Charlie McAvoy of the Boston Bruins revealed that he would have been ready to play had the Bruins made the playoffs, following recovery from a shoulder infection. However, he confirmed he will not participate in the World Championships. Elias Lindholm faced a lower back injury before training camp, impacting his early season performance. Mark Kastelic is sidelined with concussion issues, prioritizing his long-term health over immediate game appearances.

In injury news, Calgary Flames' Adam Klapka left a game with a lower-body injury, while Jason Dickinson of the Chicago Blackhawks will be in a cast for three more weeks. The Columbus Blue Jackets' Dean Evason noted Zach Aston-Reese is nursing injuries. Good news for the Florida Panthers as all players are set to be available for Game 1 of the playoffs, while the New York Islanders are dealing with absences due to illness and injuries. The New Jersey Devils report positive steps for Jonas Siegenthaler, although he remains out for now.

Boston Bruins' coach Joe Sacco confirmed that defenseman Charlie McAvoy and forward Mark Kastelic are both out for the season, which could significantly impact the team's playoff chances. Meanwhile, the Carolina Hurricanes are dealing with Shayne Gostisbehere, who missed a recent game due to an upper-body injury. On the Columbus Blue Jackets front, goaltender Elvis Merzlikins has also missed a game due to injury.

In New York, the Islanders' Ilya Sorokin is uncertain for the remainder of the season following a lower-body injury. However, fellow defenseman K’Andre Miller has returned to the Rangers' lineup after a brief absence due to illness. The Ottawa Senators’ Brady Tkachuk expects to soon resume skating, aiming for a timely return ahead of the playoffs.

The Penguins are facing a tough period, losing Tommy Novak, Blake Lizotte, Noel Acciari, Matt Nieto, and Rutger McGroarty for the season. Lastly, Jakob Chychrun of the Capitals was a late scratch due to illness, highlighting the ongoing injury challenges faced by teams as they approach critical late-season games.

The Boston Bruins have confirmed that defenseman Charlie McAvoy and forward Mark Kastelic will not return this season, following their injuries. Interim coach Joe Sacco announced the decision, stating that both players have made progress in their recoveries but lack adequate time to be cleared by medical staff. McAvoy, who had returned to practice on March 31, finishes the season with a disappointing 23 points in 50 games, his lowest output to date.

Kastelic, on the other hand, has been sidelined since March 20, concluding his first season with the Bruins with 14 points across 61 games. The Bruins are now officially out of playoff contention, with only three regular-season games remaining, starting with a matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Injuries are taking a toll across the NHL as several key players are sidelined. Anaheim Ducks' Brock McGinn recently underwent ACL surgery and is expected to miss 7-9 months. Isac Lundestrom's status remains day-to-day due to a lower-body injury while Trevor Zegras has returned from a meniscus tear. The Boston Bruins placed Mark Kastelic on IR, while the Dallas Stars welcomed Roope Hintz back to their lineup, but Mason Marchment remains out. In Nashville, Cole Smith has been activated from IR. The New York Islanders are dealing with Noah Dobson's absence due to a lower-body injury, with no return date set.

Meanwhile, goaltender Linus Ullmark of the Ottawa Senators was seen at practice but didn’t skate, and Ryan Poehling of the Philadelphia Flyers is recovering from a head injury. Toronto Maple Leafs' Connor Dewar and Max Pacioretty have also missed time due to injuries, with the team hopeful about John Tavares’ potential return to skating soon. Goaltender Anthony Stolarz continues to make progress after a knee procedure, and Vancouver Canucks are monitoring several players, including Noah Juulsen and Kevin Lankinen, who missed a game due to illness.

Tim Stutzle's shootout goal propelled the Ottawa Senators to a thrilling 6-5 victory over the Boston Bruins. With Leevi Merilainen making 23 saves, he successfully denied all three Bruins shooters during the shootout. Ottawa, now at 23-18-4, showcased a late-game rally, scoring two goals in the final minutes of regulation to tie the game at 5-5, with Josh Norris netting the crucial equalizer.

The Bruins led 4-3 after a goal from Vinni Lettieri, marking his first of the season. Jeremy Swayman stood strong in net for Boston, achieving 39 saves. The game saw a back-and-forth scoring exchange, with Norris tying the game for Ottawa at 4-4 before Beecher's shot gave Boston a momentary lead. Stutzle and Gaudette initially put the Senators ahead 2-0, while the Bruins fought back to equalize by the end of the first period.