Senators remain alive with 3-1 win in Game 5

OTTAWA -- Rookie Jason Spezza provided the Ottawa Senators the offense they needed to stay alive in the playoffs.

Spezza, making his NHL playoff debut, had a goal and assisted on Martin Havlat's game-winner, lifting the Senators to a 3-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Monday night.

Todd White also scored for the Senators, who cut the Devils' lead to 3-2. The best-of-seven series shifts back to New Jersey for Game 6 on Wednesday.

The win not only ended Ottawa's three-game losing streak, but also reversed the team's troubling past of going 0-6 when facing elimination.

Scott Stevens scored for the Devils, who appeared to have the series momentum coming off Saturday's 5-2 victory. New Jersey, attempting to reach the Stanley Cup finals for the third time in four years, has never lost a series it led 3-1.

The series winner will face the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, who are resting after completing a sweep of the Minnesota Wild in the Western Conference finals.

After the teams traded second-period goals, Havlat put the Senators up for good on a broken play with 12:01 remaining.