Jason Spezza News: Pro Sports Daily

Spezza shines as Senators down Lightning 3-2

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November 6

Ottawa Citizen

"That 7-1 home ice beating the Ottawa Senators put on the Tampa Bay Lightning a couple of weeks ago was an aberration. This time, other than Chris Neil levelling Lightning rookie Victor Hedman with a clean, but devastating hit, there was no beat down. After letting a 2-1 lead get away, the Senators needed an power-play goal in overtime to handle the Lightning 3-2. Nice timing, Jason Spezza, on your first goal of the season. This is how it will be most nights: the Senators trying to eke out a victory in a tight game, needing big saves from Pascal Leclaire (who needed his best friends, the posts). The home team was in need of a fix after consecutive losses and talked about the importance of ..."

Spezza to the rescue

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November 6

Ottawa Sun

"Jason Spezza's timing was perfect. Returning to the lineup after missing two games with what's believed to be a back/groin injury, the Senators centre fired his first goal of the season past Antero Niittymaki at 4:17 of overtime to give Ottawa a 3-2 win over Tampa Bay at Scotiabank Place. While the Senators came out of the dressing room to salute the troops on Canadian Forces Night, those left in the crowd of 17,511 saluted them right back. Mike Fisher and Daniel Alfredsson also scored for the Senators, who halted a two-game losing skid. Goalie Pascal Leclaire made 18 saves. "To get one in overtime, get the win and get my first is always nice," said Spezza, who hadn't scored since April ..."

Spezza looks ready to play

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November 5

Ottawa Sun

"Jason Spezza appears ready to return. And, it looks like Jonathan Cheechoo is going to get demoted. Getting ready to play the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight at Scotiabank Place, Spezza looks like he is ready to return after missing two games with a back/groin injury that has hampered him all season. "You bring back an elite player. He's a lot closer to being 100% than he was," said coach Cory Clouston. "That is what the rest was about. He's obviously a big part of our team.""

Spezza a maybe

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November 5

Ottawa Citizen

"The Ottawa Senators will be crossing their fingers that centre Jason Spezza's back feels OK when he shows up for Thursday morning's pre-game skate. That will determine whether he returns after a two-game absence and plays Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning or whether he sits again. Coach Cory Clouston was buoyed by Spezza's performance in Wednesday's practice, but said he'd reserve judgment until Thursday morning. "He looked good, so as long as everything holds true to the way it was (Wednesday), he'll play," Clouston said. Spezza was upbeat. He has been about the only beneficiary of the long layoff the team has had since playing Atlanta on Saturday afternoon. It was a plus that he ..."

Spezza could return to lineup

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November 5

Ottawa Sun

"The Senators could get a shot in the arm tonight. No, not for H1N1. This isn't Calgary. Centre Jason Spezza, out for the last two games with what's believed to be back trouble, will likely make an unexpected return to the lineup to face the Tampa Bay Lightning at Scotiabank Place. Spezza skated with his teammates Wednesday for the first time this week and if there was no setback overnight, he will be ready to take his place in the lineup. "I felt pretty good. I got through the whole practice and I didn't have to leave. The rest has definitely helped it, but the only way you can tell how it's going to be is by skating," said Spezza, who is still looking for his first goal, but has eight ..."

Spezza returns to the ice

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November 4

Ottawa Citizen

"Injured Ottawa Senators centre Jason Spezza could be back in the lineup Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Spezza skated with his teammates Wednesday or the first time since suffering an upper body injury last week. He has missed two games so far and was expected to sit out Thursday. Coach Cory Clouston said his top centre looked fine and, if nothing changes in the next 24 hours, No. 19 will suit up. "It's the type of injury — you can't just put a timeframe on it," Clouston said. "He had a real good day yesterday and he looked like he was real good today.""

Spezza and Volchenkov improving

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November 3

Ottawa Citizen

"Injured Ottawa Senators centre Jason Spezza (back) and defenceman Anton Volchenkov (elbow) are both feeling better today, but there's no change in their return dates. Coach Cory Clouston, who gave his morning press briefing surrounded by roadies and concert gear (Metallica is playing Scotiabank Place tonight), said both players had experienced "significant improvement" overnight. Volchenkov is expected back sometime in the next ten days and Spezza is doubtful for Thursday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning."

Spezza out another week

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November 3

Ottawa Sun

"The Senators expect to have to wait until at least the end of the week before Jason Spezza will be ready to return to the lineup. The Ottawa centre wasn't on the ice today and the team does not expect him to play Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Scotiabank Place. It will be the third straight game Spezza has missed with what's believed to be a back/groin injury which has hampered him since the start of training camp. "He's doubtful for Thursday," said coach Cory Clouston as the team returned to the ice today."

