The wait is over, Bruins and Sabres fans. With the NHL regular season officially in the books, the league has unveiled the complete first-round playoff schedule for the Atlantic Division clash between the Boston Bruins and the Buffalo Sabres.

As the higher seed, the Sabres will hold home-ice advantage. The series kicks off in Buffalo, with Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 slated for KeyBank Center. The action shifts to TD Garden for Games 3, 4, and 6, promising an electric atmosphere on Causeway Street.

For local fans, the viewing tradition holds strong: the Bruins have confirmed that NESN will broadcast the entire first-round series. While national networks will also carry the games, New England viewers can rely on their regular-season home for coverage before the playoffs shift exclusively to national broadcasts in later rounds.

On the radio dial, Games 1 through 4 are confirmed for 98.5 The Sports Hub. However, a scheduling clash emerges with the Boston Celtics, whose playoff run also airs on 98.5. As it stands, the Bruins will keep the primary FM slot, with Celtics coverage moving to 105.7 FM when games overlap, including on the shared Sunday, April 19th.

The schedule offers a compelling rhythm for the series, featuring two built-in back-to-back days off. This extra recovery time could prove crucial in what promises to be a physical, hard-fought divisional battle. A Sunday afternoon playoff game at the Garden is particularly poised for a special atmosphere.

This Original Six versus rising contender matchup is poised to be a must-watch, likely drawing some of the highest television ratings in the U.S. during the opening round, potentially rivaled only by the intensity of a Flyers-Penguins series. Strap in; playoff hockey is here.