Colorado Braces For Dallas' Shots
Stars might seek retribution after slugfest last week
(from the Rocky Mountain News)
By Rick Sadowski
Rocky Mountain News
September 25, 2007 - CENTENNIAL - Ian Laperriere doesn't know if fists will be flying again tonight when the Avalanche and Dallas Stars meet at the Pepsi Center.
"But I'll be ready and I'm sure my teammates will be ready," he said after practice Monday at the South Suburban Family Sports Center.
The teams combined for 28 penalties, including seven fighting majors and five roughing minors, last week in Dallas.
Laperriere, who fought with Krys Barch in the first period and was pounded by Todd Fedoruk with a little more than five minutes left in the game, still bears the evidence with several facial cuts and a blackened eye.
Laperriere, who is listed as 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, admittedly was overmatched by Fedoruk, who is 6-2, 241. Signed by the Stars as a free agent in July, Fedoruk has 17 goals and 785 penalty minutes in 354 NHL games.
"I looked at the replay and he tried to put my head through the boards," Laperriere said. "He's way out of my league. I mean, he's got 60 pounds on me. I know where he's coming from. He's there to do that and he didn't have any (previous) fights that night.
"He was going after Kurt (Sauer) and I didn't want to let that happen. I stood between them and I paid the price."
Fedoruk, 28, was playing for the Philadelphia Flyers in March when he was knocked out by the New York Rangers' Colton Orr and carried off the ice on a stretcher.
He earlier missed 18 games after he had major facial surgery following a fight with Minnesota's Derek Boogaard.
"I'm sure he doesn't want to put any doubt in anybody's mind that he's ready to go fightingwise," Laperriere said. "Sometimes it's tough to understand, but as crazy as it sounds, I know where he's coming from. I respect the guy, but maybe when he tried to put my head through the boards I didn't respect that.
"Other than that, I respect a lot of what he does on the ice."
Laperriere said he warned the Stars he would do something "stupid" in response to Fedoruk's actions, and he followed through by high-sticking and cross-checking Jussi Jokinen during the Avalanche's ensuing power play.
Laperriere was assessed 17 minutes in penalties, with a game misconduct.
Avalanche coach Joel Quenneville said Laperriere and 6-5, 240-pound Scott Parker "probably" would be in the lineup tonight but that he isn't looking for a repeat of last week's slugfest.
"We've still got to look at some guys here and that's our focus — evaluating — and the game will play itself out," he said.
Avalanche goalie Peter Budaj is scheduled to play the entire game.
sadowskir@RockyMountainNews.com