Flyers vow to come out hitting

For longtime observers of the Flyers, it's as if the first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against Buffalo is being played in an alternative universe.

There was Sabres coach Lindy Ruff in Buffalo on Thursday calling the Flyers whiners because Mike Richards was not complimentary of the officiating in Wednesday's 1-0 Flyers defeat.

That loss left the best-of-seven series even at two games apiece with Game 5 on Friday at the Wells Fargo Center.

"They're really doing a lot of whining," Ruff said. "I didn't hear a lot of whining when they had 10 power plays in Philly, and I didn't hear them whining when the power plays in the first game were lopsided. But all of a sudden there's all this whining about we're getting away with murder. That's a bunch of crap. That's for the media. That's for the officials to read. That's for, 'Here, let's get the next call.' That's a bunch of crap. Let's just play."

When Ruff's comment was relayed to Richards, who was miffed because he was whistled for a major elbowing penalty against Patrick Kaleta, the Flyers captain responded, "That's fine. That's fine. We're focused on [Game 5].

Ruff "seems to have a way with the media," Richards said. "He does this, I think, every time they're in the playoffs. We're just focused on [Game 5], getting a good start, and getting some licks in on their good players and not letting the other stuff bother us."

So the skate seems to be on the other foot. Typically in the playoffs, it's the Flyers accusing their opponent of whining and the opponent griping about how the Flyers are getting away with the nasty, gratuitous stuff.

There's no doubt this series has taken on a snarling tone. After all, it's rare when Kimmo Timonen, as poised and calm as they come, is throwing punches in a pileup of bodies after the final horn.

"I don't usually get mad, but once things get out of control and there's hitting from behind and hitting to the head, hitting after the whistle, those are things I can't take, and sometimes you get emotional about it," the Flyers veteran defenseman said Thursday. "But that was [Wednesday]. I'm focused on [Friday]. I'm expecting us to come out hard, really hard. I don't know how many hits we had, but I'd say we have to double it for [Game 5]. It's going to be our fans and our rink, and we're going to come out hard. Trust me."

The Flyers had an optional practice Thursday, and the majority of regulars opted to rest. Through a team spokesman, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren listed Jeff Carter as day-to-day. Carter left Wednesday's game late in the first period after a collision with Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers. Carter, the club's leading goal scorer during the regular season, was in pain and favoring his right leg, leading to speculation he might have suffered a knee injury.

Meantime, there was growing speculation defenseman Chris Pronger would return for Game 5. Recovering from a broken right hand, Pronger took part in an abbreviated practice and departed before it concluded. He appeared a little more comfortable taking wrist shots than in recent days but still isn't taking slapshots. Holmgren continued to list Pronger as day-to-day. Pronger has said he won't address his status publicly until after he returns.

The Flyers, though, seemed quite ready to address what they regarded as the liberties the Sabres took against them as Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller stopped 32 shots in the 1-0 win. It was Miller's second shutout of the series, following a 1-0 win in Game 1. Richards said the Flyers have to begin leaving calling cards for the most dangerous Sabres.

"We plan to be physical as usual," Richards said. "I think we got away from hitting the players we need to key on and not worry about the other players as much. They've got some skilled players who can make plays, and if we allow them to go off the ice without being hit, they're obviously going to create a lot. Players like [Tim] Connolly and [Thomas] Vanek, and Myers, we have to try to get a body on them as much as possible to slow them down."

Richards agreed the Flyers must stay out of the penalty box by refusing to get involved in the extraneous pushing, shoving, and jabbing the Sabres employed, perhaps as a strategy to throw the Flyers off their game.

"I like our discipline. I like what we're doing, walking away from it," Richards said. Alluding to the officials, he added, "You'd hope something was going to happen, I guess, but if not, we can't worry about that stuff. We've got to key on their players and not cross that boundary, and I think we've been disciplined up to this point.

"Obviously it can be better, but at the same time we've done a lot of good things in walking away from the scrums and, um, not kind of feeding into their B.S."