Pascal Leclaire hopes his roller-coaster of a season is about to hit a nice, flat stretch.

The Senators goaltender doesn't know whether he or Brian Elliott will start Tuesday against the Oilers at Rexall Place as Ottawa opens a three-game Western Canada road swing, but Leclaire served notice in Saturday's 2-1 shootout loss to the Maple Leafs that his season is far from dead.

Coming off a 30-save performance less than 48 hours after being pulled when he gave up two goals on five shots against the Hurricanes on Thursday, Leclaire knows there are ups and downs during an NHL season.