Faceoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET
Venue: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
TV/Streaming: TNT / MAX
The Sabres take a 2-1 series lead into Game 4 after a dominant 4-2 road victory in Game 3 on April 24, where they stifled Boston’s power play and capitalized on turnovers. Buffalo stole Game 1 in Boston (3-1) before dropping Game 2 in overtime (2-3). The Bruins showed resilience in Game 2 with a late comeback but have been outplayed at 5-on-5 throughout the series, relying heavily on goaltender Jeremy Swayman to stay alive.
Team Records
Buffalo Sabres: 48-32-2 overall (Eastern Conference wild card, 4th seed via tiebreakers), 22-17-2 on the road in the regular season. Playoff record: 2-1.
Boston Bruins: 52-28-2 overall (2nd in Atlantic Division), 27-12-2 at home in the regular season. Playoff record: 1-2.
Recent Team Forms
Sabres (last 10 games overall): 7-3, averaging 3.4 goals per game, 32.1 shots on goal, 28.4 hits, while allowing 2.8 goals per game. Goaltending tandem (Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen / Devon Levi) has posted a combined .918 save percentage. In the series: strong special teams (3-for-8 on power play) and physical forechecking have dictated play.
Bruins (last 10 games overall): 6-4, averaging 3.1 goals per game, 31.8 shots on goal, while allowing 2.9 goals per game. In the series: power play has converted at just 1-for-11, and they’ve been outshot in two of three games. They are 1-1 at home in the playoffs heading into Game 4.
Injury Report
Sabres:
Tage Thompson (upper body): Probable. Limited in Game 3 but skated fully in morning skate and is expected to play.
Alex Tuch (lower body): Day-to-day / game-time decision. Missed Game 3 but traveled with the team.
Rest of roster healthy, including top-pair defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (confirmed starter).
Bruins:
Brad Marchand (lower body): Questionable. Has been playing through discomfort but limited to 14:22 in Game 3; skating this morning but status uncertain.
Charlie McAvoy (upper body): Out (missed last two games).
Hampus Lindholm (back): Out for the series.
Goaltender Jeremy Swayman is confirmed to start again after a 38-save effort in Game 3.
Marchand’s availability is the biggest X-factor for Boston’s offense and leadership.
Key Player Matchups
Tage Thompson / JJ Peterka (BUF) vs. Charlie Coyle / Boston shutdown line: Thompson’s speed and shot creation have been a nightmare for Boston’s defense. Expect heavy checking from Coyle.
Rasmus Dahlin (BUF) vs. David Pastrnak: Dahlin has dominated offensively (1G-3A in series) while shutting down Boston’s top line in Game 3. Pastrnak (team-leading 4 points) needs to generate more zone time.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (BUF) vs. Jeremy Swayman (BOS): Battle of elite young goalies. Luukkonen has stolen Game 3 with timely saves; Swayman has kept Boston in every contest but needs more run support.
Physicality / Forecheck: Sabres’ Zemgus Girgensons and Jordan Greenway vs. Boston’s Trent Frederic and Matt Grzelcyk. Buffalo has won the hits battle 92-71 in the series.
Special Teams: Sabres’ power play (led by Dahlin and Thompson) vs. Bruins’ penalty kill, which has been vulnerable without McAvoy.
Series History
These Northeast rivals have met in the playoffs twice before (most recently 2023, when Boston won in seven). Boston holds the all-time playoff series edge 2-1, but Buffalo has won four of the last six regular-season meetings in 2025-26. This is the first time the Sabres have led a series against Boston since 2007.
Betting Trends
Sabres trends: 6-4 ATS as road underdogs this season; covered in both playoff road games.
Bruins trends: 5-5 ATS as home favorites; just 1-2 ATS in the series as favorites.
Over/Under: Over 5.5 has hit in 48 of 82 Bruins games (59%). Series games have averaged 5.3 total goals, with overs hitting in Game 2 only.
Home/road notes: Bruins are 27-12-2 at home but have lost Game 1 here; Sabres are 22-17-2 away and have already stolen a game in TD Garden.
Game Odds
Buffalo Sabres 5.5
Boston Bruins – 115
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, April 25, 2026
