Pregame Look: Laperriere Keeping Flyers Focused
(from CSNPhilly.com)
By Tim Panaccio
CSNPhilly.com
June 9, 2010 - In the final home game of what has been his 16th season in the National Hockey League, Flyers forward Ian Laperriere seems to have a crystal clear image of what his role is tonight in the Stanley Cup Final.
This is Game No. 6 and the Flyers need to win against the Blackhawks to force a Game 7 on Friday back in Chicago.
"All season long, our season has been up and down and our backs have been up against the wall," Laperriere said. "Especially, that last game of the year and that Boston series. You just get stronger as a team and hopefully, that pays off tonight."
As part the Flyers' leadership group, which meets with the players, Lappy says he has message for his teammates – and particularly the younger guys on this Flyers' roster.
"You just go out there and relax a little bit," said the 36-year-old winger. "You can't overthink it. We all know how big the game is, it's no secret. But at the end of the day, it's a hockey game we need to play, and if you are too tight, and too stressed out there, then you don't make the right decision.
"That's my job out there. To make sure everybody is relaxed but still focused."
A similar message is coming from coach Peter Laviolette.
"If you're nervous and you go on the ice, you probably won't be effective," Laviolette said. "In saying that, there will be a lot of energy in the building, and we'll certainly need a lot of energy. I think they had us in the skating and they're on their toes a little bit more, a little bit quicker than we were [in Game 5].
"We need to harness that energy. It's a fine line, I think, between energy and nerves. Certainly you don't want to go out there and be nervous and play that way. You want to grab the energy in your building and play at highest tempo possible."
The Stanley Cup will be brought into the building shortly before the game should the Blackhawks win their first championship in 49 years.
"The Cup needs to be in the building at one point," Laperriere said. "It doesn't mean it gets to go on the ice. We will do whatever we can so the Cup doesn't go on the ice, tonight. We want a Game 7.
"This is our last game here, I expect out fans to be crazy like they have all year. I'm glad to be part of the Flyers' family."
Regardless of what happens, Laperriere said he is proud of this team.
"I'm impressed by that all the individual efforts," he said. "It's not one guy who makes the team like that. It's everyone. We never quit. It comes from every individual in this room. And that is why we've done well so far.
"We have had tests to show that. Some teams have not had that. Even during the regular season, game No. 82. I keep coming back to that. That was probably the most pressure of my career.
"You work 82 games to make it to the playoffs. We all know in today's game, if you make to the playoffs, you have a chance to go pretty far. We're an example of that."
Laviolette said the Flyers have a lot left in their "tank" for this game and another on Friday, if they can win tonight.
"We can go more if we had to," he said. "It's not the position that we want to be in. I'm sure everybody would rather be up 3-0 or 3-1 and looking at a game where we could close out in Game 6 in our building.
"That's just not the path we've taken this series. We find ourselves with our back against the wall. I say comfortable. I believe that we are comfortable here, because this is our sixth time facing elimination.
"Still, you would rather be in a different position, but we're not. We'll be ready to play hockey tonight. We have had a lot of success at home here and in our building. That energy that I talked about earlier, we've been able to grab it and play a real strong game. That will be needed tonight."
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net