Laperriere Stars in Flyers' 6-3 Win
(from the Burlington County Times)
By Wayne Fish
Phillyburbs.com
January 12, 2010 - Ian Laperriere makes a living blocking pucks, not putting them in the net.
But the Flyers' journeyman utility player does have offensive skills, both with the disk and with his fists.
Laperriere recorded the Flyers' first "Gordie Howe hat trick" – a goal, an assist and a fight – in nearly two years Tuesday night, sparking the Flyers to a 6-3 victory over the Dallas Stars.
The Flyers have won four straight and are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games, moving them back into seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
Goaltender Michael Leighton raised his record to 8-0-1 since joining the Flyers.
Laperriere might be turning 36 next week but he still knows how to win hockey games.
When he isn't diving to block shots – he leads all Flyer forwards with 41 despite playing only 13 minutes a night – he's sticking up for a teammate (as he did with an attack on Dallas' Mark Fistric after the Stars' D-man crushed Blair Betts).
And he can help out on the offense with the occasional goal or assist.
Laperriere helped break open a tight game when he set up Kimmo Timonen's shorthanded goal at 7:53 of the second period for a 3-1 Flyer lead.
Later, he scored at the 13-minute mark to make it 5-1, drawing an extended roar from the Wachovia Center crowd.
Coach Peter Laviolette liked the way Laperriere immediately backed up Betts.
"He's one of those guys that's not going to let that happen," Laviolette said. "He's a character person, he's a quality person, not just in hockey but life as well -- a guy that you want on your bench."
Added Darroll Powe: "That's his game, he's an energy player. It's great for the team, he's a great guy, everyone loves him. Anytime you see him do something like that, it definitely gives you a boost."
Laperriere, who fearlessly dives in front of shots and paid for it with six teeth earlier this season, says it's all part of the job.
"I don't do it (block shots) to inspire my teammates," he said. "Fighting maybe. Blocking shots is part of my job. When I come back to the bench, the guys are letting me know, they're screaming, they're happy.
"Like I said, it's my job...it's not flashy like scoring goals. But we take pride in it."