Schubert's blasts do more than break glass

By Chris Vivlamore

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Christoph Schubert accomplished a lot with one off-the-mark shot.

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Gregory Smith, AP Christoph Schubert (16), whom the Thrashers claimed on re-entry waivers early in the season, has two goals  on 44 shots.

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The Thrashers defenseman caused a six-minute delay against Montreal Saturday when his blast from the point broke a pane of Plexiglass on the boards.

Somehow, that set the stage for two goals – one his own -- that tied a game the Thrashers won 4-3 in overtime.

More importantly, Schubert played an active part of the Thrashers offense.

“We’ve been on him to shoot the puck a little more because he shoots the puck over 100 miles per hour,” Thrashers coach John Anderson said. “I wouldn’t want to get in front of it. He broke the glass. You might be afraid he’d break the goalie.”

Following his wayward shot, Schubert scored on a blast from the point that beat Montreal goaltender Carey Price. Just 1:22 later, he sent another blast on net. Price made the save, but Evander Kane controlled the rebound and slid a pass that Colby Armstrong converted to tie the game at 2-2.

“I had the chance to shoot and I tried to put it on net,” Schubert said. “Two good shots and I’ll take it.”

Schubert had more than a chance to shoot. He had orders to shoot.

“It’s unbelievable because I told him before the game, ‘Please, just take a slap shot toward the net. Make sure you get one on net,’ ” Anderson said. “He fired one and it broke the glass. That probably scared [Price] a little bit. He fired a couple more that were pretty good shots.”

That’s what Anderson wants from his defenseman. They are free to jump into an offensive rush and they are also encouraged to shoot. It is not a coincidence that the Thrashers lead the NHL in goals by defensemen with 21. Zach Bogosian is tied for the league lead for defensemen goals with eight.

Schubert, whom the Thrashers claimed on re-entry waivers early in the season, has two goals  on 44 shots. After Bogosian, the Thrashers have also gotten goals from Tobias Entrom (3), Pavel Kubina (3), Ron Hainsey (2), Mark Popovic (2) and Anssi Salmela (1). Only Boris Valabik does not have a goal, but he has appeared in just four games this season after ankle surgery.

As contributors to the offense, Thrashers blueliners account for 21.9 percent of the team’s goals.

“Sometimes, especially back on the point, you’re thinking ‘OK, I just want to dump it in. I just want to play it safe,’ ” Anderson said. “You know, you’ve got to make plays. You see it in football. They say guys aren’t making plays. It’s because they are dropping the ball, not running the right route, all the little things that create that play.

"It’s the same in hockey, but you don’t start from one position. It’s from all positions. You have to recognize plays. You must start opening your eyes instead of playing overly safe or trying to dump the puck in. What’s your strength? Shoot the freaking puck.”

That’s what Anderson is looking for. Win the battle along the boards, hustle to the loose pucks and keep the puck in the offensive zone.

“If you do the little things right, all the big things follow,” goaltender Johan Hedberg said.

One of those big things was Schubert’s shot from the point Saturday night. With his help, the Thrashers snapped a three-game losing streak.

“Obviously, if you score a goal it helps the team to pump it up a little more,” Schubert said. “I’m just trying to help the team out. The end result was we got two points out of it. It was perfect.”