Flyers Notes: Flyers' Richards not suspended for Game 7 against Sabres

Much to the disappointment of the Buffalo Sabres, Flyers captain Mike Richards was not suspended Monday for his hit on Tim Connolly in Sunday's Game 6.

The Flyers said the NHL did not have a hearing on the incident.

That means Richards, who had a pair of assists in the Flyers' 5-4 overtime win, will be in the lineup for the decisive seventh game Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center.

Connolly's head hit the boards, and the Sabres said he will not play in Game 7, but they are expected to get Derek Roy back in the lineup. Roy was the Sabres' leading scorer when he underwent quadriceps surgery in late December.

Richards was asked if he was relieved to avoid a suspension.

The center said he was "excited to play; there is no doubt about that. I am not worried about that, and I am just worried about helping the team out and getting one by the goaltender."

Richards is looking for his first goal of the series.

In Buffalo, goalie Ryan Miller was fuming that Richards was not suspended for Game 7.

"I'm still upset," he said. "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's wasn't a just a hit. . . . It was blatant," Miller said. "I don't know where to go with this one because it's a tough game. Richards wants to win. It's not lost on me that he's a hard competitor, but, obviously, that was reckless."

The NHL disagreed.

The Flyers have more players with Game 7 experience. Will that give them an edge?

"I think it only has an effect on the first five minutes and probably the last five minutes of the game," Richards said. "Other than that, it's just hockey throughout the middle. We want to come out to a good start and get the crowd into it early and play our game. It's nice to have that experience, but at the same time you still are a little bit nervous for the game and are excited to get it going."

Of the players expected to be in the lineup Tuesday, the Flyers have played in more Game 7s altogether (32) than the Sabres (24).

Chris Pronger, who is again expected to play on a limited basis because he is not fully recovered from hand surgery, has played the most Game 7s (seven) on either side. His teams went 2-5 in those games.

Pronger was one of the Flyers' few regulars who took part in an optional skate Monday in Voorhees.

During Game 6, Kaleta reportedly made comments to Danny Briere and Scott Hartnell about their recent divorces.

Briere wouldn't confirm that it was Kaleta, but reiterated that a Sabre "crossed the line. But at the same time, it definitely played into our favor. You try to turn that into our advantage, and we did, both me and Scottie."

Briere scored two goals, and Hartnell sent the game into overtime with a third-period tally.

"There is no anger, there's nothing that I want to do or pay any more consequences," Briere said. "I think it was done [Sunday], and that's all it is. I'm just going to use that to my advantage to get fired up even more."

The Flyers and Sabres have been tied or separated by one goal for 87.5 percent of the series, the highest figure in any of the NHL's first-round matchups. . . . The Sabres are 1-5 overall in Game 7s, and 0-4 on the road. The Flyers are 8-6 in Game 7s, including a 5-3 home record.

Flyers captain not suspended for his hit on Connolly in Game 6. E4.