Laperriere Check Sends Savage To Hospital
(from the Daily News)
By Brian Dohn
Daily News Staff Writer
November 21, 1999 - Ian Laperriere was there first-hand for the hit. He didn't need to see a replay of it.
His second-period check left Montreal Canadiens winger Brian Savage on the ice for nine minutes and sent a chill throughout Staples Center.
After fanning on a shot in the high slot, Savage was hit in the shoulder/neck by Laperriere. Savage immediately went down, writhing on the ice while kicking his feet in pain. He was tended to by medical personnel, taken off the ice on a stretcher and transported to Centinela Medical Center Hospital.
The preliminary diagnosis was an upper back injury. That was all Montreal spokespersons would say.
"I'm a physical player, but I don't want to hurt anyone," Laperriere said. "It wasn't a dirty check. If I didn't finish my check, I'm not doing my job."
Savage was conscious when he left the ice. An MRI was taken but results weren't expected to be available until today. Savage remained in the hospital overnight. The Canadiens remained in Southern California because they play Monday at Anaheim.
"It looked bad," the Kings' Rob Blake said. "Obviously, guys on both benches were affected by it."
Savage was knocked from the game with 15:40 remaining in the second period and Montreal leading 2-1, but he certainly had a hand in the outcome. After getting drilled by Nashville 6-1 Thursday, Savage took the entire team out to dinner Friday to get everyone on the same page.
Blake (that's Jason) shines: Center Jason Blake spent two weeks in purgatory. Three of those days were spent in Long Beach, skating for the Kings' minor-league affiliate.
But sensing the Kings needed a more speed and less size against Montreal, Dan Bylsma was scratched and Blake played for the first time since Nov. 6.
Blake, a rookie out of the University of North Dakota, probably earned himself more playing time with the first two-point game of his career. He assisted on the Kings' first two goals.
"No one likes to go down and play in the minors, but for me it was something I needed to get my confidence back," Blake said. "It was a chance for me to look in the mirror and see what I need to do to be able to play here. I have to play like I did (against Montreal), be gritty and physical. I'm in a role right now, and I have to fulfill that role.
"Now, I have more confidence with the puck. I'm more patient with the puck."