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Laperriere Back On Ice

(from the Daily News)

By Matt McHale
Staff Writer

February 8, 2003 - Four days after undergoing knee surgery that was expected to sideline him four-to-six weeks, Kings winger Ian Laperriere skated Friday and could accompany the team on its brief trip to Dallas and Nashville.

Laperriere, 29, had bone chips and scar tissue removed from his knee. He was injured Jan. 28 after a slash by San Jose's Owen Nolan.

"But I never thought it was that serious," Laperriere said. "They said four-to-six weeks and I was surprised. I knew it wouldn't be nearly that long."

Laperriere knows knees. Three years ago, he underwent reconstructive surgery on his left knee. He still wears a brace in practice and in games.

Today will be the true test of Laperriere's knee strength. If he feels up to it, Laperriere will skate with the rest of the Kings, who then have an afternoon flight to Dallas.

The Kings will play the Stars on Sunday.

"Nothing ever surprises me about Lappy," Kings coach Andy Murray said. "He has such a passion for the game. He never wants to be out of the lineup. But we are not going to let him play if he is not ready. But this was a good sign."

Laperriere, one of the Kings' three alternate captains, has two goals and 12 points in 46 games this season. He leads the club with 87 penalty minutes.

--Changing tough guys: Before the game, the Kings activated Kip Brennan from injured reserve and sent Ryan Flinn to Manchester (N.H.) of the American Hockey League.

Brennan appeared in 15 games before spraining his left knee Jan. 16 in Edmonton. Brennan did not have a point in 13 games with the Kings but recorded 41 penalty minutes.

Flinn, whose season was slowed this year by a bulging disc in his lower back, appeared in just one game for the Kings, a 4-3 victory Wednesday over Phoenix.

Just 3:38 into the game, Flinn got into a fight with Alexei Nazarov.

"Didn't take him long," Murray said. "We're certainly in good shape with our tough guys."

--Quick whistles: Friday's game marked the 300th of coach Andy Murray's career. He had 138 victories heading into the game. Bob Pulford is the all-time Kings' leader with 178 victories. ... Goaltender Jamie Storr assisted on Jared Aulin's first-period goal, the third assist of his career. ... Carolina's Jeff O'Neill ripped his coach, Paul Maurice, after being ordered to participate in a punishment skate after Thursday's practice in El Segundo. "It was a joke," O'Neill said. "It should never have happened."

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