Senators Article: Concussion likely ends season of Sens' Tapper; Binghamton may get Langfeld for playoffs
April 13, 2004

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

Concussion likely ends season of Sens' Tapper

Binghamton may get Langfeld for playoffs

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Press & Sun-Bulletin

BINGHAMTON -- Conspicuously absent from the upbeat dressing room Saturday night after the Binghamton Senators clinched a playoff spot was dynamic winger Brad Tapper.

Now, it seems Tapper will be absent from the club's lineup in the playoffs.

Senators coach John Paddock said Monday that Tapper most likely won't play again this season after suffering his third concussion in less than three months when he was checked by Rochester Americans defenseman Steve Lingren with 2:28 left in the first period of Saturday night's 2-2 tie.

"Taps is done," Paddock said. "It's his third (concussion), so that's what the preliminary report is."

Losing Tapper, a winger with blazing speed, is a certain blow to the Senators, who open the best-of-three qualifying round of the Calder Cup playoffs at home Wednesday night against the Norfolk Admirals.

But there is a chance they could get winger Josh Langfeld from Ottawa this week, which would give the lineup a boost. Langfeld, a healthy scratch in the first three games of Ottawa's first-round series with the Toronto Maple Leafs, phoned Paddock after practice Monday, and word out of Ottawa is he might request an AHL conditioning stint.

Tapper, 25, was acquired Jan. 6 from the Atlanta Thrashers for center Daniel Corso and quickly brought a new dimension to the offense. He joined a line with center Brooks Laich and left wing Alexandre Giroux and scored points in eight of his first 13 games.

But a vicious elbow to the head from Hershey Bears winger Shane Willis on Feb. 6 resulted in a Grade 3 concussion and caused Tapper to miss 11 games. He suffered another less severe concussion March 12 in Rochester after being hit by defenseman Rick Mrozik.

Tapper, who couldn't be reached Monday night, finished with 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 27 games with the Senators. He is expected to remain with the team through the playoffs and will assist play-by-play announcer Grady Whittenburg during radio broadcasts.

"He hadn't quite been the same player after the (first) concussion, but when you've got that much speed and skill, you are a dangerous player," Paddock said. "It's a big loss. There's no question about that. But it gives more of an opportunity for somebody to step up."

In Tapper's place, Paddock challenged winger Cory Pecker to be "more consistent" and added that rookie center Grant Potulny will get a greater chance to play. Potulny signed a one-year deal with the Senators last week after completing his four-year career at the University of Minnesota and registered one assist in the season's final three games.

"Potulny has been good for us, and he's just going to get better," Paddock said. "It looks like he'll be able to provide some offense for us."

Langfeld, 26, has been playing for Ottawa since late January and finished the regular season with seven goals and 10 assists in 38 games. The Senators have to be careful about sending Langfeld down for the AHL playoffs because they are allowed only two more recalls.

Some of Langfeld's best moments with Binghamton came during last spring's playoffs. He scored the winning goal in overtime of Game 1 of a first-round sweep of the Worcester IceCats and had five goals and three assists in 13 postseason contests.

MISSED CALLS

Binghamton center Charlie Stephens said he tried phoning many of his friends and former Hershey Bears teammates Sunday night after their crushing overtime loss to the Philadelphia Phantoms but was unable to reach any.

The Bears, who needed a victory in the final regular-season game to make the playoffs, lost 3-2 when Willis inadvertently shot the puck into his own empty net on a power play.

"That was a horrible way to lose," said Stephens, who opened the season with the Bears but was traded Jan. 23 for enforcer Dennis Bonvie. "I figure I'll try to call some of them this week."

SLAP SHOTS

Rugged winger Mike Brown has a fresh look for the playoffs. Brown has slightly trimmed his long, scraggly hair and dyed it from blonde to red. ... In a different best-of-three series, Andy Hedlund squeaked out a ping-pong victory over fellow defenseman Christoph Schubert after practice. ... The Admirals are expected to practice at the Arena this afternoon.