This page may contain affiliate links. If you click and sign up, make a deposit, or place a wager, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Lindholm scored a goal on two shots and added four hits in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Sabres in Game 1.
Lindholm was limited to one assist over seven regular-season games in April. The 31-year-old is in a top-line role to begin the postseason, as his veteran experience makes him more trustworthy than Fraser Minten or Marat Khusnutdinov. Lindholm has been part of the postseason in four years during his career, collecting 13 goals and 27 points over 40 playoff appearances. He had 48 points in 69 regular-season outings this season, his highest point total in three years.
... See More... See Less
Bruins' Morgan Geekie: Logs three points in loss
Rotowire
Geekie scored a goal on two shots and added two assists, including one on the power play, in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Sabres in Game 1.
Geekie has six goals and two helpers over his last five games. The 27-year-old struggled for a stretch late in the regular season, producing just seven assists over 17 games between March 7 and April 5. He was a standout this season with 39 goals, 68 points, 181 shots on net and 110 hits over 81 regular-season contests. Geekie is a veteran of four previous postseasons, in which he totaled 10 points in 37 appearances. Expectations will be higher for him this spring since he's established himself as a high-end goal scorer.
... See More... See Less
Bruins' David Pastrnak: Three points in Game 1 loss
Rotowire
Pastrnak scored a power-play goal on four shots, dished two assists, added two PIM and logged four hits in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Sabres in Game 1.
Pastrnak had a hand in the first two goals of the game, scored by Morgan Geekie and Elias Lindholm. Late in the third period, Pastrnak scored one of his own, but the Bruins didn't have enough time to find an equalizer. He ended the regular season on a 10-game goal drought, so it's good to see him find the twine. The 29-year-old winger earned 100 points (29 goals, 71 assists) over 77 regular-season outings, and he played in eight straight playoffs, totaling 39 goals and 48 helpers over 90 games, from 2017 to 2024 before the Bruins failed to qualify last year.
... See More... See Less
Bruins' Jeremy Swayman: Allows three goals in loss
Rotowire
Swayman stopped 34 of 37 shots in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Sabres in Game 1. The fourth goal was an empty-netter.
Swayman had his hands full and couldn't hold the fort as the Sabres rallied in the third period. The Bruins pulled him late in the contest, and the Sabres cashed in with an Alex Tuch empty-netter that ended up being the deciding goalie. This is Swayman's fifth year with some playoff action -- over his previous four postseason runs, he's gone 9-10 with a 2.38 GAA and a .922 save percentage across 20 games. In the regular season this year, he posted a career-high 31 wins with a 2.71 GAA and a .907 save percentage across 55 outings. He'll likely get the nod again in Game 2 on Tuesday.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Mattias Samuelsson: Nets go-ahead goal
Rotowire
Samuelsson scored a goal on two shots, added nine hits and blocked two shots in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Bruins in Game 1.
Samuelsson had a career year in the regular season, but he faded a bit at the end with just seven points over his last 20 outings. In total, he had 13 goals and 41 points over 78 regular-season appearances. Samuelsson also logged 132 hits, 154 blocked shots and a plus-41 rating, so he'll provide some grit on the blue line in a top-four role.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Alex Tuch: Picks up two points in win
Rotowire
Tuch scored an empty-net goal on four shots, added an assist, doled out 10 hits and went plus-2 in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Bruins in Game 1.
Tuch upped the intensity for the postseason -- he didn't have more than five hits in any regular-season game. The veteran winger is coming off a regular season in which he produced 66 points, 195 shots on net, 90 blocked shots, 82 hits and 57 PIM over 79 appearances in a top-six role. Unlike many of the Sabres, Tuch isn't in his first rodeo with postseason hockey -- he had 33 points over 66 playoff outings over four years with the Golden Knights. That will give Tuch valuable leadership experience on an inexperienced roster.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Tage Thompson: Leads charge with three points
Rotowire
Thompson scored twice on seven shots, dished an assist, added two PIM, logged three hits and went plus-3 in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Bruins in Game 1.
Thompson was limited to three points over his last six outings of the regular season. The 28-year-old is getting his first taste of playoff action, but he should be able to adjust quickly to the increased physicality. Thompson will be counted on as a key part of the Sabres' offense after posting a 40-goal, 81-point regular season over 81 appearances. He will continue to work on the top line and first power-play unit.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Secures Game 1 win
Rotowire
Luukkonen allowed three goals on 20 shots in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Bruins in Game 1.
It wasn't looking good for the Sabres for much of the game, but they rallied for four goals in a span of 6:46 during the third period. That gave them just enough of a cushion to weather a late comeback attempt by the Bruins. While it was far from a pretty outing, Luukkonen was able to get the win in his playoff debut. He had a good regular season with a 22-9-3 record, a 2.51 GAA and a .909 save percentage over 35 appearances. Luukkonen is set to be the Sabres' No. 1 goalie to start the postseason, though any struggles could open the door for Alex Lyon to get some game action. The Sabres host Game 2 on Tuesday.
Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen: Set for playoff debut
Rotowire
Luukkonen will be between the home pipes in Game 1 against the Bruins on Sunday, per Heather Engel of NHL.com.
Luukkonen finished the regular season on a high note, winning three straight games and seven of his final nine. Across that nine-game stretch, the Finnish netminder surrendered more than three goals on just one occasion. The lone rough patch happened to come against the Bruins, though, a matchup in which Luukkonen allowed four goals on 31 shots in a 4-3 overtime loss March 25. Boston struggled away from TD Garden in 2025-26, posting a 16-16-9 record on the road, while the Sabres finished the regular season with a 26-10-5 record at KeyBank Center.
Lyon (lower body) pronounced himself healthy and will be ready to play whenever he is called upon, Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550 reports Saturday.
Lyon last played April 4 in Washington, allowing three goals on five shots before being pulled. He was injured at practice April 8 and was unable to play the remainder of the regular season. He ended the campaign with a 20-10-4 record, a 2.77 GAA and a .906 save percentage across 36 regular-season contests. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is expected to start Game 1 versus Boston on Sunday, but Lyon will be available if needed.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Mattias Samuelsson: Ready to rock
Rotowire
Samuelsson (rest) participated in Saturday's practice ahead of Buffalo's playoff opener against Boston on Sunday, Heather Engel of NHL.com reports.
Samuelsson returned to the top pairing after skipping Wednesday's matchup against Dallas to get some additional rest. He had a career year offensively during the 2025-26 regular season, collecting 13 goals and 41 points in 78 appearances. He also added 109 shots on net, 154 blocked shots and 132 hits.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Jason Zucker: Returns to lineup
Rotowire
Zucker (rest) will be back in action for Game 1 on Sunday versus Boston, according to Rachel Lenzi of The Buffalo News.
Like many Sabre starters, Zucker was given the night off Wednesday in their regular-season finale. Zucker finished the season with 24 goals and 21 assists in 62 games, including 10 goals and 16 points on the power play.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Rasmus Dahlin: Set for Game 1
Rotowire
Dahlin (rest) participated in Saturday's practice ahead of his playoff debut against Boston on Sunday in Game 1, Heather Engel of NHL.com reports.
Dahlin concluded the 2025-26 regular season with 19 goals, 74 points, 194 shots on net, 79 blocked shots and 67 hits across 77 games. He will likely log heavy minutes during the playoffs and possesses the scoring talent to be a difference-maker on the scoresheet.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Ryan McLeod: Ready to rock
Rotowire
McLeod (rest) was at practice Saturday and will return to action for Game 1 versus Boston on Sunday, per Rachel Lenzi of The Buffalo News.
McLeod missed his first game of the campaign against Dallas on Wednesday. He ended the 2025-26 regular season with 14 goals and 54 points in 81 regular-season appearances. Heading into the playoffs, he will center the second line. McLeod also should see time on the power play and penalty kill.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Tage Thompson: Back in lineup
Rotowire
Thompson (rest) will return to the lineup for Game 1 versus Boston on Sunday, Rachel Lenzi of The Buffalo News reports.
Thompson was given the night off against Dallas on Wednesday, as the Sabres had already clinched first place in the Atlantic Division. Thompson had 40 goals and 41 assists in 81 games during the 2025-26 regular season, the third time he has hit the 40-goal mark in the last four campaigns.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Josh Norris: Tallies in shootout loss
Rotowire
Norris scored a goal on two shots and blocked three shots in Wednesday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Stars.
Norris extended his point streak to six games (three goals, four assists) to end the regular season. He wrapped up with 13 goals, 34 points, 69 shots on net, 28 PIM and a plus-11 rating over 44 appearances. Norris has played in every game since the Olympic break, and it's likely a positive sign that the oft-injured center didn't rest Wednesday when the Sabres had some regulars out of the lineup. He'll be a middle-six option to start the playoffs.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Sam Carrick: Will miss first-round series
Rotowire
Carrick (arm) is not expected to be back in time to play in Buffalo's first-round series versus Boston, Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550 reports.
Carrick had already been ruled out for some of the postseason, but this latest update seems to decrease his availability even if Buffalo advances. In 13 games with the Sabres this year, the veteran center has notched five goals and one helper. In his stead, Josh Dunne could continue to see bottom-six minutes.
... See More... See Less
Sabres' Alex Tuch: Nets 200th career goal
Rotowire
Tuch scored a goal and blocked two shots in Wednesday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Stars.
Tuch wasn't rested Wednesday in the regular-season finale, and he was able to put away his 200th career goal in the contest. He has four goals and three assists over his last eight outings, so he'll enter the postseason with some momentum. The winger concludes the regular season at 33 goals, 66 points, 195 shots on net, 82 hits, 90 blocked shots, 57 PIM and a plus-24 rating over 79 appearances.
1:48
0:49
1:30
0:35
12:59
1:04
1:05
1:00
0:27
0:30
9:51
11:04
0:25
1:01
1:20
1:08
1:05
1:34
