{"time":1776639558366,"blocks":[{"id":"qVqNvl2b3k","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"BUFFALO, NY - The Boston Bruins (0-0) kick off their playoff journey inside the KeyBank Center, taking on the Atlantic Division Champions, the Buffalo Sabres (0-0)."}},{"id":"Mc84R1flmf","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Tonight will be everything people dream of for playoff hockey. Intensity, passion, physicality, insane crowd. Nothing beats playoff hockey, and tonight should be a showcase of that."}},{"id":"bxGMvcMDcq","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Sabres fans have waited 15 long years for this moment. The streets are overflowing in Western, New York."}},{"id":"406x4A86cN","type":"embed","data":{"service":"twitter","source":"https://x.com/MatthewFairburn/status/2045975640113865072?s=20","embed":"https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=2045975640113865072","width":600,"height":300,"caption":"","meta":{"title":"Matthew Fairburn (@MatthewFairburn) on X","site_name":"X (formerly Twitter)","description":"Sabres fans waiting for the doors to open for Buffalo’s first playoff game in 15 years.","image":{"url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/amplify_video_thumb/2045975378439618561/img/NE5IHLsTZoy5XFUV.jpg:large"}}}},{"id":"eiKLec2NJt","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"There are three keys for Boston's success tonight in Buffalo, three things they must get right to win this game."}},{"id":"X_diBw1JvV","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Key #1: Weather the Storm:"}},{"id":"knlpM6FKzA","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The biggest and most important thing about tonight is that the Sabres will be coming out with their hair on fire."}},{"id":"zG2VCZ66Kc","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"All the emotion that's going to be surging through the building, all the pent-up frustration, it's going to explode onto the ice."}},{"id":"I9GS4gRp3a","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Boston will need to be ready to defend early and often, and utilize their effectively quick breakouts to counterattack and generate offense of their own."}},{"id":"0Fzg1vpgR5","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"After what Boston Head Coach Marco Sturm said about Buffalo's physicality the other day, you can expect a wave of Buffalo physicality early."}},{"id":"GDzykvJqYC","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The first five to 10 minutes could very easily decide tonight's game. If Buffalo pops a couple of early goals, it could very quickly become a long night for the Bruins."}},{"id":"rmed_FurQW","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Key #2: Discipline & Special Teams"}},{"id":"mo6dbd5v","type":"video","data":{"url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/3f47d528-9550-482b-9350-f2c7c724f475/mp4","caption":"","autoplay":false,"controls":true,"muted":false,"stretched":true,"width":0,"height":0,"image":{"url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/3f47d528-9550-482b-9350-f2c7c724f475/thumbnail"},"cdn":{"videoId":"3f47d528-9550-482b-9350-f2c7c724f475","libraryId":"372172","collectionId":"30032062-eefd-4041-a355-12ad05bc987b","cdnBaseUrl":"https://vz-052fc010-b27.b-cdn.net","mp4Url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/3f47d528-9550-482b-9350-f2c7c724f475/mp4","thumbnailUrl":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/3f47d528-9550-482b-9350-f2c7c724f475/thumbnail","previewAnimationUrl":"https://vz-052fc010-b27.b-cdn.net/3f47d528-9550-482b-9350-f2c7c724f475/preview.webp"}}},{"id":"iX_WaVyqjk","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The next key will be for Boston to control their own emotions, and avoid taking penalties."}},{"id":"7bLgeInvnp","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Too often this year, Boston's hurt itself with self-inflicted wounds and lost the special teams battle, leading to losses."}},{"id":"lWM93dNowL","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Buffalo's going to come out hard, Boston will need to match that, but in a measured way."}},{"id":"HXhwnsnIKD","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"With the inevitability of penalties, special teams become another massive piece of the story."}},{"id":"8rSznHokQ2","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Buffalo scored the second-most shorthanded goals of any team this season. Their kill is known for the extreme speed and heavy pressure."}},{"id":"7WADxYE4E-","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Boston's power play has struggled mightily since the end of the Olympics. They need to find a way to win these battles, or at least avoid any shorthanded goals allowed."}},{"id":"HJpIxubmIp","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Key #3: Goaltending"}},{"id":"fYtrFyTGfC","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Jeremy Swayman needs to be a superstar tonight and in this series. Swayman's been the backbone to Boston's season this year, and these playoffs will be no different."}},{"id":"c1JIqs-AXo","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"This team can and will go as far as he takes them, and that starts tonight."}},{"id":"21aLZ0rUfV","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"If he plays rock solid, it'll give Boston an incredible chance to win, even in what's shaping up to be a hellish environment for the visitors in Buffalo."}},{"id":"aVhv9iGZkl","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"He'll go up against Ukko-Pekka Luukkonnen between the pipes. Swayman is a better goalie Luukkonen, and will need to showcase that tonight and all series."}}],"version":"2.31.5"}

Insider: Bruins Promising Prospect Won't Sign, Will Hit Free Agency