Laperriere’s grit impresses teammates

Baseball players are notorious for strange injuries.

For instance, who can forget Sammy Sosa's taking himself out of the Cubs' lineup after sneezing in the clubhouse and injuring his back?

Or perhaps you remember Bret Barberie's being sidelined because of a nacho (not to be confused with macho) mishap. Barberie, a Marlins infielder at the time, was making nachos with chili peppers and hot sauce, but neglected to wash his hands after touching the spicy ingredients. When he went to put in his contact lenses, he felt a severe burning sensation.

He missed the next game.

We bring this to your attention because Flyers right winger Ian Laperriere was hit in the face with a rising slapshot late in the first period of a recent game, lost seven teeth, broke a bone above his lip, and had close to 100 stitches administered - and returned to play the third period.

Blood splattered on the ice amid Laperriere's teeth, including two false ones.

Hockey players get their faces rearranged, literally, and argue with the doctor - as Laperriere did - to hurry with the stitching because they want to get back on the ice.

"It was painful, but it was a relief; it could have been way worse," Laperriere said. "It could have been a hit to one of my eyes or my throat. It was a relief, but I was mad at myself more that anything. I put myself in that position."

By Laperriere's estimate, he has blocked around 1,000 shots in his career, but he said he was out of position - and not close enough to Buffalo's Jason Pominville when he fired the shot on a power play.

"The dumbest thing I have done in my career," said Laperriere, who is in his 16th NHL season.

The signing of Laperriere wasn't exactly trumpeted during an off-season that featured a trade for future Hall of Famer Chris Pronger, along with the daring addition of controversial goalie Ray Emery.

But as it turns out, the guy teammates call "Lappy" has become one of the Flyers' most popular players. And certainly their grittiest.

His heroic effort against Buffalo on Nov. 27 only strengthened his bond with his teammates, many of whom were still talking about the developments at practice this week.

"It's one of the most courageous things I've ever seen in my life - hockey or anything - because he's cut up, he's hurting, and he comes back with his lip hanging over his toes," rookie James van Riemsdyk said. "I saw him go into corners and finishing checks right after he takes one."

Added van Riemsdyk: "A lot of guys on the team have heart, but Lappy definitely tops them all."

Quick-witted and self-deprecating, Laperriere is easily the Flyers' most colorful player - someone who, like unpredictable winger Scott Hartnell, keeps the locker room loose.

Before a dislocated shoulder sidelined Blair Betts, Laperriere was part of a fourth line (with Betts and Dan Carcillo) that was the Flyers' most energetic unit. He also teamed with Betts to form a solid penalty-killing duo.

When Betts returns - probably in early January - the Flyers' LCB Line, Part II, will again be pestering opponents. Make no mistake, the Flyers miss Betts. When he played a full game, the Flyers were 10-2-0; when he hadn't, they were 3-9-1 (heading into Saturday night).

Betts is "one of the better penalty killers in the league," coach John Stevens said. "He blocks shots. He's strong on face-offs. Any time a guy like that goes down who has experience, it weakens your penalty kill, but at the same time, we have other guys who we think can do the job. It's an opportunity for the other guys to do more."

Without Betts, Laperriere has had several penalty-killing partners, including Andreas Nodl, Mike Richards, and Jeff Carter.

With Betts missing, Laperriere is the Flyers' best shot-blocking forward - showing no fear even after having his face reconfigured.

Laperriere is wearing a shield and face mask. Surprisingly, they are only temporary.

After his broken bone heals, the stitches are removed, and he gets a temporary bridge in a few weeks, Laperriere will discard the shield and face mask because he thinks they give him an unfair edge in a fight.

"If I can't take a punch, I won't fight, and I don't want to take advantage of fighting with a shield," said Laperriere, who will turn 36 next month. "When I am ready to go and completely healed, I will take everything off. I know it sounds kind of stupid, but that's the way it is. I play a certain way. I play on the edge. Fighting comes with it."

Even though it was just six nights after his injury, Laperriere had a game high of five hits and nearly got into a fight Thursday with Vancouver's Ryan Johnson. Early in the first period, the two players were yapping at each other. Laperriere took off his gloves to fight and motioned that he was going to take off his shield.

Johnson skated away.

Maybe Laperriere's disfigured face scared him. The puffed lip and crooked, banged-up nose give Laperriere perhaps the most distinctive visage since Rod Brind'Amour wore the orange and black.

And blue.