Injured Flyers Carter, Laperriere Practice
(from the Philadelphia Daily News)
By Frank Seravalli
Philadelphia Daily News
May 21, 2010 - MONTREAL - Neither Jeff Carter nor Ian Laperriere graced the Bell Centre ice last night for Game 3 of the Flyers' Eastern Conference finals series against Montreal.
But both players could be ready if called upon.
Carter and Laperriere both took part in yesterday's pregame skate and even took extra reps after practice with the Flyers' assistant coaches and healthy scratches.
Carter has been out since April 20 - Game 4 of the Flyers' first-round series against New Jersey - with a fractured metatarsal in his right foot.
"He's looking good," winger Simon Gagne said. "That's what I told him. He's feeling better and better. That's good news."
Laperriere has been out since April 22, when he blocked a Paul Martin slap shot with his face in the third period of the series-clinching game against the Devils.
Laperriere, who wore a full facial shield yesterday for protection, suffered a brain contusion, a concussion, a fractured orbital bone and needed 60 to 70 stitches to close the wound on his face above his right eyebrow.
"They both skated well," Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said.
Both players would give the Flyers a boost, Carter as the team's leading scorer in the regular season and Laperriere as their emotional leader and penalty-killing expert.
General manager Paul Holmgren said both players are "day-to-day" but said earlier in the week that Laperriere, who was cleared for contact on Monday, could return before Carter.
Neither player was made available to the media.
Part of their timetable to return could depend on how the Flyers' series with the Canadiens is turning.
seravaf@phillynews.com