Injured Laperriere Kings' Inspiration
(from the Daily News)
By Matt McHale
Staff Writer
April 6, 2001 - VANCOUVER - With a chance to clinch a second consecutive playoff spot, no King deserved to play Thursday night more than Ian Laperriere.
Many think Laperriere became the heart and soul who helped heal the Kings after captain Rob Blake was traded in February. But right now he is hurting, sidelined with a concussion that could force him to miss the final two games of the regular season.
"Believe me, no one wanted to be out there more than me," Laperriere said during the Kings 3-2 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks. "It is hard to explain how bad I want to be out there. But my brain isn't right. We have played the whole season to get to this point. I can't believe I'm not there."
Laperriere, injured Tuesday when he was taken into the board on a hit by Phoenix's Michal Handzus, lost consciousness for around 10 seconds. When players lose consciousness, they usually miss at least the next two games.
Laperriere flew back to Los Angeles on Wednesday for tests and rejoined the team here Wednesday night. Laperriere participated in the team's morning workout and claimed his condition had improved. He will be reevaluated Friday in Calgary, where the team concludes its regular season Saturday against the Flames. It is unlikely he will play.
The concussion is only part of a long season for Laperriere. Last summer, he underwent a reconstruction of his left knee that included almost five months of rehabilitation.
Then, he learned his father Michel was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the family hometown of Montreal.
"But through it all, he never felt sorry for himself," said teammate Luc Robitaille. "His attitude and hard work through a lot of tough obstacles makes everyone play better."
Laperriere claims his added leadership on the team stems from playing with the Kings for five seasons. He also says playing alongside rookie Eric Belanger has added some jump to his game.
All season, Belanger has credited Laperriere for putting him up during training camp and showing how hard work can translate into NHL success. Certainly, goaltender Felix Potvin has been the biggest aid to the turnaround, but Laperriere's example in the dressing room helped the ream regroup the past six weeks.
"You can't say enough about what he has done for this team," coach Andy Murray said of Laperriere, who has eight goals and 18 points this season. "It's tough to measure a player's heart unless you're around him every day. Lappy has meant so much to us."
--Bulletin board: There was a loud buzz at the Kings' morning workout when one of the players posted Thursday's back page of the tabloid Vancouver Sun that quoted Canucks coach Marc Crawford in a big headline, "We'll Win."
Crawford actually said, "If we play well, we'll win." Some of the Kings were fired up. Most took it in stride. "At this point in the season, I don't' think we need any more incentive than we already have," Ziggy Palffy said.
--Quick whistles: Bryan Smolinski awoke with back spasms Thursday morning and did not play. ... Crawford, who knows Murray from their days coaching the Canadian Olympic team, offered Murray a job as an associate coach two years ago. Murray kept his job as a high school coach in suburban Minneapolis before taking the Kings head job two summers ago.