Oilspills: Lack of Decorum
(from the Edmonton Journal)
By Jim Matheson
The Edmonton Journal
December 1, 2006 - Ian Laperriere says Oilers coach Craig MacTavish called him a "loser" as the teams lined up for a faceoff after the Ryan Smyth check on Brad Richardson, but MacTavish denied disparaging the hard-nosed forward, who could play for the Oilers in a heartbeat.
"Nobody likes to be called the "L" word, but I have a lot of respect for Craig. He's got four Stanley Cups. What am I supposed to do? It's just two emotional guys out there," said Laperriere.
MacTavish put out winger Brad Winchester in the wake of Smyth running over Richardson, in case some fireworks started with Laperriere on the ice.
"He's the type of player who could be disturbed by a situation like that (Smyth), and he (Laperriere) took offence to my having Brad out there," said MacTavish, who said he hadn't called the forward any names.
"I have a lot of respect for Laperriere as a player. I didn't call him anything. He was far down the list of the most hated tonight."