The Pursuit of Lappyness: Laperriere ready for Game 4
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
The Pursuit of Lappyness: Laperriere ready for Game 4
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
MONTREAL _ Ian Laperriere, the Flyers' gritty right winger, is expected to return to the lineup Saturday afternoon against Montreal, a club source said Friday.
Laperriere skated on a line with Blair Betts and Darroll Powe at Friday's practice. He has been sidelined since April 22, when he blocked a slap shot against New Jersey and suffered a bruised brain, a broken orbital bone and a concussion. He needed nearly 70 stitches to repair a cut above his right eye.
Jeff Carter, recovering from a broken foot, also skated at Friday's practice and scored on a wraparound goal. He looked to be regaining his form, but is still doubtful for Saturday.
"But you never know," said one club source, smiling coyly.
Laperriere, the Flyers said, has been cleared by a neurologist to play.
"He gives us a veteran presence, and he's very energetic in the locker room and on the ice," said center Danny Briere, who called Laperriere the Flyers' best penalty killer. "...And obviously he's tough to play against."
The Flyers would not allow Laperriere or Carter to talk to the media.
The Flyers have a 2-1 series lead over Montreal in the Eastern Conference finals. Saturday's game is at the Bell Centre at 3 p.m. on NBC.
Comments (66)
Flyers obviously need Cliff Lee.— hititwheretheyaint- PhillyboyinNYC: How ignorant. I must say, I've followed fans' reactions on Washington Post sites when Habs were playing Washington and same when Habs playing Pittsburgh, but no one comes close to the ignorance and just plain hate of the Philadelphia "fans". What the hell does Montreal or Paris or Civil War America have to do with how the game of hockey is played.... In passing, phil fans sound like they won a ton of stanley cups, so I thought I would look it up....you've only got 2 TWO DEUX banners hanging in your building... TWO - no wonder it's intimidating to come to Montreal's Bell Centre, look up at the rafters and see 24 TWENTY FOUR banners!— joseelr
- The reason you get these guys out there as quickly as they are able is so that if there is a Game 7 it's their third or fourth game back and they have their legs. Second game back is often the toughest for conditioning. Plus it gets the line adjustments taken care of sooner. If they match the Canadiens intensity in Game 3 they'll win the series. If not they'll lose.— roadtriptoday
- Sorry Philly but not a factor, Carter would be your only chance— Johnhab
- As for all the obnoxious Canadian comments here about hockey and fan superiority, etc. etc. 1.) Canadiens fans are the most hated in hockey. They lack the class and dignity of their team and don't deserve the team's success. They alternate between whiny, petulant complaining when the team is losing (which has been most of the time for a few decades now) and spoiled, arrogant entitlement when winning. I've attended perhaps 25 games in Montreal and spent plenty of time (in French and English) in give-and-take with Habs fans. No grit, no faith. Like spending time with children whose parents have spoiled them. Your team is impressive. You are an embarrassment to the them. 2.) How must it feel when the institution which identifies your city and country more than any other has its headquarters in the country you most love to hate? The NHL is based in New York; most of the teams are in the United States; more and more of the players come from outside Canada; and those who do are just wage slaves anyway (though very highly-paid). Imagine if the NFL headquarters were in Toronto, or MLB in Ottawa. Or if Hollywood moved to Vancouver. Or Wall Street to Calgary. That's the status of hockey. "Your" game is actually "here." Adieu.— roadtriptoday
- anyone not wanting these two guys on the ice instead of Nodl and Powe/Carcillo/Cote/ or whoever else is the odd man out just doesn't know anything. I want the best possible team out there and a 40+ goal scorer and their best Peanlty Killer sounds fantastic to me. They'll be fresh and just fine. It's playoff hockey. Do you really think they won't be ready or in the lineup if they weren't ready? Goin to the Finals I love it!— seaonasdad
- Lappy game 4, Carter game 5. We should wait to see how we play on their ice when we don't beat ourselves like we did in game 3. If Halak is back in form and we still have trouble scoring then bring Carter back for game 5. Besides, he was still wincing in pain only a few days ago. We got this series- there's no way habs take 3 of the next 4 games. Play smart, play hard, play to win, Go Flyers!— Kanayd
- Joselr: good one but don't bother with those stupid comments , a lot of americans think the same way, they just don't know that we have as much to do with the French as they with the Brits. roadtriptoday : i agree we were spoiled 24 cups in 100 years, like my good italian friend would say (HTML deleted)— Johnhab
- Couldn't hurt. Flyers need some kind of spark. If this is another big loss, may start to panic a bit. Have to hold the fort for the first ten minutes at least....— phillyfury
- You are refering to the 24 times we ran away with the cup, Yep we can do that very well.— Johnhab
- Johnhab, Even though there is a world of difference between France and French-speaking Canada, you do share one trait, which is living in the past as if it is the present. France still can't quite adjust to the fact that it doesn't have so much influence anymore - perhaps the best example is that the world's official language is English. The Canadiens trot out their history as if it is still going on (the Flyers do it as well, they just don't have anywhere near as much of it). Over the last 30 years the Canadiens have won fewer Stanley Cups than the following teams: Islanders, Devils, Edmonton, Pittsburgh, Detroit, and have been equaled by the Nordiques after they moved to Colorado. They hadn't made it to the final 4 in 17 years and have missed the playoffs 6 times since 1993. That is mediocrity. Listening to Canadiens fans talk about the 24 cups is like going to the old folks home and hearing them go on and on about Sinatra when they were teenagers. It's a great tradition. It's all you have to fall back on. Also, if you are going to go onto another team's fan site the least you could do is be original, use some wit and intelligence if you have any, be creative with your jabs so they stick. If you're going to lace the skates up then go out and skate your wing.— roadtriptoday
- You see the comment you made about France and French-speaking Canada is right on! finally someone who understands the differences, now for the rest of the other people pls be smart and take it from there , i just did not have the energy to explain once again the diffences between us and them. Actually we don't like the french more then you do. We do live in the past, we have had so-so teams in the last 30 years as you say but when we pick a fight with an opponent its so much fun to flash our 24 banners :). As for the rioting issues we can be honest and agree that montreal and philly have both there shares of twits that spoile it for the rest of us. See you at the face off mon ami! By the way i am half english half french so i am pretty much impartial on the subject— Johnhab
- It's gonna be interesting. If Lappy does play, that's a HUGE lift for the Flyers. As for the sniping between Habs fans and Flyers fans, every team has their idiots. I know the idiots that have been rioting after every victory in Montreal aren't indicitave of the majority of Habs fans. But seriously, they need to act like you've actually won something, even if it hasn't been for years.— buttermilk67
- Now one last thing , if you philly fans stop comparing us to the FRENCH i will say something nice about u , excluding canadian teams , Philadephia is just as hockey as any other original 6 team. By the way 3-1 habs tomorrow.— Johnhab
Perfect timing! Man if they can't play hard tomorrow seeing this guy back on the ice with them they never will.
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Broad Street Bull is the Inquirer's blog covering the Philadelphia Flyers and the National Hockey League.
Reach Sam at scarchidi@phillynews.com.
Sam Carchidi
Inquirer Staff Writer
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