Troy Stecher, a seasoned defenseman, embarks on another journey to capture the elusive Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers. After narrowly missing out last season, the Oilers are poised to face the Los Angeles Kings in the playoffs. Stecher is among several former University of North Dakota players aiming for playoff glory, including a trio with the Ottawa Senators: Shane Pinto, Jake Sanderson, and Tyler Kleven. Meanwhile, the Carolina Hurricanes, featuring Tyson Jost and Jackson Blake, also enter the fray against New Jersey. Brock Nelson, freshly traded to the Colorado Avalanche, will battle the Dallas Stars, adding to the competitive landscape of the playoffs.

Leevi Merilainen recorded his second shutout in three games, making 24 saves as the Ottawa Senators defeated the New York Islanders 2-0. The Senators have now won three consecutive games, while the Islanders saw their winning streak halted at three. Adam Gaudette provided the game's first goal, redirecting a shot from Tyler Kleven in the first period, with Artem Zub sealing the victory with a late empty-net goal.

Islanders' goaltender Marcus Hogberg made 23 saves in a game that marked a disappointing start to their seven-game homestand. Despite Ilya Sorokin's availability, he did not play due to illness. The Islanders' defensive efforts included killing off four penalties recently, showcasing a resilient penalty kill, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win.

Shane Pinto was the star as he scored two special teams goals, leading the Ottawa Senators to a 5-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The win marked Ottawa's second victory in their last eight games, with Pinto lighting the lamp twice in the first period, first on a power play and then short-handed.

Tyler Kleven, Drake Batherson, and Tim Stutzle also contributed goals, while Claude Giroux assisted on three of the scores. Ottawa's Leevi Merilainen proved to be a wall in goal, stopping 30 shots and earning his first NHL shutout.

Pittsburgh's Alex Nedeljkovic struggled, yielding five goals before being pulled from the game. The Penguins faced this defeat without their star center, Evgeni Malkin, who is sidelined due to an upper-body injury. The loss followed a significant win against the Edmonton Oilers, leaving the Penguins searching for consistency.

In a dominant performance, the Ottawa Senators blanked the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-0, thanks to Shane Pinto's two special teams goals and a stellar showing from goalie Leevi Merilainen, who recorded 30 saves for his first career shutout. Pinto opened the scoring with a power-play goal early in the first period and later added a short-handed goal just before the intermission. This victory marked Ottawa's second win in their last eight games, while extending their winning streak against Pittsburgh to six consecutive games.

In addition to Pinto, Tyler Kleven, Drake Batherson, and Tim Stutzle found the back of the net for the Senators. Pittsburgh's goalie Alex Nedeljkovic was pulled midway through the second after allowing three goals on 17 shots, a decision that followed an unsuccessful challenge from head coach Mike Sullivan regarding a perceived interference that was ultimately ruled in favor of Ottawa.

Shane Pinto's stellar performance propelled the Ottawa Senators to a decisive 5-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. Pinto notched two goals in the first period, including a power play score shortly after the game commenced and a short-handed goal later on.

Leevi Merilainen was exceptional in goal, making 30 saves and securing his first career shutout. Other Senators contributors included Tyler Kleven, Drake Batherson, and Tim Stutzle, with Claude Giroux recording three assists. This win marked Ottawa's sixth consecutive victory over Pittsburgh.