Senators Articles: B-Sens' Tapper still recovering
February 24, 2004

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Scott Lauber of Press Connects.com

B-Sens' Tapper still recovering

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Press & Sun-Bulletin

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Brad Tapper didn't call it a setback, but after feeling "nauseous" during Monday morning's game-day skate, the speedy winger's return from a Grade 3 concussion likely will be delayed further.

Tapper, who'd hoped to play last Sunday in Springfield or here Monday night, is now questionable for Wednesday night's home game against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He was scheduled to go for further testing today in Binghamton.

"It's frustrating because you feel great, you feel like you can play, and then you feel lousy again," said Tapper, who has occupied his time during games by assisting play-by-play announcer Grady Whittenburg on radio broadcasts. "I just about broke down in the room about it."

Tapper started fast with the Senators after being traded Jan. 6 by the Atlanta Thrashers. Playing with center Brooks Laich and winger Alexandre Giroux, he notched five goals and six assists in 13 games before taking an elbow to the head from Hershey winger Shane Willis in the second period Feb. 6 and missing the last nine games.

Now Laich has been dealt to the Washington Capitals for Peter Bondra, and Tapper is struggling to get through a day free of post-concussion symptoms. Until that happens, it's doubtful he will be cleared to play.

BLACK & BLUE REPORT

Add defenseman Christoph Schubert to the list of wounded Senators.

Schubert left Sunday's 5-3 loss in Springfield with a shoulder injury, didn't skate here against Manchester and is listed as day-to-day. That left the Senators with five defensemen, including all-star Julien Vauclair who left in the first period with an apparent knee injury but returned to start the second.

Winger/assistant coach Jody Hull is about a week away from playing in games after undergoing abdominal surgery in January.

SLAP SHOTS

Manchester winger Noah Clarke was voted AHL Player of the Week after scoring four goals and an assist in three intra-divisional road games. ... The Binghamton Mets will also be traveling here this season, as Manchester will house the Toronto Blue Jays' Double-A affiliate in the Eastern League. The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, as the team will be known, will play in renovated Gill Stadium in 2004 while a 6,800-seat stadium is built on the Merrimack River. Construction on the $25 million project is expected to be completed by Opening Day 2005.