Laperriere Able To Cope
(from the Daily News)
By Matt McHale
Staff Writer
March 19, 2002 - SAN JOSE - Playoff pressure? Ian Laperriere knows it better than most.
While the Kings were here Monday for a critical Pacific Division showdown with first-place San Jose, his wife, Magali, was in Los Angeles having labor induced on the couple's first child.
Laperriere returned with the team after the game.
"It has been a crazy couple of days," Laperriere said. "She was late on the delivery Friday, so they induced Sunday. It's a two-part thing and they will induce again (today) at 6 a.m."
Laperriere, 28, is having one of his best seasons with eight goals and 20 points. More importantly, he has been a valuable penalty killer and defensive forward.
It hasn't been easy. In addition to his wife's pregnancy, his father, Michel, has been battling cancer in Montreal.
"He never lets anything get him down," Kings coach Andy Murray said. "He has such a strong character."
--Buchberger still out: Kings winger Kelly Buchberger is not expected to play when the Kings face the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday at Staples Center.
Buchberger, who suffered a badly sprained right ankle during a March 9 collision with the Avs' Ville Nieminen, hoped to come back against Colorado but did not make the trip to San Jose.
"I know he wanted to play badly," Murray said. "A better bet probably is Saturday against the Sharks at home."
At the time of the play, Murray was incensed because he thought Nieminen punched Buchberger along the boards. Buchberger has a large bruise on his left side from the incident.
"I don't worry about our players retaliating," Murray said. "That is something Bucky can take care of when he feels the time is right."