Ruff provides injury updates, talks playoff history with Boston

Key Points:

• The Buffalo Sabres are preparing for the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, hosting Game 1 against the Boston Bruins on Sunday, with the NHL set to announce the game times and series schedule soon.
• The Sabres and Bruins have a historic playoff rivalry, having faced each other eight times previously, with the last playoff meeting in 2010, and this series could reignite that competitive intensity.
• Both teams are known for their physical style of play, with the Sabres showcasing strong physicality during the regular season, including a successful record against the physical Tampa Bay Lightning.
• Key Bruins players like Tanner Jeannot, Sean Kuraly, Mark Kastelic, and Nikita Zadorov contribute to their physical edge, while Sabres players such as Beck Malenstyn set franchise records for hits, indicating a tough, physical series ahead.
• Sabres coach Don Ruff emphasized the importance of physicality and toughness in the playoffs, noting that the intensity naturally increases and players elevate their game during this critical time.