+Iron man Murphy closing in on fourth Stanley Cup+

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By Daren Smith 
SportsTicker Hockey Editor 

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- It is one of the ironies of this game that
Larry Murphy, who quietly has fashioned one of the finest
careers of any NHL defenseman, is the target of fans in two
hockey arenas. 

As evidenced tonight, fans in Washington, first at the Capital
Centre and now at the MCI Center, still remember Murphy from his
days in the Capitals' old red, white and blue uniforms.  He
played 388 games with Washington from 1983-89 before he was sent
to the Minnesota North Stars in a blockbuster deal. 

During Murphy's tenure with the Capitals, however, a strange
tradition started in which fans let out a "whoop" whenever he
played the puck. 

"At the Cap Centre, the local broadcasters for Home Team Sports
sat basically in the crowd.  There were these two guys who sat
behind them and made this 'whoop' sound every time I touched the
puck," he recalled.  "I remember someone coming to me asking if
I knew what this was all about and I had no clue.  At home they
could hear it on the television.  It grew and the next thing you
know the whole building's doing it. 

"After I left, it continued, but not so much lately.  I'd be
disappointed if I went there and it didn't happen." 

The whoop is nothing compared to the treatment Murphy received
at Maple Leaf Gardens during his 151-game tenure with Toronto.
Because the Maple Leafs were floundering and because Murphy was
one of the team's veterans, he became a favorite target for
abuse. 

The funny thing is, Murphy is just about the most unassuming
player.  There are no inflammatory quotes, no on-ice gestures to
irritate opponents.  He just goes out there, plays the game and
accumulates points at a Hall of Fame pace. 

During the 1996-97 season, with Toronto near the bottom of the
Central Division and with Murphy celebrating his 36th birthday,
a trade was imminent. 

"I knew in Toronto that my days were numbered there.  I knew I
was going to play somewhere.  Even after winning the Cup (with
Pittsburgh), no matter how old you are, you have to think, 'I
may never get a shot again,' whether it's your first year or
18th year," he said.  "Up to a half-hour up to the (trade)
deadline, I thought I'd miss the playoffs.  It was a welcome
call to come to Detroit." 

The Red Wings parted with "future considerations" to obtain
Murphy and even got the Maple Leafs to pick up part of his
salary.  It's hard to find a better trade, especially after
Murphy excelled in the playoffs with two goals and nine assists
and a league-leading plus-16 rating.  In the Stanley Cup Finals
sweep against Philadelphia, he had three assists and was a
remarkable plus-10. 

Murphy continued to defy time this season.  Murphy was the only
Red Wing to play in all 82 games, was fourth among defensemen
with 52 points, led the team in plus-minus at plus-35 and
collected his 1,100th career point on March 29th against
Buffalo. 

Murphy trails only Ray Bourque and Paul Coffey in scoring among
NHL defensemen, yet he has never garnered the publicity of
either of those contemporaries. 

"I look at it as an honor to be in that position.  I mean that's
what's important to me," he said.  "Perception is something I
can't control.  But anybody involved in the game closely, I
think understands and appreciates what I've been able to
accomplish.  I feel I get the recognition I deserve." 

When Murphy won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in
1991-92, he played on a team with Mario Lemieux.  In Detroit, he
is a teammate of Steve Yzerman, so Murphy is never the first
person to whom the media swarms. 

"You can get home from the rink earlier, after practice, after
games," he joked. 

Perhaps as impressive as Murphy's statistical laurels -- he's
also a two-time All-Star -- is his remarkable durability.  Since
the end of the 1991-92 season, he has missed only two of 262
games. 

"It's not anything conscious.  I don't think my approach has
been any different than most guys who play the game," Murphy
said. "I've just been fortunate.  I don't think I've done
anything out of the ordinary.  I just feel I've been blessed." 

Beginning with Game Six of the Western Conference finals against
Dallas, Murphy has logged more ice time than any teammate, even
those roughly half his age. In Game One of the Stanley Cup
Finals, it was nearly 28 minutes.  With overtime in Game Two,
the number jumped to just over 34 minutes. 

"When I play, I go out there and feel like I can contribute.  I
don't really look at it as I'm 37 and I'm still playing," he
explained.  "I think what's important for any player is you have
to still have passion to play the game, and I know I enjoy it as
much as when I first started.  Every year, if you're fortunate
you play 100 games a year." 

It's no coincidence that Murphy's teams have reached the
playoffs 14 times during an 18-year career that began in Los
Angeles.  If Detroit goes on to capture its second straight
Stanley Cup, it would make Murphy just the seventh active player
with as many as four rings. 

"Mentally, it's a real tough grind," he said.  "You have to have
a really burning passion for the game and I love it.  I look
forward to playing every game."