentioned, matter-of-factly, “We are bigger, strong, we are more physical, we just have to be smart, but we’re going to go after them,” on Friday, it did not seem to be he was taking a shot at the Sabres, however not everybody in Buffalo preferred the remark.
The gamers largely demurred, and Ruff was measured, when requested about it Saturday.
“That’s his take on his team,” Ruff mentioned. “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. I mean, they know who they are and we know who we are.”
There’s no query that every group has some heavy hitters, with gamers like Mark Kastelic, Tanner Jeannot, Nikita Zadorov, Logan Stanley and Peyton Krebs. There is, of course, that five-fight, 102-penalty minute sport towards the Tampa Bay Lightning in Buffalo on March 8.
Sturm did not shrink back from the feedback Sunday.
“At the end of the day, nobody is looking closely enough like I do,” he mentioned. (*1*)
3. Sabres on the man-advantage
It’s been a tough go for the Sabres’ energy play of late. They have been 0-for-22 within the last seven video games of the season to end tied for nineteenth within the NHL (19.5 p.c).
The Bruins have been the second-most penalized group within the League (978 penalty minutes) and boast the highest two gamers within the particular person class, Nikita Zadorov, 152, and Mark Kastelic, 140, with Stanley (128) rating third. Boston was additionally twenty fourth on the penalty kill (77.0 p.c). That means the Sabres would possibly simply have rather a lot of possibilities on the facility play. Whether they convert might change the sequence.
