BOSTON -- Patrice Bergeron has a punctured lung and is at a Boston-area hospital for observation. NMD Dam Rea . The Bruins forward was admitted Monday night, after Boston lost to Chicago, 3-2, in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden -- a defeat which ended the season. Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli and coach Claude Julien addressed Bergerons status Wednesday, the same day they held exit interviews with the players. "He played through all of this, and he was a warrior," Chiarelli said. "I cant say enough about his performance and what he did while being injured." Bergeron was already slowed by injuries headed into Game 6. He was a question mark to even play due to a broken rib and torn cartilage. After not participating in the morning skate Monday, he appeared during warmups and played in the loss. In the first period, though, he suffered a separated shoulder. "After the game, obviously, he was in pain from his ribs and stuff like that, which is an automatic thing. The doctors said lets send him to the hospital for observation, so he went there," Julien said. "I think they did the right thing and the right job by sending him there. "And then he just stayed." Bergeron had 10 goals and 32 points in the shortened regular season, as well as nine and 15, respectively, in the post-season. Combined, he had a plus-26 rating this year as the Bruins finished second in the Northeast Division, and defeated the Maple Leafs, Rangers and Penguins to secure a second Eastern Conference title in three seasons. "It was a challenge," Julien said. "I think the biggest one, as we mentioned there, we had some guys, some key guys, that were injured along the way, and on a lot of occasions, we werent able to finish with the same number we started." And so an off-season of question marks is off and running in Boston, as the Bruins look to keep their solid nucleus in town while also plot for the future. Forward Nathan Horton will become a free agent next month, and in a class thats regarded as weak and doesnt feature a lot of star power, he is easily one of the most marketable, skilled players available. "I have enjoyed my time here obviously. Two out of three years, Ive been here weve been in the Stanley Cup and weve won one time and I said a million times, the guys in the room are amazing," Horton said. "Its been a lot of fun and I really enjoy everyone and every player on the team." One potential drawback to Horton, is he will require off-season shoulder surgery. "When you make a decision to try and bring back guys that are on the eve of free agency, youd like to think that you can make the right decision before the last possible moment. Usually, thats what I try and do," Chiarelli said. "I try to be proactive and try to get ahead of stuff, and this year it was too hard. Specifically on Nathan, I put him in with the rest of the group. Theyve been moving targets and Im going to try to push through it now. "Its not the ideal way, but Im going to try to push through it now." One part of the team that became even stronger in the post-season was defensive depth. With injuries to several defencemen, Chiarelli was able to flex some organizational numbers on the blue line that will allow the Bruins to let some higher-priced, older players walk away. Defenceman Andrew Ference, for instance, will not be re-signed, and his place will likely be filled by Dougie Hamilton, Matt Bartkowski and Torey Krug, who all played in the playoffs. "Were losing not just a good player, but also a leader in the dressing room and everything else," Julien said of Ference. "Hes always gone above and beyond with the little things in the dressing room and everything that comes with it. Hes been a good teammate, smart." Ference played in just 14 of 22 playoff games with two assists. "Hes been part of this, what weve built here. (He brings that) warrior-type of attitude and playing style for his size," Chiarelli said. "You cant say enough about his leadership and what hes brought to our organization. It was a tough conversation to have." Forward Jaromir Jagr, the games leading active scorer who was acquired at the trading deadline from Dallas, did not score in the post-season, and will also not be back. The 41-year-old native of the Czech Republic, who has been on three teams the last two seasons, hopes to find another in the NHL this summer. "I thought he spread out our power play, which helped our power play," Chiarelli said. "I was real happy with Jaromir. I thought he really helped that cause." The Bruins have played in nine post-season series the last three years, winning seven of them. They have two division crowns in that time, as well. "I think for us, the more time we spend together the better we become," forward Daniel Paille said. "We definitely have some ups and downs. But through the playoffs, I believe that we definitely come together and play for each other. I think it goes a long way and it helps us as a group." ------ NOTES: Chiarelli would like to re-sign backup goalie Anton Khudobin, but wants to lock up the starter, Tuukka Rask, first. Rask is looking for a long-term deal. "That would be an ideal situation, I think, to play here forever," he said. "I hope we can make that happen." ... Chiarelli has not made a decision yet on veteran defenceman Wade