After ending an NHL-record 14-season playoff drought, the Buffalo Sabres open the First Round at home Sunday night against the Boston Bruins in Game 1 at KeyBank Center.
As Buffalo gets ready for its first playoff game in years, two local fans are sitting on one of the wildest bets of the season.
Back in December, when the Sabres were in last place and almost nobody thought this team had a shot, my two buddies, “John” and “Edward,” put $1,000 on Buffalo to reach the Stanley Cup Final.
Now the Sabres are in the playoffs, the drought is over, and that ticket is alive with a potential $60,000 payout if Buffalo pulls it off.
A bet that looked crazy in December
At the time, this sounded like pure insanity.
The Sabres were buried in the standings, fans were frustrated, and the season looked like it was heading toward more of the same. But Kohn and Edward saw enough to throw down $1,000 on Buffalo to make a run all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.
This past December, before a 10-game winning streak sparked one of the best turnarounds in franchise history, the Sabres went on to win 39 of their last 52 games.
Now that bet has gone from a longshot joke to something very real.
The interesting part is they’ve already said they might consider an early cash-out if the Sabres keep advancing and the sportsbook offers a strong payout before the Final. That could turn this from an all-or-nothing gamble into a major score either way.
Buffalo finally gets its playoff moment
This is what makes the story hit even harder.
The Sabres didn’t just sneak into the postseason. They ended one of the worst droughts in NHL history and gave Buffalo fans something they’ve been waiting 14 seasons to see. Sunday’s Game 1 against the Bruins isn’t just another hockey game. It’s a release for a fan base that has been through years of disappointment.
And now, on top of that, there’s a real local betting story tied directly to the playoff run.
That’s the kind of story Buffalo eats up. It’s hockey, it’s chaos, it’s pure underdog energy, and it fits right in with the same blue-collar, against-the-odds spirit that has defined the Buffalo Bills, Jim Kelly, and Josh Allen.
Local news reporter Kevin O’Neill of Channel 2 even had a perfect line on X: “There are 34-year-olds that can now do something they’ve never done before — have a beer in Buffalo and watch the Sabres in the playoffs.”
Sabres vs. Bruins Game 1 details
The First Round opens Sunday, April 19, with the Buffalo Sabres hosting the Boston Bruins in Game 1 at KeyBank Center.
Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. in Buffalo, and the game will air on MSG and ESPN.
It won’t be cheap to get inside the building. Game 1 tickets are already going for more than $400 for the cheapest seat, which says everything about how much demand there is for playoff hockey in Buffalo right now.
Buffalo is going all in for Game 1
The city is treating Sunday like a full event, not just a puck drop.
Fans heading downtown early can check out the Pregame Party in the Plaza, which opens three hours before the game. Ticketmaster Alumni Plaza will feature music, photo ops, alumni appearances, food, drinks, and other activities.
For fans without a ticket, there will also be a Watch Party at Canalside opening two hours before puck drop. The watch party is free and open to the public and will include a large screen showing the game, on-stage entertainment, food trucks, beer trucks, and more.
There will also be rally towel giveaways presented by KeyBank.
So even if you’re not paying $400-plus to get in the building, Buffalo is still giving fans a big-time playoff atmosphere.
A perfect Buffalo story
That’s what makes the John and Edward bet so good.
It started when the Sabres were in last place. It looked ridiculous. Now Buffalo is in the playoffs, the Bruins are coming to town, the building is going to be insane, and a $1,000 futures ticket is suddenly one of the best stories surrounding the team.
If the Sabres make a real run, that bet becomes legendary.
Sabres playoff schedule vs. Bruins
Here is the full First Round schedule for Buffalo against Boston:
Game 1
Sunday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres
KeyBank Center, Buffalo
TV: MSG, ESPN
Game 2
Tuesday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m.
Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres
KeyBank Center, Buffalo
TV: MSG, ESPN
Game 3
Thursday, April 23 at 7:00 p.m.
Buffalo Sabres at Boston Bruins
TD Garden, Boston
TV: MSG, TNT, truTV, HBO Max
Game 4
Sunday, April 26 at 2:00 p.m.
Buffalo Sabres at Boston Bruins
TD Garden, Boston
TV: MSG, TNT, truTV, HBO Max
Game 5
Tuesday, April 28
Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres
KeyBank Center, Buffalo
Time TBD
National network TBD
Game 6
Friday, May 1
Buffalo Sabres at Boston Bruins
TD Garden, Boston
Time TBD
National network TBD
Game 7
Sunday, May 3
Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres
KeyBank Center, Buffalo
Time TBD
National network TBD
Games 5 through 7 are if necessary.
(note: featured image via Sabres on FB)
