The Sharks finally won in regulation, and they needed their goalie to do it.
San Jose beat the Ottawa Senators 6-2 on Thursday night at Canadian Tire Centre, earning its first regulation win of the season in the team’s 11th game. Each of the Sharks’ first five victories had come in overtime or a shootout.
Yaroslav Askarov stopped 41 of 43 shots, a career high, topping the 39 he made in a December 2024 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. Initially, he was credited with 40 saves but after the game the NHL amended his total to 41.
Askarov said his game has been trending up even when the results were not there.
“Feels like every game I feel better and better, the last few games, even like the games before when I couldn’t find a way to win, but I also felt good,” Askarov told reporters. “Just like need to keep it going, it’s a long season.”
He described his highlight save as a read that went wrong. Askarov said he was a little late on the first pass, and Tim Stützle’s fake left him with only one option.
“I was a little bit late, that’s why I had no more options, only like diving to the right side,” Askarov said.
The Senators, who entered 7-3-0, pushed hard. Stützle gave Ottawa a 1-0 lead early in the first period, and Nolan Allan tied it for San Jose. Ottawa then fired the last 12 shots of the second period, and Askarov stopped every one.
The Sharks broke the game open with three goals in 4:05 midway through the second period. Tyler Toffoli scored on the power play, and Collin Graf made it 3-1 shorthanded, redirecting a Ty Dellandrea pass on the penalty kill.
Jacob Trouba scored 78 seconds later, set up by Graf and Darnell Nurse, who received the puck as he was leaving the penalty box. Graf and Trouba each finished with a goal and an assist, and Graf’s was his fourth career shorthanded goal.
Graf credited the penalty kill’s speed up ice for his bigger role there.
“We got a lot of fast guys that have good sticks and can get up there, so we might as well play to our strengths a little bit,” Graf said.
Asked about moving around the lineup, Graf joked that the line stops at the kill.
“Probably no defense. I think PK will be as far defensive as I go,” Graf said. “My versatility was sort of on full display tonight.”
Zack Ostapchuk and Ivar Stenberg added empty-net goals in the final 3:29. Graf said the group still has work to do after the third period.
“I thought I did well, still have stuff to work on for us as a group in the third, but happy we got the win,” Graf said.
San Jose, now 6-4-1, heads to Boston to close the road trip with a regulation win finally on the board.