sharks vs senators brings Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks to Ottawa Sunday at 5: 00 p. m. ET as both clubs press for playoff position; projected lineups, goalie decisions and late injuries shape a crucial meeting in the race. The Senators will again start goaltender Linus Ullmark after a 23-save shutout; the Sharks counter with a roster featuring Celebrini and a recall that could put Laurent Brossoit in net. This game matters because both teams sit inside tight playoff windows and must manage fatigue coming off recent wins.
Sharks Vs Senators projected lineups
San Jose forward lines are listed as Collin Graf — Macklin Celebrini — Will Smith; Adam Gaudette — Alexander Wennberg — Kiefer Sherwood; William Eklund — Michael Misa — Tyler Toffoli; Barclay Goodrow — Zack Ostapchuk — Pavol Regenda. Scratched are Ryan Reaves, Nick Leddy and Philipp Kurashev. Injured for the Sharks are Ty Dellandrea (lower body), Yaroslav Askarov (lower body) and Igor Chernyshov (undisclosed); Chernyshov left the game Saturday and did not return, opening the possibility that Ryan Reaves might take his place. Laurent Brossoit was recalled from San Jose’s American Hockey League club on Friday and could play his first NHL game since April 28, 2024.
Ottawa forward group lists Drake Batherson — Tim Stutzle — Claude Giroux; Brady Tkachuk — Dylan Cozens — Ridly Greig; Nick Cousins — Shane Pinto — Michael Amadio; Warren Foegele — Lars Eller — Fabian Zetterlund. Scratched for the Senators are Stephen Halliday and Kurtis MacDermid. Injuries include Jake Sanderson (upper body), who remains out, and Nick Jensen (lower body), listed day to day. Linus Ullmark will start again after making 23 saves in a 2-0 win against the Anaheim Ducks in Ottawa on Saturday.
Injuries, goalie choices and immediate matchup priorities
Goaltending is a focal point: Ullmark returns to the crease for Ottawa following his shutout performance, while San Jose could turn to Brossoit after his AHL recall and backup appearance in the Sharks’ 4-2 win the night before. The Senators face the challenge of slowing Celebrini, a teenager with 94 points in 64 games, and must adapt their defensive minutes without Jake Sanderson. San Jose will also be monitoring the status of Igor Chernyshov after he exited the prior game, and the Sharks note multiple scratched players that shift depth usage.
Standings context shapes urgency: Ottawa begins play five points back of competing wild-card positions and carries games in hand that increase pressure on a stretch run, while San Jose sits in a Western wild-card slot and is separated by narrow margins from conference rivals. Both teams have recently played and won, creating the usual back-to-back fatigue considerations and strategic choices over which goaltenders to deploy.
What happens next
The immediate next development to watch is whether Laurent Brossoit draws into the Sharks’ lineup after his recall and whether Linus Ullmark sustains the form that produced a 23-save shutout in Ottawa Saturday. The Senators’ priority will be to contain Macklin Celebrini, whose production as a teenager makes him the key matchup. Expect lineup confirmations and any late injury updates before puck drop Sunday at 5: 00 p. m. ET; final decisions on scratches and goaltender deployment will determine how the sharks vs senators game unfolds and shape playoff outlooks for both clubs.
