Ian Laperriere News and Photos
Western Conference Semifinals
Western Conference Semifinals - Game 1
Avalanche 3 - Red Wings 4
Western Conference Semifinals - Game 2
Avalanche 1 - Red Wings 5
Ian Laperriere - 1 Goal
Video of the Goal from nhl.com
A Detroit Red Wings fan sends a message to Colorado Avalanche Ian Laperriere during the skate around before the 1st period game action between the Detroit Red Wings and the Colorado Avalanche in game two of the second round of the 2008 NHL Playoffs on Saturday April 26, 2008. (Eric Seal/Detroit Free Press)
Dallas Drake of the Detroit Red Wings skates away from Ian Laperriere of the Colorado Avalanche during game two of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 26, 2008 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
Colorado Avalanche right wing Ian Laperriere looks for a pass as Detroit Red Wings center Kris Draper defends and goalie Chris Osgood is in goal during the 1st period of game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals at Joe Louis Arena. (Michael Sackett/US PRESSWIRE)
Laperriere scored the Avalanche's lone goal in Game Two of the WCSF against Detroit, depositing the rebound of a Cody McCormick attempt for his third career postseason tally. (ColoradoAvalanche.com)
Colorado right wing Cody McCormick celebrated Ian Laperriere's goal in the third period. The goal was Laperriere's first goal of the playoffs. (Karl Gehring/The Denver Post)
Western Conference Semifinals - Game 3
Avalanche 3 - Red Wings 4
Ian Laperriere of the Colorado Avalanche controls the puck against the Detroit Red Wings during Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 29, 2008 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Mikael Samuelsson of the Detroit Red Wings skates against Ian Laperriere of the Colorado Avalanche during Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Pepsi Center on April 29, 2008 in Denver, Colorado.
(Photo by Michael Martin/Getty Images)
Colorado Avalanche Ian Laperriere takes a shot past Detroit Red Wings Niklas Kronwall as goalie Chris Osgood makes the save in the second period of game three Tuesday, April 29, 2008.
(John Leyba/The Denver Post)
Colorado Avalanche head coach Joel Quenneville directs his team as assistant coach Tony Granato looks on in the third period of the Detroit Red Wings' 4-3 victory over the Avalanche in Game 3 on Tuesday, April 29, 2008. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche forward Ian Laperriere skates up the ice against the Detroit Red Wings in the third period of game 3 of the Western Conference semi-finals at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO. The Avalanche lost to the Red Wings 4-3. (Photo By Byron Hetzler/US PRESSWIRE)
Detroit Red Wings Kris Draper ties up Colorado Avalanche Ian Laperriere after goalie Chris Osgood made a power play save in the 3rd period of the Wings 4-3 win in Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Semi Finals on Tuesday, April 29, 2008. (JULIAN H. GONZALEZ/DFP)
Detroit Red Wings Kris Draper ties up Colorado Avalanche Ian Laperriere keeping him away from this rebound save in front of Wings' goalie Chris Osgood during a power play in the 3rd period of the Wings 4-3 win in Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Semi Finals on April 29, 2008. (Julian H. Gonzalez/Detroit Free Press)
Colorado Avalanche Ian Laperriere takes a shot past Detroit Red Wings Niklas Kronwall as goalie Chris Osgood makes the save in the second period of game three Tuesday, April 29, 2008.
(John Leyba/The Denver Post)
Pre-Game Interview - May 1, 2008
(from the Official Website of the Colorado Avalanche)
Western Conference Semifinals - Game 4
Avalanche 2 - Red Wings 8
Johan Franzen of the Detroit Red Wings is congratulated by Ian Laperriere of the Colorado Avalanche at center ice after the Red Wings won Game Four and clinched the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 1, 2008 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. The Red Wings defeated the Avalanche 8-2 and swept the series 4-0.
(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Avs surrounded Peter Budaj after the game Thursday night. The Colorado Avalanche fell to the Detroit Red Wings 8-2 at the Pepsi Center, Thursday night, May 1, 2008 in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. (Karl Gehring/The Denver Post)
From right, Colorado Avalanche center Joe Sakic, joins teammates Ruslan Salei, Ian Laperriere, T.J. Hensick, and Milan Hejduk, after time ran out in the third period of Game 4 of an NHL Western Conference semifinal hockey playoff series in Denver, Thursday, May 1, 2008. Detroit beat Colorado 8-2 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Members of the Colorado Avalanche salute the fans after the game against the Detroit Red Wings during game four of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Pepsi Center May 1, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. The Red Wings defeated the Avalanche 8-2. (Photo by Michael Martin/Getty Images)
Avs Injuries Were Worse Than Team Let On
(from the Denver Post, 5/2/08)
How bad was the Avalanche's injury situation by the end of the season Thursday night?
So bad that two players who were on the ice in the season finale at the Pepsi Center against the Detroit Red Wings were playing on broken feet. Avs vice president Jean Martineau today disclosed that defenseman Scott Hannan and forward Ian Laperriere played with broken bones in their feet.
--Adrian Dater