An emotional Zdeno Chara was left searching for answers after his Boston Bruins were eliminated from postseason contention.

The captain was asked why his club was so prone to big-game letdowns this season, the biggest of which came in a 6-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.

"I wish I had an explanation," Chara told reporters, according to DJ Bean of WEEI. "I wish I had an explanation."

The veteran defenseman was clearly frustrated after missing out on the playoffs for the second straight season.

Asked Chara if he's disappointed in his team. Didn't answer, got up, stormed off and said "you really came up with a great question."

— DJ Bean (@DJ_Bean) April 9, 2016

Never seen Chara that testy. Came back and apologized.

— DJ Bean (@DJ_Bean) April 9, 2016

Boston entered Saturday's game ranked fifth in the NHL in goals per game, and the Bruins led the Atlantic Division earlier in the season, so Chara's frustrations might be justified.

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The Boston Bruins will no doubt be scoreboard watching this weekend.

With a devastating 6-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators, the Bruins missed their chance to clinch a spot in the postseason and will now turn their eyes to the Philadelphia Flyers with the hope the team will stumble in their quest to clinch a spot, needing two points in their final two contests.

"Right now, all we can do is cross our fingers and hope for a miracle," head coach Claude Julien said. "That's all that's left for us.

"Excuses are out the window."

Claude Julien said it was about a "lack of execution" rather than "lack of urgency" for Bruins in 6-1 loss to Sens. I'm gonna beg to differ

— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) April 9, 2016

Forward Patrice Bergeron echoed his head coach suggesting the team now needs some help.

"Fingers crossed, I guess, but it was in our hands and we didn’t do it, so hopefully we can get some help from other teams," said Bergeron. "All you need is to get in, right? So after that, anything can happen.

"Hopefully it comes out that way."

After making the postseason every season from 2008-2014, the club is in jeopardy of missing the playoffs for the second-straight season after missing last season's installment by just two points.

The Bruins chances are slim, but a huge opportunity was definitely squandered Saturday.

"Our A-game wasn't there," said Julien. There was a lot that wasn't at the level it needed to be today."

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The Boston Bruins needed a win on home ice to give themselves the best shot at securing a playoff spot.

Instead, they fell 6-1 to the Ottawa Senators, and their regular season came to an end amid a shower of boos from whatever was left of the disappointed home crowd.

Boston, who posted a record of 17-18-6 at home, can still clinch a playoff spot if Philadelphia picks up one point or less in their final two games.

Either way, the fan base is not enthused.

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Fast just injured Eric Staal with a butt to his head pic.twitter.com/h89lYd6ZFR

— YeSUV (@IslesWhiteSUV) April 9, 2016

Eric Staal of the New York Rangers was forced to exit Saturday's game against Detroit after taking a blow to the head from teammate Jesper Fast.

It was announced Staal would not return for the third period, but his status was updated after the game and it's believed the injury isn't serious.

#NYR Update: AV says Eric Staal was held out of third for precautionary reasons. "He should be fine "

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 9, 2016

Staal, acquired by the Rangers prior to the trade deadline, has recorded three goals and three assists in 19 games for the Blueshirts.

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Erik Karlsson is reaching new heights.

With an assist in Saturday's game in Boston, the Ottawa Senators defenseman recorded his 82nd point of the season, ensuring he'll finish 2015-16 with at least a point-per-game average for the first time in his career.

Karlsson has appeared in all 82 games, matching a feat that hasn't been achieved in 20 years.

82 in 82 for Karlsson. Last time a defenseman played in 82 games and averaged at least 1 PPG was in 95-96. (Brian Leetch and Ray Bourque)

— Graham Creech (@creecher1200) April 9, 2016

The reigning Norris Trophy winner leads the entire NHL in assists with 66. If that holds, he'll be the fourth defenseman in league history to finish atop the leaderboard in helpers.

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The Philadelphia Flyers have reason to thank their fiercest rivals.

Needing a win to help secure a playoff spot, the Flyers will face a Pittsburgh Penguins team that has chosen to rest star players Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang, head coach Mike Sullivan announced 90 minutes prior to puck drop.

Coach Sullivan confirms that Letang will be a healthy scratch. Crosby dealing with bumps and bruises and will be held out for today's game.

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 9, 2016

The game marks the last on the schedule for the Penguins, who have already clinched second place in the Metropolitan Division. The Flyers, on the other hand, are on the outside looking in, with two games to go.

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The future is now for the New Jersey Devils, as 19-year-old center Pavel Zacha will make his NHL debut Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"Today's the day and I'm ready." More from Pavel Zacha on his #NHL debut tonight: https://t.co/hfTzTuaXnN pic.twitter.com/aSuoWGGFvl

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) April 9, 2016

Drafted sixth overall in 2015, Zacha recorded 16 goals and 18 assists in 37 games for the OHL's Sarnia Sting this season.

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The Boston Bruins may have caught a huge break in a must-win game to end the regular season.

For the second straight game, David Pastrnak appeared to open the scoring on a nifty play, and, like the last time, it was challenged by the opposition - this time, the Ottawa Senators - due to an apparent offside.

The lengthy review was inconclusive, giving the Bruins the 1-0 lead.

Here's a closer look at the apparent offside:

This is the best look pic.twitter.com/ZOFCC9CL7I

— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 9, 2016

The goal was Pastrnak's 15th of the season.

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BOSTON - Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask missed Saturday's season finale against the Ottawa Senators as his team played for one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. Backup Jonas Gustavsson got the start against Ottawa. It wa...