Spezza won't play Saturday, Volchenkov out 3 weeks

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October 30

Ottawa Citizen

"Jason Spezza will miss his second straight game Saturday, when the Ottawa Senators play host to the Atlanta Thrashers. The Senators will also be without defenceman Anton Volchenkov, who suffered an elbow injury Wednesday and is expected to be out for three weeks. Spezza's injury has been labelled as "upper body" injury, but has all the appearances of being a back ailment."

Spezza may sit out game

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October 22

Ottawa Sun

"Playing with an undisclosed nagging injury has been frustrating for Jason Spezza. But after leaving early from yesterday's practice at Scotiabank Place, the Senators centre couldn't help but chuckle as he walked away from the media, providing little in the way of details on the nature or severity of the issue. "Sorry for the vagueness," said Spezza with a smile. With the Nashville Predators in town tonight, the last thing the Senators need is their No. 1 centre hurting. While Spezza is listed as "probable," he admitted he may sit out a few games to see if that helps the injury heal. About 10 minutes into yesterday's practice, Spezza left for the training room and didn't return. Long after ..."

No goals, no worries for Spezza

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October 20

Ottawa Citizen

"Jason Spezza has been in this situation before, so he's not sweating it. Much. At the start of the 2007-08 National Hockey League season, he also went without a goal in the first seven games. He finally got one in his eighth game, the game-winning goal in a 4-3 victory against the Montreal Canadiens, but he went into another slump and did not score again until he notched two goals in the 15th game. He was getting plenty of assists, so it wasn't as if Spezza wasn't carrying his weight: In those first 14 games, he had 16 assists. Goals were hard to come by, though, just like now. The goals eventually came. In 2007-08, Spezza finished with 34, which tied a career high set one season earlier. ..."

Michalek making me better: Spezza

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October 14

Ottawa Citizen

"Coincidence or not, former San Jose Sharks Milan Michalek and Jonathan Cheechoo both turned in their best games with the Ottawa Senators when they joined Jason Spezza on a line. The unit combined for 14 shots (Michalek had five, Cheechoo and Spezza four each) in Monday night's 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins at Scotiabank Place. Michalek, who scored his first goal, also led all Senators in ice time, at 22 minutes 21 seconds. "We're starting to understand each other a little more," Spezza said about playing with Michalek. "We play a little different system than they played in San Jose, so, for Milan, there's a few adjustments. For me, there are a few adjustments. If I have a guy with ..."

Spezza, ex-Sharks show flash in first game together

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October 13

Toronto Sun

"He sent Jonathan Cheechoo and Milan Michalek in for a sweet give-and-go between the two former Sharks that turned into the first goal of the game on this Statement Night at Scotiabank Place. Alas, if only judging by a moment in the third period in which his shout of a curse word could be heard up in the press box, it would also evolve into a frustrating evening for Jason Spezza. His first night flanked by both players acquired for Dany Heatley showed plenty of promise, however. "I thought they were very effective," Senators coach Cory Clouston said of the new Michalek-Spezza-Cheechoo line following the 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. "They generated a lot of opportunities. With any ..."

Just trying to help Spezza out, Neil says

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October 10

Ottawa Citizen

"Jason Spezza and Chris Neil sit beside each other in the Ottawa Senators' dressing room, but they weren't so friendly on the ice at the end of Friday's practice. They ended up in a brief fight that had to be broken up by teammates. There was some slashing in one of the faceoff circles, and then it all started. A couple of glancing blows were thrown before they were separated. Spezza brushed it off. "I don't know what happened," he said. "As teammates, sometimes you get into it. It was just a (spitting) match. I'll buy him lunch, but I knew when he dropped the gloves, it was time to get out of there. Just stay at arm's length." Neil played it tongue-in-cheek, mostly. "(Spezza's) always ..."

Spezza, Neil in scuffle at Senators practice

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October 9

Ottawa Citizen

"Jason Spezza and Chris Neil, seatmates in the Ottawa dressing room, started some fireworks at the end of today's practice with a brief fight. It started when Neil slashed Spezza. Spezza slashed back. At that point, the gloves came off. A couple of glancing blows were thrown before teammates broke up the fight. Spezza brushed it off."

Spezza sits out practice

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October 8

Ottawa Sun

"There was no sign of Jason Spezza at Senators' practice today at Scotiabank Place. But the team says the sniper will be on the ice when the puck is dropped in tomorrow night's home opener against John Tavares and the New York Islanders. Spezza was on the training table for some rehab in the wake of Ottawa's 2-1 win over Toronto on Tuesday. He is apparently suffering from some bumps and bruises and was given the day off for rest and rehab. "He'll be fine tomorrow," said Senators coach Cory Clouston. What is known is the Senators will be without defenceman Filip Kuba (lower body) for the second straight game. Centre Jesse Winchester (right knee) returned to practice today but also will not ..."

