"The never-ending saga with "Porcelain" Pascal Leclaire took another turn Friday.

The Senators goaltender, who looked fine in practice Thursday, reported after the morning skate at the United Center that he'd suffered a setback in his return from a lower body injury. He wasn't able to dress for Friday night's game.

The Senators say that Leclaire, who has spent more time in the infirmary than he has in the net since he joined the team, should be ready in a day or two. But who knows when he will be back?

Leclaire, who first suffered the injury on Dec. 17 in Denver, was slow getting up after a drill Friday morning, forcing the Senators to make a call to AHL Binghamton to recall rookie Robin Lehner late in the afternoon.

Lehner, who had just returned to the Baby Sens after playing for Sweden at the world junior tournament, finally arrived at the United Center with about four minutes to go in the first period and was on the Senators bench to start the second period.

"After the skate, talking with Pascal and (athletic therapist) Gerry (Townend), he didn't respond the way we wanted him to after the skate," said Senators coach Cory Clouston, who has every right to be frustrated with his oft-injured netminder.

"We felt it was in the best interests for him not to put him in a situation where if we needed him, he may reaggravate it even further. We need to make sure he's 100% if and when he goes back in the net."

The Senators are hopeful that Leclaire won't be out of the lineup much longer. Of course, they thought the same thing three weeks ago. Leclaire will be checked out by doctors in Ottawa Saturday morning and the team should have a better idea of his prognosis in the next 48 hours or so.

"We're not sure of the extent of it. We're hoping it won't be much longer than (another day or two)," said Clouston."