More goalie woes for Senators

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The Senators' muddled goaltending picture has just gotten fuzzier.

Pascal Leclaire has pulled up lame after taking a shot in practice and goaltender Brian Elliott is nursing a flu which means Mike Brodeur has been recalled from Binghamton and could possibly make the start against the Rangers.

Elliott may play but coach Cory Clouston wasn't quite sure about his status. Brodeur stopped 22 shots in 4-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 22 at Scotiabank Place.

"I wish I could give you more information. I just don't know right now," said Clouston moments ago.

The Senators are in the midst of a five-game losing streak, have lost two straight on this five-game road trip and need to get back on track or they'll be on the outside of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference.

Defenceman Filip Kuba took part in the morning skate but will miss his third straight game on this trip. He is day-to-day and could play Saturday in Montreal.

The Senators will use forward Kaspars Daugavin on the fourth line. He was recalled from the club's AHL affiliate in Binghamton while Martin St. Pierre was sent back.

 

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Sens dump goalie coach

'It's tough to swallow ... I fully accept the responsibility when things don't go well'


On some nights, it looks like the Senators goalies couldn't stop a beach ball.

Somebody finally paid the price ... and it wasn't either of the goalies -- Pascal Leclaire or Brian Elliott. Senators GM Bryan Murray fired goaltending coach Eli Wilson yesterday.

Wilson, who was hired by the Senators in 2007 when Ray Emery was one of his star pupils, wasn't surprised by the decision.

"You get to the top level and things don't work out, you're obviously very disappointed," Wilson told the Sun in a telephone interview from La Guardia Airport. "It's tough to swallow, but I understand that whether it's my fault or isn't my fault, it's my responsibility in the end to make sure goaltenders move forward. It falls on my shoulders.

"I fully accept the responsibility when things don't go well and fully understand why. It was my job to get them to stop the puck and if I don't, then I'm going to feel heat: First, from the coaching staff and then from the management. When they don't play well, you know that your job is going to be on the line."

Senators coach Cory Clouston said it was time for a bold move.

"It's based on performance. I don't think it does anybody any good to sit here and do nothing," said Clouston. "We have to try something different. When I say that, Eli is a very good friend of mine. It's not fun. It's not easy. We still have to come up with something.

"I don't think this (gives the goalies) a free pass at all. They should have some responsibility on their shoulders."

Clouston said he understands the belief Wilson is being made a scapegoat.

"I'm telling (you) right now, the responsibility doesn't solely lie on Eli's shoulders," said Clouston. "I have to take some of that responsibility. I am part of the coaching staff, obviously. I'm the head coach.

"It falls on my shoulders as well. We're not solely blaming Eli. It appears that way, but to me, we still have to find a way to make a change and this is part of the change."

It's doubtful the Senators will hire a full-time goalie coach immediately. Two league executives believe former Ottawa goalie Ron Tugnutt and former Montreal netminder Rollie Melanson are top candidates.

While Leclaire worked with former NHL goalie Clint Malarchuk in Columbus, sources indicated he likely won't be on the list. Murray said in a statement from the club's scouting meetings in Florida he hopes to have someone in place soon.

"Hopefully, in the next week we'll have someone at least in a consulting capacity," said Murray. "Somebody that can have insight and give direction to our goaltenders and get them back on track to where we think they're capable of being."

Leclaire said he has to get back to playing his game.

"Most of the time I know what I do wrong on bad goals," said Leclaire, who spoke to the media before the firing was announced. "We'll get out of it. We haven't all become bad over the span of a week. Things aren't going our way right now. We'll just get back to it and we'll be back on a roll again."

The Senators can only hope Leclaire is right.

 

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Senators vs. Rangers preview

THE KING'S ON FIRE

The Rangers are coming off a 1-0 shootout loss to the Devils on Tuesday that turned out to be a duel between Gs Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Brodeur. Lundqvist made 45 saves while Brodeur made 51 stops before the showdown.

Keep your eye on these two players in tonight's game

71 NICK FOLIGNO, LW

Hasn't scored a goal in seven games. His last goal was vs. Colorado on Dec. 30 ... Was Ottawa's No. 1 pick (No. 28 overall) in the 2006 NHL draft.

10 MARIAN GABORIK, RW

Was signed as a free agent by the Rangers on July 1 from the Wild ... Leads the NHL in with 12 power-play goals ... Has recorded points in 33 of 44 games this season.