Yaroslav Askarov makes career-high 41 saves in Sharks’ win over Senators

Oct 22, 2026; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; San Jose Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov (30) follows the puck in the first period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Yaroslav Askarov set a career high with 41 saves for the San Jose Sharks, who won their second straight game by taming the host Ottawa Senators 6-2 on Thursday night. Collin Graf and Jacob Trouba both finished with a goal and an assist for the Sharks, who won in regulation for the first time this season. Tyler Toffoli and Nolan Allan also lit the lamp, while Zack Ostapchuk and Ivar Stenberg tallied empty-netters in the final 3:29 to secure the victory. Kiefer Sherwood assisted on a pair of goals. Askarov won for the first time since Oct. 3. His previous career high in saves was 39, which he set in a 3-2 overtime loss against Edmonton in December 2024. Tim Stutzle recorded his team-best seventh goal for the Senators, and Jordan Spence got his first of the season. Drake Batherson, Warren Foegele, Fabian Zetterlund and Nikolas Matinpalo set up their Ottawa teammates with assists. Samuel Ersson stopped 22 of the 26 shots he faced for Ottawa. The Sharks broke open a 1-1 game by scoring three goals in a span of 4:05 midway through the second period. Toffoli's fourth of the season came on a power play with 10:47 left. He scored through traffic from the point after exchanging passes with Sherwood. Trouba got the secondary assist. Graf made it 3-1 on a short-handed goal with eight minutes remaining, and Trouba added his 78 seconds later, set up by Graf and Darnell Nurse, who was leaving the penalty box when he received the puck. The Senators, coming off an emotional win over the Florida Panthers, would record the last 12 shots on goal in the second, but Askarov was up to the task each time. That included a lunging glove save from behind his back to keep Batherson from scoring on what was an open net. The posts were also unkind to the Senators. Carter Yakemchuk had a first-period shot that was initially ruled a goal overturned after replay showed it hit the crossbar and a post. Claude Giroux also found the post twice. Stutzle scored on a delayed penalty to give Ottawa the 1-0 lead with 13:44 left in the opening period, but Allen tied it less than five minutes later. Ottawa outshot San Jose 17-6 in the final period. Spence made it 4-2 with 13:36 to go. Ersson was pulled with 3:55 remaining after San Jose's Macklin Celebrini was called for tripping. That allowed the Sharks to add to their lead. --Field Level Media