Redden, though its likely that Hamilton, Krug or Bartkowski could take his position as well. Redden will become a free agent next month. "I want to play and I want to be on a good team," Redden said. "I guess well see what options are going to happen for me this summer." ... Veteran forward Jay Pandolfo, a native of Winchester, Mass., who signed with the club during the season as an extra forward, will not be re-signed. Adidas NMD R1 Dam Rea . -- The Windsor Spitfires were left with just one goaltender Tuesday after having their starter walk out on them midway through Game 3 of their Ontario Hockey League playoff matchup with the London Knights. Adidas Falcon Sverige .C. -- Carter Ashton had a pair of goals and added an assist as the Toronto Marlies downed the Charlotte Checkers 5-2 on Saturday in the American Hockey League. http://www.nmdsverige.com/ .com) - The Ottawa Senators will try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive when they face the Chicago Blackhawks who are trying to secure their place in the post-season.ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Dan Ellis learned a few things about the Anaheim Ducks top scorers during 1 1/2 seasons as the teams backup goalie, and he put all that knowledge to work in a breakthrough victory for the Dallas Stars. Ellis made 26 saves against his former team in his 14th career shutout, and Trevor Daley scored in the Stars 2-0 victory over the Ducks on Saturday night. Ellis played in 23 games as a backup in Anaheim from February 2011 to 2012, but did his best work while absorbing innumerable shots in practice from Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Teemu Selanne. Ellis used that familiarity throughout his second victory over the Ducks this season, even denying Perrys point-blank chance in the final minute by getting an outstretched pad in front of an open net. "Ive practiced with them, and I understand some things they like to do," Ellis said with a smile. Captain Jamie Benn added an empty-net goal with 28 seconds left for the Stars, who snapped a five-game road skid with one of their biggest wins of a mediocre season. Ellis had sat out the Stars previous nine games since Jan. 12, and he acknowledged a bit of game rust in his return. But Kari Lehtonens veteran backup posted Dallas third shutout victory in its last six games, and coach Lindy Ruff said Ellis probably will get more playing time in the final week before Lehtonen and Ruff head to the Olympics. "He gave us a rock-solid game," Ruff said of Ellis. "We only had a couple of big breakdowns, and he was there for us." After the game, Ellis met up in the hallway between the dressing rooms with Jonas Hiller, the Ducks starter during Ellis time with the club. "I loved my time here," Ellis said. "Its still the best place Ive ever played and lived in, but it was good to get these two points for us." Hiller stopped 25 shots for the NHL-leading Ducks, who were shut out for the first time all season. Anaheim has lost three of five at Honda Center after opening the season 20-0-2 at home. At the start of a four-game stretch over eight days before the Olympic break, the grind of the regular season is finally hitting the Ducks aafter two spectacular months. Adidas Falcon Rea. Anaheim is 4-4 since Jan. 15, but still five points ahead of defending champion Chicago atop the overall standings. "We didnt have any sustained pressure," Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said. "Against a team like Dallas, you have to win the board battles. If you dont win them, their speed is so good, its going to be a real tough game for you." The Ducks played without third-leading scorer Nick Bonino after the versatile centre injured his wrist. Boudreau also scratched healthy offence-minded forwards Dustin Penner and Kyle Palmieri. While Anaheims roll has slowed, Dallas is looking to build momentum into the break during a three-game West Coast trip over the next five days. The Stars began the day in an 11th-place tie in the Western Conference. After a scoreless first period, Daley got his fourth goal of the season early in the second on the rebound of a shot by centre Cody Eakin, who blew by Patrick Maroon to create the chance. Only Hiller kept the score close with a handful of stellar plays in the final two periods, including a post-to-post toe save on Rich Peverley late in the second. Hiller has lost his last three home starts after his franchise-record 14-game winning streak ended last month. "It seems like one game we play pretty good, then the next game it seems like weve lost everything again," Hiller said. "We dont have that consistency. You cant just always think you can come back in the third period to win a game." Anaheim had several decent chances in the final minutes, but was shut out for the first time since last March 27. The Ducks also lost defenceman Mark Fistric to a lower-body injury early in the game. NOTES: Along with Bonino, the Ducks had three prominent healthy scratches who have combined for 90 points this season: Penner, Palmieri and D Bryan Allen. ... Just 41 seconds in, Eakin skated to the Stars dressing room with a bloody cut on his face after he got hit by the puck. He returned for the second period. ... Daley has three goals in his last 10 games after scoring just once in his first 31 this season. ' ' '