BY IAN MENDES
sportsnet.ca

Erik Karlsson will be back with the big club, a reward for improving his game in the minors.

The Ottawa Senators will have Erik Karlsson back in its lineup on Saturday night against the Boston Bruins.

Karlsson, the club's first-round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, was sent down to AHL Binghamton in October after playing in nine games with the Senators. On Friday, head coach Cory Clouston confirmed that Karlsson will be in the lineup at Boston, saying that the young defenceman has improved his game down in the minors.

"He's played well. He's helped that team turn things around," said Clouston. "One aspect that we wanted him to work on was his physical play. He's really balanced his game out."

To make room for Karlsson on the roster, the club has sent defenceman Brian Lee back down to Binghamton. In 13 games with the Senators this season, Lee had two goals, one assist and was a -1 rating.

"I think he's lost his game a little. He looks a little indecisive - playing not to make a mistake," Clouston said of Lee. "He's got to go down there and find his game again and be a dominant defenceman."

Karlsson will draw into the lineup because Anton Volchenkov does not appear ready to return after missing 13 games with a right elbow injury he suffered on October 28th. Despite participating in a full practice on Friday, Volchenkov told reporters he would "probably not" play against the Bruins and opt to return on Tuesday in San Jose.

Volchenkov has missed the past 13 games with a right elbow injury he suffered on October 28th at Florida. The Senators have posted a 7-5-1 record without him in the lineup.

NOTES: Mike Fisher did not skate with the team on Friday, but Clouston says there is progress with his undisclosed upper-body injury. Fisher skated on his own in a warmup suit on Friday after the team left the ice. The head coach did not rule him out of Saturday's game just yet ... F Jason Spezza did not practice with the team on Friday, but it was a regularly scheduled maintenance day for him before the club start's a five-game road trip. Said Spezza of the upcoming trip, "This is a big part of our season. If we can come back over .500 we can set ourselves up pretty good." ... F Daniel Alfredsson and D Alexandre Picard also missed practice for what Clouston described as "maintenance". Both are expected in the lineup.