No discipline for Richards after Game 6 hit

Mike Richards never really seemed to worry.

Despite receiving a 2-minute minor penalty for boarding Tim Connolly in the second period of Game 6 on Sunday, the Flyers captain didn't appear to worry that he would be receiving a call yesterdayfrom the NHL's dean of discipline, Colin Campbell, about a possible fine or suspension.

His gut instinct was right. Campbell never called, despite public protests from Sabres coach Lindy Ruff and goaltender Ryan Miller.

"Obviously, it's good to play, there's no doubt about that," Richards said yesterday at the Flyers' media availability. "I'm not worried about that, I'm worried about helping the team out and getting one by their goaltender [tonight]."

Back in Buffalo, Ruff said that he would "let the league handle it."

Connolly, who has a history of concussions, appeared to go into the boards headfirst. Ruff said he is unavailable for tonight's Game 7. It did appear, though, in a reverse-camera angle, that Richards tried to turn Connolly's body around heading into the boards by extending his arms.

Perhaps the fact that tonight's game decides the series played into Campbell's decision. Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said that based on what he saw of the hit, like Richards, he was never really concerned he would be without his captain.

Richards did not even have a hearing with the league.

That left Miller pretty angry, even though he was nearly 200 feet away from the play in his own net.

"I'm still upset," Miller told the Olean (N.Y.) Times Herald. "The guy who was complaining the most about how we were getting away with murder has delivered two of the dirtiest hits in the series - a blatant elbow to the face [of Patrick Kaleta in Game 4], which is something the league has said they're trying to take away, and driving Tim Connolly headfirst into the boards. It wasn't a just a hit; it was a push. It was blatant. It's not lost on me that he's a hard competitor. Richards wants to win. But obviously that was reckless."

Though none of the Flyers' regulars skated yesterday, opting instead for just an off-ice team meeting, Chris Pronger appears to have the same game plan as he did for Sunday's Game 6 in Buffalo. Despite reports from other outlets saying that Pronger was done for the series, he played 4:33, with all of his time coming on the power play.

The Flyers are expected to continue to dress seven defensemen tonight, with Danny Syvret picking up the difference between Pronger's limited, even-strength time. Syvret played 6:08.

Pronger was on the ice for the Flyers' only power-play goal, but he was also whistled for a slashing call that resulted in Thomas Vanek's second power-play goal of the first period.

"I thought he was good on the power play," Laviolette said.

Laviolette said it was not hard to resist send Pronger on the ice in even-strength situations, even as the season was on the line in the third period.

Pronger is just 2-5 in Game 7 situations in his 17-year NHL career.

To look at Claude Giroux' point total - a team-high seven points on a goal and six assists - through the first six games of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series and say he has been the Flyers' best player simply would not do his game justice.

Giroux has been the Flyers' most complete player, as well.

"Yeah, I think that he has been consistent," Laviolette said. "He's playing a complete game right now. In regard to the game [Sunday], that was collective. That was a bunch of guys. But you're right about that in regard to the series."

Giroux' real-time Game 6 stats tell the story. In addition to his two assists in 22:43 of ice time, he posted two shots, two hits, one takeaway, two giveaways, and also blocked three shots. He threw another two shots toward Miller that never made the net.

For the series, Giroux has 15 shots, 15 hits, five takeaways, three giveaways, eight blocked shots, 12 attempts that never hit the net and he is a successful 70-for-129 (54.3 percent) in the faceoff circle.