It's all about balance for Senators

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October 1

Ottawa Citizen

"Jason Spezza has a message for all those poolies who believe the promise of a more balanced Ottawa Senators scoring attack could somehow mean reduced points for him personally. "With all the options we have, I think I should be able to get more points and the team should win more games," a confident-sounding Spezza said following a workout at Scotiabank Place Wednesday, as the club prepares for Saturday's season opener against the New York Rangers. "I'm not changing my goals. I kind of know what I want to get to. I have tons of individual stuff that I want to achieve, but nothing that I want to (share)." Spezza clearly believes that what's good for the team will also be good for him. And ..."

All eyes on Sens lines

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September 24

Ottawa Sun

"The line combinations used by Senators coach Cory Clouston at this morning's practice will likely stay intact for Friday's final preseason tuneup and -- barring a surprise -- the start of the regular season. With lots of speculation in the wind in the wake of GM Brian Murray's comments on Tuesday that he is looking to move a veteran player or two to open up roster spots, and relieve salary pressure, all eyes were on today's workout combinations. Working from left-centre-right, they were: * Milan Michalek-Jason Spezza-Daniel Alfredsson * Mike Fisher-Peter Regin-Alex Kovalev * Nick Foligno-Ryan Shannon-Jonathan Cheechoo * Jarkko Ruutu-Chris Kelly-Chris Neil"

Cheechoo could line up with Spezza

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September 15

Ottawa Sun

"The Cheechoo Train rolled into town yesterday, determined not to slide off the rails again. As practice wrapped up at Scotiabank Place, newly acquired Jonathan Cheechoo stood along the boards chatting with centre Jason Spezza. Once the Senators' season opens against the Rangers on Oct. 3 at Madison Square Garden, the pair could be spending a lot of time together. Saturday's deal that brought Cheechoo and winger Milan Michalek to the Senators for unhappy Dany Heatley didn't come as a surprise to the former 56-goal scorer, but Cheechoo is hopeful the fresh start will jumpstart his career, which has been on a downslide. "I'm excited. They've got a good young team here with some good veterans. ..."

Spezza discusses Heatley, remains determined to impress Yzerman

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August 25

Calgary Herald

"An intrepid reporter asked Jason Spezza Monday to give the public a peak into the inner psyche of Ottawa teammate Dany Heatley. There must be some hidden reason, the scribe surmised, for Heatley's bizarre demand for a trade from the Senators. "You know him as well as anyone," the reporter began in a media scrum at the Calgary International Airport after players arrived for the Olympic men's hockey orientation camp. "He's been through a trauma in his life that none of us can identify with." In 2003, Dan Snider died from injuries received in a single-vehicle accident involving a sports car driven by Heatley, then Snyder's teammate with the Atlanta Thrashers. "Is there something you can say ..."

'It's not my place to defend him'

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August 25

Ottawa Citizen

"Jason Spezza was asked to give the public a peek into the inner psyche of Ottawa Senators teammate Dany Heatley on Monday. Surely there must be some hidden reason for Heatley's bizarre demand for a trade from the Senators? "You know him as well as anyone," a reporter began in a media scrum at the Calgary airport as players arrived for the Canadian Olympic men's hockey orientation camp. "He has been through a trauma in his life that none of us can identify with." In 2003, Dan Snyder died from injuries he received in a single-vehicle accident involving a sports car driven by Heatley, then Snyder's teammate with the Atlanta Thrashers. "Is there something you can say almost in defence of him a ..."

Camp Canada sounds good to Spezza

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August 12

Ottawa Citizen

"At this point, it appears Jason Spezza's roller-coaster summer will finish off on a high note. The Ottawa Senators centre has received a late invitation to the Olympic team's orientation camp in Calgary Aug. 24-27 after being left off the original 46-player list announced by executive director Steve Yzerman in early July. "I'm excited for the opportunity," Spezza said during a conference call Tuesday. "The way the team is going to be picked is going to be based on how you play in the first half of the year, but being around the systems (and the other players) certainly helps your comfort level." Even though he's effectively replacing injured Anaheim Ducks centre Ryan Getzlaf, Spezza says ..."

Spezza added to Olympic team roster

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August 11

Ottawa Citizen

"Jason Spezza is going to get a kick at the Olympic orientation camp, after all. Hockey Canada announced Tuesday that the Senators centre had been added to the team's roster for the camp, to be held Aug. 24-27 in Calgary. Spezza was originally not included on the 46-player roster announced by Team Canada executive director Steve Yzerman, but an off-season injury to Anaheim centre Ryan Getzlaf appears to have opened up a spot for Spezza."