"The Senators' playoff hopes now rest squarely on Brian Elliott's shoulders.

And, if he can't do it, Mike Brodeur may get a shot.

There was no sign of often-injured Pascal Leclaire as the Senators stepped onto the ice Tuesday at Scotiabank Place, Leclaire is battling a nagging lower-body ailment and won't make the trip to Nashville for Thursday's final game before for the two-day Christmas break.

Elliott will be trying to win his first game since Nov. 27.

"(Leclaire) has made some strides. He feels better (Tuesday) than he did (Monday), but not enough to give us optimism that he'll be ready for Nashville," said Senators coach Cory Clouston.

Clouston, who doesn't believe surgery is going to be required, said he hopes the issue isn't chronic.

"You'd have to ask him, but I'd have to say no. I'm not going to say a definitive no," said Clouston.

Elliott needs to be sharper than he has been lately.

"He was playing with more confidence before. He was playing on the top of his crease and doing a lot of the little things that we need him to do," said Clouston. "