Jeremy Swayman gets the crease as Marco Sturm rolls out Boston's Game 1 lineup for a heavy opening-night look against Buffalo.

The biggest read from the Bruins' setup is simple: they're not easing into this series.

Boston is leaning on size, forecheck pressure, and a fourth line built to drag the pace into the walls.

Up front, Morgan Geekie stays with Elias Lindholm and David Pastrnak, giving Boston its cleanest top-line scoring look right out of the gate.

That line will carry the early offensive push.

The second unit has Casey Mittelstadt between Pavel Zacha and Viktor Arvidsson, a group that feels built for puck support and quick exits more than straight-line power.

It gives Boston another line that can play with speed.

Then comes the younger swing unit. James Hagens, Fraser Minten, and Marat Khusnutdinov bring skill, but this is still a playoff opener on the road, and that line will get tested fast.

Boston's identity shows up on the fourth line.

Tanner Jeannot, Sean Kuraly, and Mark Kastelic are there to finish checks, grind shifts, and make Buffalo work for every breakout.

Boston is betting on weight and discipline in game one lineup

That's the push-and-pull in this matchup.

The Bruins were 3-1-0 against Buffalo in the season series, but the Sabres are not the same team Boston saw in October.

Buffalo closed with 50 wins and 109 points, while Boston got in as the top wild card with 45 wins and 100 points. This is not a soft first-round draw for the Bruins.

On the blue line, Jonathan Aspirot gets the look with Charlie McAvoy, while Hampus Lindholm skates with Mason Lohrei.

Nikita Zadorov and Andrew Peeke round out a third pair that should bring bite.

That makes Zadorov one of the tone-setters right away.

If Boston is going to lean into contact, it has to stay out of the box, because Buffalo's speed can turn a loose shift into trouble fast.

Swayman's role is just as clear.

He posted a 2.71 GAA and .908 save percentage in the regular season, and Boston needs that steadiness from puck drop.

This lineup says Sturm wants a hard, structured road game in Game 1.

The Bruins are not hiding their plan. They're trying to make this series uncomfortable from the opening faceoff.