Batherson paces Senators to 7-4 win over Sharks

OTTAWA — Drake Batherson scored a pair of goals for the Ottawa Senators, including the winner, in a 7-4 win over the San Jose Sharks Sunday.

Both teams were playing the back half of back-to-backs and it showed at times.

Laurent Brossoit, making his first NHL start since April 18, 2024, made 17 saves for the Sharks (32-27-6), while Linus Ullmark, coming off a 23-save shutout against the Ducks, made his third straight start and turned away 19 shots.

Tied 4-4 Batherson gave the Senators (34-23-9) the lead with 6:52 remaining when an Artem Zub shot bounced in off him when he turned to protect himself. Dylan Cozens added the insurance marker beating Brossoit high glove just over a minute later and Brady Tkachuk added an empty-net goal.

San Jose had started the third trailing 4-3 but Michael Misa evened the score when he took a pass at centre, skated in and wristed a shot past Ullmark.

Trailing 2-1 to start the second the Senators ended it leading 4-3.

Ottawa tied the game early in the period when Warren Foegele beat Brossoit five-hole.

Midway through the period Macklin Celebrini won a puck battle along the boards and found Collin Graf in front. Graf won the puck battle and beat Ullmark.

Ottawa took its first lead scoring twice in a span of 65 seconds.

Fabian Zetterlund, a former member of the Sharks, tied it 3-3 with a one-timer on the power play and just over a minute later Zetterlund fed Tyler Kleven who beat Brossoit high short side.

San Jose opened the scoring early in the first when Mario Ferraro buried a pass from Shakir Mukhamadullin.

Ottawa got lucky on the power play when Batherson’s backhand pass went in off Ferraro’s skate to make it 1-1.

The Sharks regained the lead midway through the period when Tyler Toffoli was left all alone in front and tipped Ferraro’s shot past Ullmark.

TAKEAWAYS

Senators: Ottawa’s power play which has struggled of late was solid going 2-for-3.

Sharks: San Jose’s defence left Brossoit exposed a number of times throughout the game.

KEY MOMENT

With San Jose trailing 4-3 Brossoit came up with a big save on a Tim Stutzle breakaway in the final seconds of the second period.

KEY STAT

Celebrini (65 games played) reached the 60-assist mark in the fewest games by a Sharks skater since Erik Karlsson (63 GP in 2022-23).

UP NEXT

Sharks: Visit the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.

Senators: Visit the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 15, 2026.