COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In a game in which both teams badly needed a win to stay in the playoff picture, Jason Spezza did what captains do. Spezza scored a power-play goal with 5 minutes left and Stephane Da Costa had the other two goals to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night. "It was a tie game and we got a faceoff play and then a little bit of puck luck in front of the net," Spezza said. "Johnny on the spot." After Nathan Horton went off for tripping at 13:08, the Senators took advantage late in the power play. Colin Greenings pass through the crease was deflected by Blue Jackets defenceman Fedor Tyutin, with Spezza closest to the loose puck. His first shot was blocked by Tyutin, but he took another whack at it and got it past McElhinney for the tiebreaker. Spezza, named captain in September, is having a solid if unspectacular season. He also picked up his 23rd assist to go with his 14th goal. But he came into the game with a minus-21 plus/minus rating. "No doubt Ive had much better years in the past," he said. "But theres a lot of hockey left, and I have a lot to give." Craig Anderson had 34 saves for the Senators, who had lost two in a row and four of five but picked up a critical win against another team theyre battling for contention in the Eastern Conference. "Youve just got to be patient," Anderson said while improving to 17-10-7 on the year. "Thats the key to any position, especially goalie. You start chasing (the puck), they can make you look silly or foolish. Patience is a virtue." Down a goal headed into the third period, the Blue Jackets tied it on a power play. Anderson turned away one hard shot by James Wisniewski from the top of the right circle, but moments later the Columbus defenceman got another chance and this time he found the net. Matt Calvert helped set it up with a screen that completely blocked Andersons vision. The goal was Wisniewskis fifth of the year and came at the 7:16 mark. But that just set up Spezzas big goal. Anderson made several clutch saves in the waning moments after the Blue Jackets pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. Up 1-0 after the opening period, the Senators made it 2-0 at the 6:24 mark of the second -- and again it was Da Costa getting the goal. Spezza corraled a loose puck along the back wall and waited patiently before feeding Da Costa for his second of the night and second of the season. "Its real good to see him score," coach Paul MacLean said. "He was a good player for us tonight. Since hes come up, hes been good." Calvert carried the puck around the back of the goal and fed it to the point, eventually getting it back at the right doorstep. He slipped a blind, between-his-legs and backward pass to Atkinson, who had an empty net for his 16th at the 12-minute mark. Ottawas Milan Michalek split two defenders in the high slot but lost the puck, with Da Costa trailing the play. He jabbed at the puck and got it through heavy traffic at the 8:06 mark of the first period. The first one was just lying there on the power play so I kind of jumped on it," said Da Costa, playing only his eighth game with the Senators this season. "The second one was a real good pass from Spez to the backdoor and I just tapped it in." The Blue Jackets, playing their third game in four nights and second of a back-to-back, looked tired and sluggish most of the evening. "It took a long time (to get everyone skating) and some guys still arent going," Columbus coach Todd Richards said. "To me, thats it right there. Were a good team when we have 18 skaters going and we were missing too many tonight." NOTES: Columbus LW Blake Comeau saw his first action after missing nine games with a sprained medial-collateral ligament in his left knee. ... Ottawa improved to 12-9-5 on the road this year, better than the 11-11-5 the Senators are at home. ... Senators D Chris Phillips did not play after suffering a minor injury during Saturdays 6-3 loss at Carolina. Alex English Nuggets Jersey . -- The Denver Broncos retired John Elways No. Tyler Lydon Nuggets Jersey .com) - Fair Grounds commences its road to the Kentucky Derby Saturday with the 71st running of the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes. http://www.nuggetsprostore.com/kids-jama...nuggets-jersey/. "I wasnt waving the pom-poms to be involved with it to start with," Carlyle said after a 5-2 win over Carolina on Sunday night. "Its been a trying time. "Specifically we havent played as well as wed like to hang our hat on. Alex English Jersey . Thaddeus Young scored seven of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, Evan Turner added 22 points, and the 76ers hung on for their first road win since Nov. 1, beating the depleted Los Angeles Lakers 111-104 on Sunday night. Tyler Lydon Jersey .Mateo Kovacic and Andrea Ranocchia scored for Inter, which had goalkeeper Samir Handanovic to thank for several crucial saves.Its an important victory against a Chievo side which plays well, Mancini said.MONTREAL -- Patrice Brisebois is leaving the Montreal Canadiens for personal reasons, a source tells The Canadian Press. Brisebois, who has served as director of player development for the past two years, told general manager Marc Beergevin of his intentions earlier this week, the source said.dddddddddddd. The 43-year-old Montreal native played 16 of his 18 NHL seasons for the Habs. Between Montreal and the Colorado Avalanche he played 1,009 career games. ' ' '