A Short-Handed Sharks Team Passed Its First Adversity Test

The San Jose Sharks secured their first regulation victory of the season by defeating the Ottawa Senators 6-2 on Thursday. Despite being outshot 43-28 and playing without injured center Alexander Wennberg, San Jose held on behind a 41-save performance from goaltender Yaroslav Askarov. Head coach Ryan Warsofsky moved winger Collin Graf to second-line center, a decision that proved successful as Graf registered a goal and an assist.

Ottawa mounted a heavy third-period surge, outshooting San Jose 17-6, but Askarov kept the Senators at bay following a goal by Jordan Spence. Tyler Toffoli scored on the power play, Jacob Trouba contributed a goal and an assist, and Zack Ostapchuk and Ivar Stenberg added shorthanded goals to seal the Sharks' first win in Ottawa since 2021.