SNAPSHOTS: Playing against Alex Ovechkin is special for Senators ...

The posters of Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are still on the bedroom wall at Drake Batherson’s parents’ house.

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Both NHL superstars are not only generational talents, they’re heroes to so many aspiring NHLers, an impact that’s still being felt.

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With the NHL dream tucked away in the back of Batherson’s mind, he wondered if, one day, maybe he could play at the same level.

On Wednesday night, Batherson, 25, and the Senators played against Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. There was no fawning over the 38-year-old Ovechkin, a deadly sniper who has 822 career goals, second all-time to Wayne Gretzky’s 894.

It didn’t go well Wednesday for the Capitals or Ovechkin. The Senators handed the Capitals a good old-fashioned one-sided butt kicking, winning 6-1.

It was business as usual for the Senators. Just another game. But, still, any game with Ovechkin on the ice remains special: For the fans and for those tasked with preventing him from putting the puck into the net.

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“He’s a natural goal scorer, one of a kind,” Batherson said. “He’s an absolute animal. He’s been so dominant for so many years. It’s an honour playing against him and the other superstars in the league.”

“When I was young, I was watching these guys,” said Senators defenceman Artem Zub, who scored a second-period goal Wednesday. “Now I get to play against them, they’re great players. I really enjoy it.”

How dominant has No. 8 been? Ovechkin has scored 50 or more goals nine times in an NHL career that goes back to 2005. He scored 42 last year despite missing nine games. He can still put the puck in the net in bunches.

Against the Senators, he had a first-period assist on a goal by John Carlson.

What makes Ovechkin special?

“The scoring ability he’s got. Every time he has the puck on his stick, it could go in,” Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, who’s 24, said. “You have to be aware. He’s been doing it for so long now, he’s done so much for the league and for the next generation.

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“It’s guys like him you’ve watched growing up. He’s been a role model (for a lot of kids), a great ambassador (for the NHL). You remember the highlight-reel goals and, with him, it’s also the hits and the physical play. I always enjoyed watching him. It’s fun to be able to play against (the league’s long-tenured stars). It’s that feeling, that moment, ‘Holy cow, I’m in the NHL with him.’ These are games you circle on the calendar.”

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Dominik Kubalik had a 30-goal season as an NHL rookie with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2019-20. He followed that up with seasons of 17 (in 56 games) and 15 goals before landing with the Detroit Red Wings last year (20 goals).

Dealt to the Senators as part of the package the Wings spent to acquire Alex DeBrincat, the 28-year-old winger had gone scoreless in his first three games in Ottawa.

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“It’s on me to step out and create something,” he said ahead of Wednesday night’s game. “My legs are going, I’m winning battles, I’m shooting the puck a lot, I’m creating those Grade-A chances. That’s what I’m looking for. Sometimes it’s not about goals, you have to take little steps.”

He believes the goals will come.

“If you’re a goal scorer or if you’re a passer, you want to be at your best,” he said. “I want to score goals. I want to make something happen. But, on the other hand, you need to help everyone you play with. That’s what I’m trying to do. I’m pretty sure eventually it will come.”

Batherson has keen interest in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, which will start its training camps next month in advance of its inaugural season.

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Batherson’s sister, Mae, is a defenceman at St. Lawrence University after moving over from Syracuse University as a grad transfer.

“It’s super exciting (for the league startup). I have a close relationship with a few girls who are on the Olympic team. My sister looks up to them. I got to skate with Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey and Blayre Turnbull over the summer. I was amazed at the skill level and speed. My sister is super pumped for the league. It’s amazing for the young girls to have something to look up to, like we looked up to NHL players.”

How cool would it be if some of the Senators players went to the TD Place arena to watch some of the Ottawa team’s games?

“We were talking about it, we’re going to try and get out to a few games,” Batherson said. “It’ll be fun to check it out.”

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The “We Want Pinto” chants from the crowd began midway through the third period … The Senators rang two shots off the goalpost during a power play late in the third period … Ottawa is one of 13 franchises Ovechkin has scored 30-plus regular-season goals against — only Wayne Gretzky (16) and Phil Esposito (14) have done that against more different franchises … Ottawa’s homestand continues Saturday with a 1 p.m. game against the Detroit Red Wings … Going into Wednesday’s game, Capitals centre Nicklas Backstrom ranks third in the NHL in assists since making his NHL debut on Oct. 5, 2007, behind only Crosby (806) and Patrick Kane (786), and seventh in points, behind Ovechkin (1,287), Crosby (1,284), Kane (1,237), Evgeni Malkin (1,150), Anze Kopitar (1,081) and Steven Stamkos (1,060).

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