"Now that Tim Thomas has turned his game around, there's not a more handsomely paid backup goalie in the entire NHL than Pascal Leclaire.

Doesn't mean he's comfortable with his free seat near the end of the Senators' plank, however. In fact, he rarely uses it. Leclaire is often standing when he's wearing a baseball cap rather than a mask and helmet, viewing Brian Elliott and the rest of his teammates at work.

"I get more nervous on the bench than I am when I play," he said Tuesday morning.

Ah, you mean nervous that Mike Fisher's going to hit you in the face with a shot again?

"No, but I'm way more aware of what's going on this year, though, for sure," Leclaire said, chuckling. (Caught him twice covering his head during Tuesday's win over Atlanta when he thought a puck was flying over the boards and headed his way).

The way he easily shrugs things off, Leclaire gives the impression he doesn't care as much as he should. That's not the case.

"I've always been like that, even in minor hockey," he said of the butterflies in his gut during a game his team is playing, while he watches. "I don't like the not being in control feeling. That's me. I almost become like a fan. You want the guys to do well. So you kind of get in the game anyway. It's different. "