After absolutely dominating the first 35 minutes of the game, the Ottawa Senators blew a 3-0 lead and lost in regulation to the Nashville Predators.

No time to waste. Let’s get to grading.

ForwardsTim Stutzle: C-

Stutzle’s cross-checking penalty in the third period led to the Preds’ 3-3 goal. He was on the wrong side of a couple missed calls, but he was looking for penalties all night, and referees do not appreciate that. Stutzle was decent offensively; he maybe forced a few too many plays that resulted in turnovers. He should be praised for his penalty killing; his defensive efforts and ability to run out the clock was a big reason the Sens survived a four-minute PK in the third.

Brady Tkachuk: B-

Tkachuk drove the net utilizing strong puck protection multiple times, and was mixing it up in scrums. He set a great screen on Dylan Cozens’ 3-0 tip goal. Tkachuk was caught looking around for someone to cover on Steven Stamkos’ 4-3 hat trick goal late in the game.

Fabian Zetterlund: D

He took a needless double-minor for a high-stick early in the third period that gave Nashville all the momentum.

Ridly Greig: A

Greig used his newfound blazing speed to race past Predators defenceman Nicolas Hague, cut to the net and slip the puck between Saros’ pads. Greig has been one of the best players in the NHL at even strength the past week and a half. He has seven points (two goals, five assists) in his past five games. He was getting under the skin of the opponent with ease on Thursday, and drew a favourable hooking call.

Dylan Cozens: B+

Cozens extended his point streak to five games with a great deflection on an Artem Zub point shot for the 3-0 goal. He also had a huge block in the third when the score was tied in the third.

Shane Pinto: C+

For a guy who couldn’t miss at the start of the season, Pinto has been shockingly snakebitten recently. He rang a wrist shot off the inside of the post on the rush in the first, and has just two goals in his past 16 games. A brutal giveaway in the dying moments of the opening frame immediately led to three Nashville scoring chances, but he was bailed out by James Reimer.

Michael Amadio: C+

He made a great stretch pass to Greig on the 2-0 goal. Uncharacteristically, Amadio had three giveaways. His puck management has been rather poor as of late.

Claude Giroux: C-

Giroux has been one of the best forwards on the team this season, but it simply wasn’t his night. He typically finds a number of ways to make a positive impact, and he just couldn’t against Nashville, finishing without a point, shot or hit, but recording two giveaways.

Stephen Halliday: A

Hours after being recalled from Belleville of the American Hockey League, Halliday scored his first NHL goal, jamming in a rebound in the crease. It was the perfect performance to start his third stint with the big club this season. Halliday remained his creative self in the offensive zone, had three shots, and laid a couple of big hits, though he only got credit for one. His 200-foot game was solid.

Nick Cousins: A+

Cousins’ forecheck and puck retrieval were incredible. He has been a force for the fourth line recently, and maybe the best player in the Sens’ bottom six for weeks. Cousins won a ton of puck battles in 11:04 of ice time. His hard work along the walls led to Halliday’s goal.

Lars Eller: B+

His wraparound led to Halliday’s 1-0 goal. A couple shifts later, Eller blocked a Nashville clearing attempt, drove the slot and got a good shot off. He finished with three shots in 10 minutes of ice time.

RelatedDefencemenJake Sanderson: A-

Yet another massive block from Jake Sanderson in a potentially game-changing moment; he took a Jonathan Marchessault slap shot to the right leg on a crucial 4-on-3 penalty kill in the second. Sanderson had two secondary assists.

Artem Zub: B+

Zub had one shift early on when he paid the price for being too cute with a couple clearing attempts, and from that point on, he didn’t mess around. He made a great stretch pass to Pinto in the first, and directed a perfect wrist shot for a tip on Cozens’ 3-0 goal. Zub took one of the weakest one-handed slashing calls I’ve ever seen. Rest assured, he was deducted no points for the referee’s mistake.

Tyler Kleven: B+

Kleven threw a big hit on Ozzy Wiesblatt late in the first period and then handed the Predators winger two crosschecks while he laid on the ground for good measure. Kleven crossed the line and didn’t get caught. That’s exactly what a hulking defenceman like himself should do.

Jordan Spence: B

Kleven’s hard-nosed game is rubbing off on his D partner. Instead of bracing for impact, Spence is initiating contact with confidence, and his overall defensive game has really come along. The pair are a combined plus-8 in the past six games.

Nick Jensen: C+

Jensen was relatively reliable in his own end and was able to get a couple of quality shots through from the point. He had three blocks. In the end, it was his lost battle with Ryan O’Reilly that led to the 4-3 goal.

Thomas Chabot: B-

Chabot had a quiet night, but he didn’t make many mistakes, other than maybe losing Stamkos a little on the game-winner. The D corps as a whole played solidly. This loss was mostly on the forwards.

GoalieJames Reimer: B-

He made two miraculous saves when it was all Ottawa in the first 35 minutes, but couldn’t bail his team out in the third. Still, Reimer’s performance was much better than the .840 save percentage on the stat sheet.

Now it’s time for your take; tell us in the comment section which Senators impressed you and who needs to improve their game.