Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins face off in Game 4 of their NHL Playoff series on April 26, 2026 at TD Garden. Buffalo currently lead the series 2-1, but Boston return home under pressure to level things again in what is expected to be a tight and physical contest.
Match Details
| Match | Buffalo Sabres vs Boston Bruins |
|---|---|
| League | NHL Playoffs |
| Game | Game 4 |
| Date | 26 April 2026 |
| Venue | TD Garden, Boston |
| Time | 2:00 PM ET |
| TV | TNT, truTV |
Series Status
| Team | Record |
|---|---|
| Buffalo Sabres | 2-1 |
| Boston Bruins | 1-2 |
Buffalo took a key Game 3 win and now have a chance to go 3-1 up, while Boston must respond at home.
Recent Form
Boston Bruins Last 5 Games
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 24 | Sabres | Loss 1-3 |
| Apr 22 | Sabres | Win 4-2 |
| Apr 20 | Sabres | Loss 3-4 |
| Apr 15 | Devils | Win 4-0 |
| Apr 13 | Blue Jackets | Win 3-2 |
Boston have struggled with consistency in this series, especially in key moments.
Buffalo Sabres Last 5 Games
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 24 | Bruins | Win 3-1 |
| Apr 22 | Bruins | Loss 2-4 |
| Apr 20 | Bruins | Win 4-3 |
| Apr 16 | Stars | Loss 3-4 |
| Apr 14 | Blackhawks | Win 5-1 |
Buffalo have shown better control in tight games and strong finishing ability.
Head-to-Head in Series
| Game | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Sabres | 4-3 |
| Game 2 | Bruins | 4-2 |
| Game 3 | Sabres | 3-1 |
All games have been competitive with no blowouts.
Key Players to Watch
Buffalo Sabres
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Rasmus Dahlin | Playmaker, assists leader |
| Alex Tuch | Goal scorer |
| Jack Quinn | High shot volume |
Dahlin is controlling the game from the back and creating many scoring chances.
Boston Bruins
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| David Pastrnak | Main attacking threat |
| Pavel Zacha | Shot creator |
| Jeremy Swayman | Key goalie |
Boston rely heavily on their top players and goaltending.
Goaltending Comparison
| Team | Goalie | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Sabres | Alex Lyon | Strong last game (96% saves) |
| Bruins | Jeremy Swayman | Consistent (.931 SV% series) |
Swayman has been excellent, but Buffalo are still finding ways to score.
Projected Lineups
| Buffalo Sabres | Boston Bruins |
|---|---|
| Tuch – Thompson – Skinner | Marchand – Zacha – Pastrnak |
| Quinn – Cozens – Peterka | DeBrusk – Coyle – Frederic |
| Greenway – Krebs – Doan | Geekie – Beecher – Lauko |
| Girgensons – Mittelstadt – Okposo | Lucic – Brown – Steen |
| Dahlin – Samuelsson | McAvoy – Lindholm |
| Power – Jokiharju | Carlo – Grzelcyk |
| Clifton – Bryson | Forbort – Shattenkirk |
| Lyon | Swayman |
Buffalo depend on puck movement and depth, while Boston rely on structure and top-line impact.
Injury Report
| Team | Status |
|---|---|
| Sabres | No major updates |
| Bruins | No major injuries reported |
Both teams are expected to have full-strength lineups.
Team Stats Comparison
| Category | Sabres | Bruins |
|---|---|---|
| Attack | Balanced scoring | Top-heavy |
| Defense | Inconsistent | Structured |
| Goaltending | Improving | Strong |
Buffalo are generating more chances, while Boston remain disciplined defensively.
Betting Odds
| Market | Sabres | Bruins |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | -105 | -114 |
| Puck Line | +1.5 | -1.5 |
| Total Goals | 5.5–6 | 5.5–6 |
The odds suggest a very close matchup.
Best Betting Picks
| Bet Type | Pick |
|---|---|
| Player Prop | Rasmus Dahlin Over 0.5 Assists |
| Match Winner | Bruins (Home edge) |
| Total Goals | Under 6.5 |
Recent games show a shift towards lower scoring and tighter hockey.
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV | TNT, truTV |
| Venue | TD Garden |
| Time | 2:00 PM ET |
Final Prediction
This Game 4 is expected to be another close battle where small mistakes will decide the result. Buffalo Sabres have shown strong discipline and better finishing in this series, which is why they currently lead 2-1. Their ability to score at key moments and control pressure situations gives them confidence.
Boston Bruins, however, will take motivation from playing at home. Their structure and goaltending from Jeremy Swayman have kept them competitive, and if their top line converts chances, they can easily turn the series around.
The pace of the series has slowed after the first game, with both teams focusing more on defense and minimizing errors. That trend is likely to continue here.
Boston’s home advantage and experience may help them respond, but Buffalo’s attacking pressure will keep the game tight.
Predicted Score: Boston Bruins 3 – Buffalo Sabres 2







