Sens vs. Crunch 11/14/04 Articles: Schubert's goal gives B-Sens needed shot
November 15, 2004

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

Schubert's goal gives B-Sens needed shot

Victory ends losing streak on home ice

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Press & Sun-Bulletin

BINGHAMTON -- Christoph Schubert unleashed a big slap shot from just inside the blue line, and three weeks of home-ice frustration for the Binghamton Senators went with it.

Schubert, probably the Senators' most-improved player through 14 games this season, blasted a shot past Syracuse Crunch goalie Pascal Leclaire 82 seconds into overtime for a 4-3 victory Sunday night that halted a franchise-record home losing streak at five games.

"I thought he had a real good game," coach Dave Cameron said of Schubert, who took four shots, scored two goals and was a plus-1. "It wasn't just that he scored two goals. He played real solid. He made some great outlet passes and battled hard."

Schubert, a 22-year-old defenseman who struggled in his two previous AHL seasons, is playing more often because of the shoulder injury that has sidelined Anton Volchenkov since Oct. 29, which happened to be the Senators' last home-ice victory.

And as Schubert's ice time has increased, so has his self-assurance.

"So far, I'm pretty happy with how I'm playing," he said. "No offense to Volchie. He's a great player. But because he's out, I can play with (top defenseman Brian Pothier) and I can get more confidence."

Schubert looked confident at 6:36 of the first period with the Senators already leading 1-0 on Denis Hamel's team-leading seventh goal at 2:20. Struggling center Pat Kavanagh won a faceoff back to the blue line, where Schubert rifled a shot past Leclaire for a two-goal lead.

But the Crunch, riding a seven-game losing streak, tied it on Mike Pandolfo's power-play goal at 7:24 of the second period and Joe Motzko's goal at 2:59 of the third, then got the lead when Alexander Svitov tapped in the rebound of Francois Beauchemin's shot that had gotten behind goalie Billy Thompson.

Pothier sent the game to overtime with his own blue-line blast with 5:56 left in regulation before Schubert won it before 3,364 paying customers.

UNLUCKY LANGFELD

What more can possibly happen to Josh Langfeld?

The Senators' winger jarred his back and shoulders after being smashed into the boards Oct. 29, then injured his ankle late in Wednesday night's loss to Norfolk. After missing the past two games, he wasn't expected to play Sunday but decided to dress because of injuries to Brandon Bochenski (knee) and Brian McGrattan (concussion).

Langfeld's reward? Fifteen stitches and a pounding headache after being struck above the right eye by teammate Jason Spezza's shot and falling to the ice in a pool of blood midway through the second period.

At least Spezza bought him dinner after the game.

"These things come in threes, so it must be over now," joked Langfeld, lucky to escape serious injury. "It was scary, though. I'm just lucky it wasn't in my eye."

Said Cameron, "I told him, 'Stay away from me. There's a dark cloud over you.' I don't want to get into a car with him or anything.

"He showed a lot to come back (Sunday) from that (ankle) injury. That's why he's going to play in the NHL. He's tough and he's a leader. You know he can play through a lot of pain."

SLAP SHOTS

Injured defenseman Anton Volchenkov (left shoulder) was on the ice Sunday morning, taking passes from assistant equipment manager Jim Frawley. Ottawa general manager John Muckler said Volchenkov may be ready to play by next weekend. ... The Senators recalled forward Gregg Johnson, who had one goal and six assists in 10 games for Pee Dee of the East Coast Hockey League.