4 things to know about Bruins first-round playoff foe Buffalo Sabres

Key Points:

• The Boston Bruins secured their first-round Stanley Cup Playoffs matchup against the Buffalo Sabres after a win over the Devils, marking their return to the postseason after a one-year absence.
• The Sabres have been one of the NHL's hottest teams recently, turning around a poor start to finish with a 39-9-4 record, led by young stars like Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson, and making their first playoff appearance since 2011.
• Buffalo's roster lacks playoff experience, with only 12 players having prior postseason games, contrasting with Boston's mix of seasoned veterans and playoff newcomers.
• The Sabres boast a strong offense and defense but have struggled on the power play, ranking 19th in the NHL, while their penalty kill is among the league's best, posing challenges for the Bruins' special teams.
• In goal, the Bruins have an edge with Jeremy Swayman, who has a strong playoff pedigree and leads in goals saved above expected, whereas Buffalo's likely starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has no playoff experience and a lower statistical ranking.