NHL

BY IAN MENDES
sportsnet.ca

Pascal Leclaire has eight wins on the season for Ottawa.

In an ironic twist, Pascal Leclaire injured himself on Monday night in a game that the netminder was watching from the bench. And as a result, the Senators will be without their top goaltender for the next four weeks.

The club confirmed that Leclaire suffered a fractured cheek bone, when he was hit with a puck that went into the bench area midway through the second period of Monday's 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals.

"It's disappointing and it's bad luck. I don't know what the odds are," said Leclaire on Tuesday morning. "But I'm trying to look at it the other way. It could have got me in the eye and it could have been worse. Around Christmas, I should be back and I look forward to playing."

"Very disappointing, especially to happen that way. It wasn't even in a game," echoed head coach Cory Clouston.

Leclaire was sitting out the Washington game to recover from a mild lower body injury that he suffered on Saturday night against the Buffalo Sabres. That injury was not expected to keep him out of the lineup for more than a few days. Leclaire said the blow from the puck was harder than any hit he's received while wearing full equipment, but it doesn't sound like he received a concussion from the freak accident.

"I was kind of dazed for a while. But I remember everything. It was a pretty good blow," he said.

Leclaire will likely require a minor plastic surgery procedure to fix the misplaced bones in his cheek. The netminder, who is known for his easy-going personality, showed off his sharp wit on Tuesday when he was asked about a possible date with a plastic surgeon.

"We'll see what's cool in Hollywood and I'll make my choice," joked Leclaire.

Leclaire's absence for an extended period of time means the club will have to rely on backup goaltender Brian Elliott to carry the load for the next few weeks. The Senators recalled netminder Mike Brodeur from AHL Binghamton to serve as the backup, starting with Wednesday's game at New Jersey.

Elliott played the majority of games down the stretch for the Senators last season and is ready for the challenge of being the club's top netminder until Christmas.

"It's kind of unexpected and an unlucky chain of events," said Elliott. "Obviously, an opportunity pops up and I'll take advantage of it. We'll be awaiting his comeback and we'll play our best until then."

Notes: Clouston said that Alexei Kovalev is doubtful for Wednesday's game at New Jersey. Kovalev has missed the team's last two games to attend to a death in his family in Russia ... D Anton Volchenkov, who has missed 11 straight games with an elbow injury, isn't ready to return against the Devils ... Mike Fisher left practice early on Tuesday, but Clouston said it was just for "maintenance" and he should be fine to play against New Jersey.