The Buffalo Sabres are poised for their first Stanley Cup playoff appearance since 2011, with Boston or Montreal likely awaiting them in the first round. According to Stathletes projections, the Montreal Canadiens hold a 32.64% chance of facing Buffalo, followed by the Ottawa Senators at 23.96% and the Boston Bruins at 22.19%. The Sabres, currently leading the Atlantic Division with 95 points, have gone 1-1-1 against Boston this season.

Buffalo plays four potential playoff opponents in their remaining 11 games, including Wednesday's tilt against the Bruins on TNT. The Canadiens have been strong against the Sabres this season, going 2-2-0, while Buffalo holds a perfect 2-0-0 record against Ottawa, Detroit, and the New York Islanders. With a 99.9% playoff probability, Sabres fans can finally shift from scoreboard watching to scouting potential matchups.

Every team has roughly 12 games remaining before the April 16 regular season finale. The Sabres' magic number sits at 10, meaning any combination of Sabres points and opponent losses totaling 10 would clinch their playoff berth. As the final stretch approaches, Buffalo's return to postseason hockey after a 15-year drought represents one of the NHL's most compelling narratives.