Shane Pinto's two goals propelled the Ottawa Senators to a decisive 5-2 victory against the Montreal Canadiens on Friday, halting the latter's playoff clinching opportunity. With this win, Ottawa secured its own playoff berth earlier in the week and now boasts a strong 43-30-6 record.

Ridly Greig contributed with a goal and an assist, while Drake Batherson and Dylan Cozens also added to Ottawa's tally. Linus Ullmark was instrumental in net with 20 saves, ensuring the Senators maintained a firm grip on the game despite Montreal's pressure. The Canadiens, who needed to win in regulation to officially secure a playoff spot, had their hopes dashed and now face a critical three-game finish to the season.

The Colorado Avalanche showcased a dominant performance against the Ottawa Senators, securing a 5-1 victory with a flurry of goals in the first period. Nathan MacKinnon opened the scoring, followed by a goal from Brock Nelson in his debut with the Avalanche. Cale Makar and Joel Kiviranta contributed to the Avalanche's lead, forcing Senators' goalie Linus Ullmark to exit after allowing four goals on 13 shots within 18 minutes of play.

Despite a brief resurgence, including a goal by Dylan Cozens late in the game, the Senators fell short, marking their second consecutive loss post a six-game winning streak. The Senators remain competitive for the Eastern Conference wild-card spot, needing a strong showing in their upcoming match against the New Jersey Devils to maintain their playoff aspirations.

The Colorado Avalanche displayed dominance against the Ottawa Senators, scoring four goals in the first period to secure a decisive 5-1 victory. Nathan MacKinnon, Brock Nelson, Cale Makar, and Joel Kiviranta all contributed to the Avalanche's explosive start, chasing goalie Linus Ullmark from the net after just over 17 minutes. This victory is particularly important for Colorado, improving their record to 42-25-3.

In contrast, the Senators, who had previously been on a six-game winning streak, struggled, allowing the Avalanche to capitalize on their mistakes. Despite a solid performance in the second period from Anton Forsberg, who made 19 saves, the Senators fell short. Ottawa is now focused on maintaining their position for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, currently holding on to the first wild-card spot.

In a thrilling matchup, Nick Suzuki's late power-play goal propelled the Montreal Canadiens to a 6-3 victory against the Ottawa Senators, ending Ottawa's six-game winning streak. Suzuki's decisive shot came at 15:23 of the third period, marking a key moment as he capitalized on a mistake by Senators goalie Linus Ullmark. Josh Anderson also shone for Montreal, netting two goals, including an empty-netter, while Lane Hutson and Christian Dvorak contributed to the scoring.

Despite a strong start from Ottawa, with goals from Travis Hamonic, Michael Amadio, and Drake Batherson, the Canadiens displayed resilience by recovering from early deficits. With this win, Montreal now holds a 3-0 advantage in their season series against Ottawa, setting the stage for a final showdown in April. As Montreal chases a playoff spot, they remain just one point behind the New York Rangers for the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card berth.