"Yeah, it is special, especially since the way we came in," said the 36-year-old, referring to a mediocre regular season and a must-win finale against the New York Rangers. "We believe in our team. You know, we touched rock bottom during the year and it wasn't fun around here. Sometimes when you do that, it makes your team stronger, and obviously it did."
Possibly more than any other player, the feisty right winger and penalty-killing specialist has symbolized the squad's toughness, its never-quit approach, the do-whatever-it-takes-to-win mentality.
Against the Devils on April 22, while blocking a Paul Martin power-play shot, Laperriere suffered a broken orbital bone, a brain bruise, and a concussion. The Montreal native received 60 to 70 stitches above the right eye. He was told he would miss the rest of the 2010 campaign.
Instead, after receiving a neurologist's clearance, No. 14 returned for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against Montreal. He played 9 minutes, 13 seconds in a 3-0 victory at the Bell Centre.
"You know what? It took a little miracle," Laperriere said after helping the Flyers take a three-games-to-one series lead. "They told me I had a chance to come back. I put [in] a lot of effort to return to the lineup. [Being out] was the worst time of my career, sitting out and watching the team doing so well.
"The good news is that since they were playing so well, it gave me some time to get healthy. I am so proud of the boys and being a part of history that we are riding right now."
Laperriere played 8 minutes and 10 seconds in Monday's series-clinching triumph over his hometown Canadiens. He blocked a pair of shots, including defenseman P.K. Subban's third-period blast with the Flyers nursing a 3-2 lead.
