Bruins-Sabres Playoff Series Schedule Announced

Why it matters locally: The Bruins' playoff schedule is set, with Games 3 and 4 of the series being played at TD Garden in Boston, drawing considerable attention and economic activity to the city.

The Boston Bruins will face the Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the NHL playoffs, with Game 1 scheduled for Sunday, April 19, at 7:30 p.m. at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. Game 2 is slated for Tuesday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m., also at KeyBank Center. The series shifts to Boston's TD Garden for Game 3 on Thursday, April 23, at 7 p.m., and Game 4 on Sunday, April 26, at 2 p.m. Game 5, if necessary, will be played in Buffalo on Tuesday, April 28, with the time to be determined. Game 6, if required, is scheduled for TD Garden on Friday, May 1, with the time to be determined. A potential Game 7 would be in Buffalo on Sunday, May 3, with the time to be determined. The Bruins finished the regular season with a 45-27-10 record under coach Marco Sturm, securing a playoff berth after finishing near the bottom of the Eastern Conference the previous season with a 33-39-10 record. Boston went 3-1-0 against Buffalo in the regular season. The Bruins and Sabres have met in eight previous playoff series, last facing each other in 2010, when the Bruins eliminated the Sabres in six games.