"The question was put to Senators coach Cory Clouston early Saturday afternoon.
Is there a chance Pascal Leclaire may not play again?
"I'm not going to say that, I don't think it's to that extent," Clouston said of the nagging injury to the guy who is supposed to be his No. 1 goalie. "I'm also going to not say it's not."
What he would say is that it will be another week, "minimum," before Leclaire can even face shots again. And that optimistically, he'll be a contributor to Senators victories during the second half of the season. But at this point, not a single soul would bet on that happening.
What exactly is the "lower body" injury that Leclaire re-aggravated in Chicago Friday? What is it that has kept him shelved since he made 23 saves in a 3-1 road win over the Minnesota Wild Dec. 16?
A pulled groin, like everyone thinks?
"No, I don't think that is quite the right thing to say," said Clouston, who was left to answer the question because for some ridiculous reason, pro sports teams generally don't let more qualified people like, oh, the trainers, speak to the media.
"It has to do with lower body and back and hips and groin area ... it's not just a pulled groin. I'm not a doctor but ... it's more complicated than that. A goaltender ... everything is connected — your abdominals, your groin, your hips, your pubic bone, everything is kind of all tied in. You can't just say one thing. Often, you may feel the pain in one area but it's aggravated from something else. He's more in that category."
In the name of Dominik Hasek, please say it's not another abductor problem, too.
Leclaire's inability to stay healthy for yet another season — earning almost $5 million, he has played just 14 games — is relevant to the Senators' struggles. They can't score either, but that only increases the importance of the goalies playing well.
And Brian Elliott, who was making his ninth straight start Saturday night, has once again been as cold and hot as the faucet in your kitchen. Against the Tampa Bay Lightning, he could have used a rest.
"(Leclaire) does everything in the morning for the practice, in the evening he's in the gym at the hotel, strengthening and stretching. He's doing everything he possibly can," said Clouston. "He's frustrated, he's disappointed. He knows what is said about him and whatnot ... but all he can do is stay positive and keep doing the rehab he's doing. Hopefully he'll be back sooner than later. "
