Richards shakes off injury and plays

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published December 12, 2007

Brad Richards was able to play after sustaining a knee injury a day earlier. Then, the center scored the only shootout goal as the Lightning rode hot goaltending from Marc Denis for one of its biggest victories, 3-2 at Montreal
	[AP photo]

MONTREAL - He skated. He stopped on a dime. He took his regular turn on the power play and penalty kill and showed some speed.

Lightning center Brad Richards looked terrific Tuesday against the Canadiens after severely bruising his left knee Monday in a scary crash into the end boards against the Maple Leafs.

"My knee hit flush onto the boards right on my kneecap," Richards said. "It hurt like hell. I guess I just needed to shake it off. It felt a lot better as the day went on."

As the game went on as well.

Richards played 30:16, scored Tampa Bay's only shootout goal and was solid on the penalty kill, especially in overtime.

It was the Prince Edward Island native's 521st NHL game and he continued an impressive streak of never missing a game because of injury.

He missed two games in 2002-03 to attend his grandmother's funeral.

"Nothing came unglued," Richards said of his knee. "I think I dodged a bullet."

ROUGH RIDE: Coach John Tortorella said the team did not get to its Montreal hotel until after 3 a.m. Tuesday.

Tampa Bay's charter flight from Toronto had to abort a landing then circled because of fog until being diverted from St. Hubert Airport to Pierre Trudeau Airport. The unexpected arrival had its consequences.

"They had problems finding stairs to get us off the plane," Tortorella said. "It was one of those nights. We were on the plane for a while, but we landed safely and that's the most important thing."

GAG ORDER: Tortorella did not allow players to speak to the media after their game-day lunch because of player meetings with the coaching staff.

"We're not here to please you guys," Tortorella told reporters. "We're here to win a hockey game. This is what we have to do."

Players were available before the game.

NO REGRETS: From his comments about trade rumors to his assessment of a dreadful loss, Tortorella several times used profanity in front of TV cameras in Toronto.

Asked about it in Montreal, there were no apologies, especially for calling the 6-1 loss an "old-fashioned (bleep) kicking."

"I don't know how angry I was," Tortorella said. "I was just stating a fact to what happened with our hockey club. Was I wrong in my assessment? No. For the second half of the game, that's what the game was about. But you guys run with it as some sort of raving lunatic."

As for his colorful use of language, Tortorella said, "I'm not going to be someone I'm not."

ODDS AND ENDS: Center Vinny Lecavalier has at least 20 goals in eight straight seasons. ... Center Craig MacDonald was a healthy scratch for the sixth straight game.

[Last modified December 12, 2007, 00:33:22]