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Sakic, Laperriere Lead Playoff Run

(from the Rocky Mountain News)

By Aaron J. Lopez
Rocky Mountain News

March 21, 2007 - CENTENNIAL --One is a Hall-of-Fame shoe-in, the other simply wears shoes while visiting the Hall of Fame.

One is a quiet leader whose actions speak volumes, while the other is an energetic leader willing to speak at any volume. 

One is a finesse player with a lethal scoring punch, the other scores points with his teammates by throwing an occasional punch. 

In personality and playing style, Joe Sakic and Ian Laperriere could not be more dissimilar, but their veteran presence and influence traces a parallel line in the Avalanche dressing room. 

"It's a different presence, but it's a calming presence. One does it by talking and calming down the guys and the other one does it by just being calm," defenseman Kurt Sauer said Tuesday. "It's pretty interesting how they both have different ways to do the same thing. 

"You look at Joe, if it's games or practice, and he doesn't change one bit. His heart rate never gets over 60. 

" 'Lappy' energizes the team out on the ice, and the job he does for us is phenomenal." 

Sakic and Laperriere did not step out of character when the Avalanche's playoff chances were seemingly nil Feb. 26. Despite trailing the Calgary Flames by 12 points, Laperriere kept scrapping and Sakic kept scoring. 

Their unwavering approach has been an intangible factor behind the current 8-0-1 surge that helped the Avalanche pull closer to the Flames. 

Calgary, currently clinging to the final Western Conference playoff berth, beat Detroit 2-1 on Tuesday to move six points ahead of the Avalanche. 

"(Laperriere)'s probably (got) a little bit more enthusiasm and energy when he speaks," Avalanche coach Joel Quenneville said. "Joe leads by, not just example, but he's at a stage now where he's not afraid to address what area needs to be attended to. I haven't found Joe to be as quiet as he once was." 

Sakic, 37 and in his 18th NHL season, has scored four goals and added eight assists during the Avalanche's playoff push. His 86 points are one short of his total in each of the past two seasons. 

"We always know Joe's there," Sauer said. "Maybe he's not talking in the locker room, but he's always there. And that's how he is on the ice. You just give him the puck and away he goes." 

Laperriere, 33 and in his 13th season, has scored only once in the past nine games, but he has helped kill penalties and thrown his body around with little regard for personal safety for the greater good of the team. 

"When you see a guy sacrifice his body like 'Lappy' does, it says that much more," Sauer said. "He's always setting the high standard." 

As the Avalanche tries to complete its remarkable charge toward the playoffs, Laperriere holds one card that Sakic has never been required to play - that of the dogged pursuer. 

While playing for the Los Angeles Kings in 2000-01, Laperriere went through a frenetic chase that included four teams battling for the final three playoff spots. 

The Kings managed to secure the No. 7 seed by gaining at least one point in 13 of their final 16 games. 

"We were two, three points out (of playoff contention), not 10, but it does remind me of (2001)," Laperriere said. "Every game means so much. There's some similarity, for sure." 

Sakic, meanwhile, is going though a unique personal experience. 

The Quebec Nordiques never were in playoff contention in five of his first six NHL seasons, and the Avalanche never has been fighting for a playoff spot this late in the season since Sakic and the Nordiques moved to Denver before the 1995-96 season. 

"It's a lot more fun right now than two weeks ago," Sakic said. "The way we're playing right now, we're giving ourselves a chance and that's all you can ask for. . . . If this is how we got to get in, it's fine - as long as we get in." 

On paper, the Avalanche is in prime position to extend its two- week run of success. 

The Avalanche faces the Edmonton Oilers tonight and Friday at Rexall Place. 

The Oilers are in the midst of an 11-game winless streak comprised of 10 losses in regulation and one in overtime. 

"Hopefully, they'll wait a couple more games (before ending the slump)," Sakic said. "We need these points and we have to play well. We need to make sure we keep playing the way we're playing." 

Copyright 2007, Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved.