Puck to the Face Won't Stop Laperriere
(from the Bucks County Courier Times)
By Wayne Fish
Bucks County Courier Times
April 25, 2010 - VOORHEES, N.J. - Ian Laperriere should add a "C" to his first name and make it "I can."
Because he can, and will, play when the Flyers resume action later this week, despite a broken orbital bone above his right eye.
"I think hell would freeze over before he doesn't play," Paul Holmgren said as the general manager spoke on Saturday afternoon at the Skate Zone.
Laperriere, who suffered a 70-stitch cut off a Paul Martin shot in Thursday night's Game 5 clincher over the Devils in Newark, was looking better at the practice rink but there's still a lot of swelling and discoloration.
The 36-year-old wing said his vision is OK, neurologists have ruled out a concussion and it's just a matter of dealing with the pressure from the swelling.
Fortunately for both him and the Flyers, they will not start play in the second round of the playoffs until Thursday at the earliest and possibly Friday.
"I'm excited, I'm happy (to be recovering)," Laperriere said. "Yesterday was a tough day, today is a better day and I can't wait until tomorrow, to wake up tomorrow and see how it's going to be."
Laperriere shook his head when asked if surgery had been an option.
"No, no surgery," he said. "It's out of the question. No surgery. CT scan said I don't need surgery. It's great. I just need to get the swelling down. I'm going back on the ice as soon as I can.
"I feel fine. It's just that obviously I'm sore. I've got that swelling in there that kind of puts pressure on my head. It's normal. It's only been a little bit more than 24 hours since it happened."
He said he's going to stick by his vow from Thursday night to wear a shield the rest of his career.
Back in late November, he wore a full cage to protect a mouth injury. This time it looks like he will be opting for a plastic visor to protect his eyes. It might take a few days to adapt to, which is why he's anxious to get back on the ice.
"I don't know what's going to be the option this time," Laperriere said. "But I'm going to listen to the doctors. It's an adjustment I'm going to make. That macho thing to prove how tough I am, I'm way past that now. It was a last warning. I still feel that way today.
"You only get so many chances."
Laperriere drew a few laughs in response to a question about his reaction to the praise he received from all this teammates.
"It makes me feel good but I would skip that to have my face back," he said, grinning. "My teammates respecting me means the world to me. That's all that really matters to me. It's the ultimate compliment."
He said his family (wife and two boys) has gotten over the initial shock.
"This one was tough, my eye was shut completely yesterday," he said. "My sons (Tristan, Zachary) came into my bed ... they were kind of hesitant a bit. It makes you think a little bit. If it had been really bad, how my kids would have reacted.
"I'm just glad I didn't lose my eye. I don't know how my kids would have reacted to that."