  Jason Spezza (CP file photo)
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Jason Spezza returned to the scene of the crime yesterday. Only this time he had a smile on his face.
It was only eight months ago that Spezza, decked out in civvies, stood in the visitors dressing room at the Air Canada Centre and stared at the horror that was unfolding on the nearby TV screen.
Made a healthy scratch by defensive-minded coach Jacques Martin, Spezza helplessly watched as his Senators dropped a 4-1 decision in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference quarter-final to the Maple Leafs, the fourth time in five years that Toronto had eliminated Ottawa in the Battle of Ontario.
Now Spezza was in this same room again, this time preparing to lead his Binghamton Senators, Ottawa's top farm club, against the Baby Leafs.
Reports out of Ottawa suggested Spezza harboured misgivings about performing in these two Binghamton-St. John's games because the site was the ACC, a venue operated by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment -- one of the ownership parties that is locking out NHL players.
That problem, a sensitive subject among NHLers toiling in the AHL, seemed to be alleviated when the NHLPA said it had no issues with those players performing at the ACC.
Spezza, of course, played down the situation while meeting with reporters after the Sens' morning skate.
"It's a game on the (AHL) schedule," Spezza said. "We knew this was part of the deal."
Spezza's mood seemed to brighten when the subject of incoming Ottawa coach Bryan Murray came up. Spezza has been told by management to hone his offensive skills with Binghamton, a far cry from the stifling defence-at-all-times philosophy preached by Martin, who was fired days after dropping yet another playoff series to Toronto.
"Obviously we have an exciting team in Ottawa," Spezza, who entered play yesterday with 29 points in 21 games for Binghamton, said.
"We have lots of offence, and that's what I do. It's just nice to know we'll be playing up-tempo.
"Obviously the (playoff benching) was not something I enjoyed too much. But the guys knew how I felt, so there was no point in publicly expressing my disappointment."
Along with being the team leader, Spezza also serves as a kind of fashion consultant for Binghamton.
"Some of the guys dress like they still are in junior, so I have to help them out."
