The Colorado Avalanche's dreams of playoff glory came crashing down after a shocking Game 7 defeat to the Dallas Stars, ending their season sooner than expected. Nathan MacKinnon expressed disbelief, calling it the most surprising loss of his career. Despite missing key players, the Avs dominated in five-on-five play but faltered on special teams, finishing with a dismal 3 for 24 on power plays throughout the series, including critical missed opportunities in overtime.

Gabe Landeskog, the team captain, lamented the heartbreak of the loss, indicating that they had played hard yet could not seal the deal. The Avalanche struggled defensively, allowing multiple power-play goals, which ultimately proved costly. Coach Jared Bednar highlighted the importance of special teams in their defeat, indicating that adjustments were needed but were not executed effectively.

The Dallas Stars face significant challenges as they gear up for Game 6 without key players Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson due to lower-body injuries. Lian Bichsel also left the previous game after a hard crash into the boards during a battle with Jack Drury of the Colorado Avalanche, adding to the Stars' injury woes.

In other news, Curtis Lazar of the New Jersey Devils has been battling a knee injury throughout the season, impacting his performance. Meanwhile, Brenden Dillon discussed his severe neck injury and expressed optimism about recovery, aiming to be fit for summer training. Additional updates reveal that Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets has joined the team in St. Louis, though he remains uncertain for Game 6, while Mark Scheifele will not make the trip due to injury concerns after sustaining hits in prior games.

The Ottawa Senators earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory against the New Jersey Devils, with standout performances from Artem Zub, who scored the decisive goal, and Anton Forsberg, who made 25 saves. The match saw goals from Senators rookie Zack Ostapchuk, who netted his first NHL goal, and Tomas Tatar for the Devils. Despite a strong first period from New Jersey, outshooting Ottawa 16-2, Forsberg’s impressive goaltending kept the game scoreless until the second period.

The Senators have shown resilience, claiming points in six consecutive games with a record of 5-0-1. As they prepare for their next challenge against the New York Rangers, they aim to maintain their momentum while navigating a challenging road trip.

In a tightly contested matchup, the Ottawa Senators edged out the New Jersey Devils 2-1, thanks to goals from Artem Zub and Zack Ostapchuk. Zub's decisive third-period goal marked his second of the season, sealing the victory for Ottawa. Ostapchuk, meanwhile, celebrated his first NHL goal, giving the Senators an early 1-0 lead. The Devils managed to level the score with Tomas Tatar's goal, but could not secure another equalizer.

Ottawa's goaltender Anton Forsberg made 25 saves, showcasing strong defensive play, especially in the first period where New Jersey outshot them 16-2. This win extended the Senators' remarkable run to 5-0-1 over their last six games, while the Devils faced their fourth consecutive defeat, falling to a disappointing 2-6-3 in their last eleven outings.

In a series of updates from the NHL, several players are dealing with injuries and illnesses that could impact their teams. Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson was unable to play due to illness, while Buffalo Sabres forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel is questionable for today's game for the same reason. On a more positive note, Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson is expected to be in the lineup.

Further updates include Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who missed a game due to an upper-body injury, and Dallas Stars coach Pete DeBoer, who expressed concern over Mason Marchment's injury, stating it is “not good” and more week-to-week. Minnesota Wild's Joel Eriksson Ek is on the verge of returning, while Kirill Kaprizov's situation remains uncertain as he is day-to-day.

In New York, Islanders forward Anthony Duclair and defenseman Ryan Pulock did not participate in an optional skate, while Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller made a comeback after a six-game absence. The New Jersey Devils welcomed Curtis Lazar back after a knee issue, and the San Jose Sharks faced challenges as Carl Grundstrum left early in a game after a hit.

Seattle Kraken's Joey Daccord and Andre Burakovsky missed a recent game due to various ailments, with hopes of returning soon. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay Lightning's Michael Eyssimont is day-to-day, and Toronto Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube provided an update on Auston Matthews, indicating he is making progress but without a specific return date. Lastly, Vancouver Canucks' Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes missed a game, but their injuries are not believed to be serious, while Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin returned to action, although Lars Eller remains sidelined due to illness.