Ottawa Senators goalie Robin Lehner made an uncharacteristic NHL debut on Saturday night against Montreal. Lehner was recalled from Binghamton of the AHL before Saturday’s game and ended up making an appearance when he started the third period. Ottawa starting goalie Brian Elliot broke a skate between periods and the referees were not willing to wait for him to find a replacement. Lehner was thrown into net and brought his career minutes total to four minutes, 42 seconds.

Lehner could not look more unprepared, but he did not allow a goal. He faced three shots total, but it certainly looked like that was about his limit. He first touched the puck when he made a save from a wrist shot from Brian Gionta that looked more like self defense as he threw his arms up over his face. He did not know where the rebound went. A little later on, the puck came trickling towards him. Rather than letting a player play the disc, he flopped on it, forcing a faceoff.

Born in Sweden, Lehner was Ottawa’s second round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Why this 19-year-old is up with the NHL club is anybody’s guess. With the latest injury to Pascal Leclaire keeping him sidelined, it’s odd to think that Lehner is next in line in Ottawa’s future. If so, it might be another long year for Sens fans. There’s a lot to learn about being an NHL goaltender, and not all of it can be taught while watching games from the bench.

Lehner split time in Binghamton and with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL last season and has shown promise that he could be a decent goalie, but not yet. If Leclaire can’t get over his current groin injury fast, the Senators will have to seriously consider finally cutting ties with the injury-prone netminder and get a competent, experienced backup in and let send Lehner back to Binghamton where he can learn the game properly and make a few more saves that make him look a little less fragile. Maybe then he’ll be ready to defend for the Sens.