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Spezza helps Sens edge Jackets

Jan 29, 2014 - 3:44 AM Columbus, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Jason Spezza scored the game-winner with just under five minutes to play, propelling the Ottawa Senators to a 3-2 triumph over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday at Nationwide Arena.

James Wisniewski's power-play goal 7:16 into the third period tied the game at 2-2, but Columbus forward Nathan Horton went off for tripping at 13:08 and Spezza pounded a loose puck into the back of the net amid a scrum in front for the deciding goal with just six seconds left on the Horton minor.

Stephane Da Costa scored his first two goals of the season to account for Ottawa's other offense, while Craig Anderson stopped 34 shots to help the Sens wrap up a four-game road trip at 2-1-1.

Wisniewski and Cam Atkinson each notched a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets, who have lost three straight on the heels of a club-record eight-game win streak.

Curtis McElhinney made 25 saves in defeat.

An early power play helped the Senators strike first, as Columbus forward Matt Calvert went off for holding at 6:52 of the opening frame.

The Blue Jackets disrupted an Ottawa rush in the slot in their own end just over a minute into the man advantage, but Da Costa swooped in and swatted the bouncing puck past McElhinney for a 1-0 lead at 8:06.

"Tonight we weren't ready to start the game," Columbus center Brandon Dubinsky admitted. "The first period was awful. They beat us to all the pucks, won all the races."

Da Costa doubled Ottawa's lead just under 6 1/2 minutes into the second when he pounded the puck through McElhinney's five-hole off a nice behind-the-net feed from Spezza to make it 2-0 at 6:24.

"The second one was a really good pass from Spezz (Spezza) to the backdoor and I just tapped it in," Da Costa said of his second goal of the game.

Columbus cut the margin in half on the power play with eight minutes left in the second, taking advantage of some nifty passing to get within a goal.

Wisniewski picked up the puck near the right point and fed it to the low right side for Calvert, who slid a no-look pass between his legs to the low left side, where Atkinson jammed it home for his 16th of the season at 12:00.

Wisniewski scorched a heavy slapper past Anderson's blocker from atop the right circle to tie the game at 2-2 just over seven minutes into the third.

Game Notes

Da Costa recorded his first career multi-goal game. In his fourth NHL season, the 24-year-old Frenchman has posted five goals and three assists ... Ottawa went 2-for-4 on the power play, while Columbus finished 2-for-5 ... Ottawa's Erik Karlsson collected his 38th assist of the season.