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Jason Spezza, a fan of the fancy, has had more highlight-worthy goals than the one that came on a centering pass that bounced off Penguins penalty-killer Jordan Staal in Ottawa's 2-1 win in Game 4 of the teams' first-round playoff series Tuesday night.

For that matter, Spezza surely has more impressive moves walking down the sidewalk. Or tying his skates.

But the Senators' top-line center was thrilled with the goal that helped his team take a commanding, 3-1 series lead going into Game 5 tonight at Scotiabank Place.

Spezza, 23, likes to dazzle and has the skill to do it. It's one reason Ottawa selected him second overall in the 2003 draft.

He just doesn't measure his play solely on a wow scale anymore.

It used to be, Spezza always would look for the spectacular play. His extra stickhandling and attempts at slick passes sometimes led to turnovers or frustrated teammates, which led to the Ottawa faithful losing patience and occasionally casting boos his way.

Now he has gotten a little more conservative and pays more attention to his play at both ends.

"That's definitely been part of my game that I've worked on, just being more responsible," Spezza said. "One thing they've really preached is, if we can do things well defensively, we'll get the puck more and then the offense takes care of itself."

It took a considerable amount of nagging for him to get over the offense-at-all-costs approach many players pick up in junior hockey and earlier.

"We were real tough on him early in the year, and we were real tough on him last year," Ottawa coach Bryan Murray said. "We complained about everything he did without the puck. Now he's really grown in that area.

"The last month and a half, I've seen a great change with Jason. His play in his own end has grown so much, it's scary."

Murray rarely uses a true checking line. In this series, he often has tried to match his top line of Spezza and wingers Daniel Alfredsson and Dany Heatley against the Penguins' top line of Art Ross Trophy winner Sidney Crosby and whoever his wingers happen to be.

It's a task that might have been risky with Spezza in the past, but Murray is satisfied with the outcome so far. Crosby has five points in the four games, but he has been quiet for considerable stretches.

"I think it's good for him," Murray said of Spezza's assignment.

Spezza certainly has not abandoned his offense.

He finished second among his teammates with 34 goals and tied for second with 87 points during the regular season. He was second in the NHL to the Penguins' Jordan Staal in shooting percent at 21 (34 of 162).

Spezza credits his coach's close supervision for making him a more well-rounded player.

"Bryan's pretty tough on me," he said. "He's on me all the time. It's made me a better player, though. We have a good relationship. I respect him a lot. He still lets me go out and do what I do, but he also reminds me when I do things he doesn't like.

"Our conversations have become less and less, and that's a good thing."

Spezza said he was like most young players who roared into the league looking to impress and pile up the points.

"It's a little adjustment period coming to the NHL," said the fourth-year NHL player. "I think once you feel a little more confident in your role, you can sacrifice a little more for the team."

The payoff has been more confidence in him from the coaching staff. As long as he is willing to play a little smarter offensively and give more than a nod to helping out defensively, he likely will remain on the top line and top power-play unit.