Bruins D Andrew Ference will play in Game 1 of playoff series against Sabres

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Boston defenceman Andrew Ference will play for the Bruins in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarter-final series against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night.

Ference was declared ready to go after missing the final nine games of the regular season because of a hernia.

The addition of Ference bolsters a depleted Bruins blue-line. Defenceman Mark Stuart (finger) and Dennis Seidenberg (arm laceration) are out with injuries.

Ference, who signed a three-year contract extension in March, didn't score a goal in 51 games for Boston this season.

The Sabres will be without two of their top six forwards Thursday. Jochen Hecht is out indefinitely after undergoing finger surgery, and Drew Stafford is still working his way back from a concussion sustained in the penultimate game of the season.