You might have heard this one before.

The Senators come out firing on all cylinders in the first period, significantly out-shooting and out-chancing the opposition, but are unable to score.

Goaltender Linus Ullmark plays well, but he can’t make that one extra save his team needs, and the opposing netminder steals the game for his squad.

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

Forwards

Tim Stutzle: A-

Stutzle fought hard all game to solve Logan Thompson, recording four shots and setting up teammates, once feeding Drake Batherson with a cross-ice pass for a dangerous one-timer, and later sending a lead pass to Ridly Greig for a chance all alone. Justin Sourdif made a strong defensive play in the third to tie up Stutzle, who was looking to redirect a centring pass from Jordan Spence. Minutes later, the Senators tried the same play with the net empty, and Stutzle beared down to fight off a defender and tip Claude Giroux’s pass through Thompson’s legs for the 2-1 marker.

Claude Giroux: B-

Giroux was just OK until he made a great pass to Stutzle for the Senators’ only goal of the game with a couple minutes remaining. Giroux, who seemed a little behind the play at times and not his strongest in puck battles, had three shots and a takeaway in 13:20 of ice time.

Drake Batherson: B-

Batherson hit a post on a one-timer on the power play in the first period. He was solid on the forecheck in the opening frame, ripping a puck out of the hands of a Washington defender and nearly finding a teammate in front, but faded as the game went on.

Brady Tkachuk: C+

Tkachuk is paid to score big goals, and he has one non-empty-net goal in his past nine games. He tried a between-the-legs shot at the edge of the crease in the first, and Dylan Cozens nearly buried the rebound. Tkachuk had a solid backcheck later in the period, hustling to catch up with Tom Wilson and waiting until the perfect moment to lift his stick and disrupt his shot. The captain won several key offensive zone face-offs while the Sens pressed late in the third. He wasn’t enough of a presence in front of Thompson.

Dylan Cozens: B-

Cozens was hard on loose pucks to keep the play alive in the offensive zone. He got off a strong backhand from the left slot in the first and just missed scoring on a Tkachuk rebound later in the period. Those would be the only noteworthy scoring chances of the game for him, however. He finished with one shot and one hit in 18:25.

Ridly Greig: B+

Greig’s newfound poise with the puck this season is allowing him to be much more of a threat on the rush. He turned a Capital defender inside out with a deke in the first and then got a good shot off. He definitely had his chances on Wednesday, unable to score in all alone in the second. Greig could’ve provided better coverage of Alex Ovechkin on the 1-0 goal.

Shane Pinto: B

Pinto showed a lot of fight in netfront battles, but nothing went in. His rebound chance on the rush in the second period was batted out of the air by Matt Roy on the goal line. Pinto took a nasty hit to the head from Wilson that went uncalled.

Michael Amadio: B+

The third line had some seriously dominant shifts in the offensive zone, winning a ton of 50-50 pucks. Amadio, Pinto and Nick Cousins were desperate all game and created a ton of scoring chances. Amadio drew a slashing call in the third with good puck protection.

Nick Cousins: A-

Cousins was a thorn in the side of Wilson all game, and came out a net positive on penalties. He took two massive hits from the Washington power forward on one shift and ended up drawing a holding penalty when he went back for more seconds later. Cousins took a slashing penalty due to Martin Fehervary refusing to grip his stick tighter than you should hold a baby bird. Cousins nearly scored in the second, beating Thompson five-hole and having the trickling puck take a right turn and hit the post. He drew another penalty when sticking up for Pinto after Wilson threw a bad hit.

Warren Foegele: B-

Foegele, like many Senators forwards, created some quality opportunities, but couldn’t make good. He was robbed by Thompson’s left pad at the edge of the crease in the first, and fed Fabian Zetterlund for a Grade A slot chance in the second.

Lars Eller: C+

On a night when he didn’t really have the legs, Eller made some smart passes to advance the puck on the rush. He had one shot and one hit in 11:42.

Fabian Zetterlund: B-

Zetterlund had two solid chances to score. He attempted to go short side on Thompson from the right face-off dot in the first, but was denied. Skating onto a puck down mainstreet in the second, he ripped a snap shot off of the Washington netminder’s left shoulder.

Defenders

Artem Zub: B+

Zub завершил игру с результатом -2, но контролировал ситуацию, блокируя соперника перед обоими голами, которые он видел на льду. Когда Овечкин забил, он контролировал Антони Бёвилье, а когда Уилсон забил, Зуб контролировал Алиаксея Протаса.

Томас Чабот: B-

Этен Фрэнк вырвался от Чабота в первом периоде, что должно было привести к легкому открытому голу, но шайба не попала ему в руки. Чабот был хорош в атаке, активно участвуя в атаке и неизбежно находя Пинто у ворот во втором периоде. Стратегия Оттавы в ситуации большинства изменилась во втором периоде, и вместо поиска проходных передач Чабот и Джордан Спенс сделали несколько мощных бросков с точки. Однако, форварды не создали достаточно хаоса впереди, чтобы эта стратегия сработала.

Джордан Спенс: A

Наблюдать за тем, как Спенс перешел от стабильного места в запасе к одному из лучших защитников “Сенс”, было действительно впечатляюще. Он стал одним из лучших защитников, заполнивших место в отсутствие Джейка Сандерсона, надежно защищая зону и проявляя креативность в другой части площадки. В первом периоде Спенс выполнил передачу от защитника к защитнику, чтобы сохранить игру в атаке. Во втором периоде он активировался по правому флангу, чтобы найти Грега впереди для перенаправления. Спенс сделал два броска за 24:04, что является вторым по длительности времени на льду в команде.

Тайлер Клевен: B

Kleven dealt with a heavy Washington forecheck quite well, showing little panic when pressed, able to get off the little passes that brought the puck to safety. He had a team-high four blocks.

Nikolas Matinpalo: C

Matinpalo got outmuscled early by Brandon Duhaime and Justin Sourdif down low, and though his skating allowed him to stay with opposing forwards, he was slow to react and was too often chasing the play.

Dennis Gilbert: C

Gilbert failed to box out his man in front on his first shift of the game, but saved a potential goal by going down on a knee to block a shot in the crease. He jumped up in the play later in the frame to one-time a pass from Foegele. Gilbert started his stint with the Senators last week somewhat matching the NHL pace, but he’s slowed down slightly in the past two games.

Goalie

Linus Ullmark: A-

Ullmark got caught cheating on the 2-0 goal, banking on Wilson opting for a centring pass instead of shooting short side. But really, this was one of Ullmark’s better starts as of late. He made some really key saves that could’ve been difference-makers for Ottawa, like when he robbed Ryan Leonard with the left pad on a breakaway in the third.

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

Related

• Senators player grades: March 15 vs. Sharks
• Senators player grades: March 14 vs. Ducks