Laperriere Gone, Flyers Must Fill Penalty-Killing Void
(from the Philadelphia Inquirer)
By Sam Carchidi
Inquirer Staff Writer
April 29, 2010 - You can excuse Flyers center Blair Betts if he feels as if he just lost one of his appendages.
Ian Laperriere, you see, was his right-hand man - both on the penalty kill and on their checking line.
Laperriere is expected to miss the rest of the playoffs because of a brain contusion and concussion he suffered while blocking a shot. That means Betts will have a new linemate and penalty-killing partner when the Flyers open the Eastern Conference semifinals Saturday at Boston at 12:30 p.m.
Betts and Laperriere formed a dynamic penalty-killing unit that helped the Flyers kill 28 of 32 power plays (87.5 percent) in the five-game series against New Jersey.
"You definitely get comfortable with one person, obviously," Betts said after Wednesday's practice in Voorhees, "But we've had guys rotate on the penalty kill all year, and it'll just take a little extra communication and a little more talk on the ice. Guys know what they're doing when they're killing penalties. It's about blocking shots, working hard and limiting the other teams' opportunities, and I think everyone understands that. I don't think we should have a problem."
After Laperriere was injured in the third period of Game 5 against New Jersey last Thursday, speedy Darroll Powe spent a lot of time with Betts on the penalty kill. That's the game plan for the semifinals as well. With Simon Gagne sidelined, Claude Giroux will also see more penalty-killing time, probably alongside Mike Richards.
Forwards Scott Hartnell, James van Riemsdyk and Andreas Nodl could also get time on the PK.
Betts said he and Powe "felt comfortable together" while killing penalties against the Devils. "It's just a matter of executing."
Losing Laperriere, a 15-year veteran, has given the Flyers the same feeling as when they lost Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne to foot injuries in Game 4 against New Jersey, captain Mike Richards said. They won Game 5 without those two forwards.
"Different people are going to have to step up," Richards said. "Obviously this isn't something that we wanted or expected, but we have to move forward. You have to play the cards you're dealt."
"I suppose we could have just hung our heads and cried once Gagne and Carter went out of the lineup, but nobody [on the outside] cares whether we're down or we're up," coach Peter Laviolette said. "I think the guys have been in terrific spirits. They're practicing hard. They're excited to play and get going again."
Will the gritty Laperriere - who had nearly 70 stitches administered and broke his orbital bone while blocking a shot against New Jersey - be used as inspiration in the next rounds?
"I don't know if you go as far as dedicating it to him," Richards said, "but you play for the people who encourage you to play better - and Lappy definitely did that. He's a player who always kind of pushed you to the limit because he did everything on the ice you're supposed to. He worked hard, played for the team, and that's the kind of leader that you need around."
Betts, who is expected to center a fourth line with Powe and Andreas Nodl as his wingers, said the Flyers would miss Laperriere's contributions - on and off the ice.
"He's a great guy in the dressing room. He provides a lot of leadership," Betts said. "He's always talking to everyone, always keeping everyone focused but loose at the same time."