Spezza scores shootout winner in Senators’ 4-3 victory over Oilers

Sens’ Spezza scores winning goal in SO vs. Oilers

OTTAWA — Jason Spezza scored the winning goal in the shootout for the Ottawa Senators, who twice came from behind to beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 on Tuesday night.

Chris Neil scored his third goal of the season with just under 7 minutes left in regulation to give the Senators a 3-2 lead. Just under 2 minutes later, Gilbert Brule tied the game with a hard shot from the slot that trickled past Ottawa goalie Pascal Leclaire.

Jonathan Cheechoo and Nick Foligno also scored for the Senators. Leclaire made 31 saves.

Dustin Penner and Ethan Moreau had first-period goals for the Oilers, and Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers stopped 22 shots.

Leclaire denied Andrew Cogliano on a breakaway midway through the third period. Moments later he stopped Denis Grebeshkov with a toe save in close to keep the game tied.

Down 2-1 after 20 minutes, the Senators scored the only goal of the second period. Foligno took a behind-the-back pass from Ryan Shannon and put a backhand shot past Drouin-Deslauriers to tie it.

The Oilers sandwiched first-period goals around Cheechoo’s first with the Senators. The first goal was originally credited to Steve Staios, which would have been the defenseman’s first of the season. The goal was changed to Penner after replays showed the puck hitting Penner before Leclaire knocked it into his own net with the shaft of his stick.

Less than 3 minutes after Cheechoo scored, Moreau gave the Oilers their second lead of the night. He took advantage of miscommunication in the corner between Peter Regin and Alex Picard, stealing the puck and stuffing it past Leclaire.

NOTES: Ryan O’Marra made his NHL debut with the Oilers. He was selected 15th overall in 2005 by the New York Islanders and was traded to the Oilers as part of the Ryan Smyth deal. … Senators captain Daniel Aldredsson had his nine-game point streak halted. It was only the second time this season he has been held off the score sheet. … Senators D Anton Volchenkov missed his fifth straight game because of an elbow injury.