Kritik und Lob » t-handed ace won a total of 11 Grand Slams to

NEW YORK -- Struggling Rangers centre Brad Richards was a healthy scratch Thursday night when New York stayed alive in the Stanley Cup playoffs with a 4-3 overtime victory in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Boston Bruins. Richards, a star player earning $12 million this season, stayed on the ice with the extras Thursday during the morning skate. He then confirmed that Rangers coach John Tortorella had called to tell him he would be sitting out. "Hes playing seven or eight minutes, and its not good for him," Tortorella said. "I also feel some other guys have played better, so thats where he is right now in our lineup." New York rallied from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits before Chris Kreider scored the winning goal in overtime to force Game 5 in Boston on Saturday. Kris Newbury and Micheal Haley replaced Richards and fellow fourth-line forward Arron Asham, who also sat out for the first time in the series that Boston now leads 3-1. "I dont know if surprised is the right word for it," Richards said. "Im disappointed." Haley, who hadnt played since March 19, made his NHL post-season debut. Newbury was in the lineup for New Yorks playoff opener against Washington in the first round, but was scratched for the next nine games. Newbury played six games during the regular season, and Haley dressed for nine. Defenceman Anton Stralman, who was injured in the second period of Tuesday nights loss, was also out of the Game 4 lineup. Veteran Roman Hamrlik, who hadnt played since April 1 -- a 23-game span -- replaced him. Boston used the same lineup from Game 3. The 33-year-old Richards, an alternate captain who has seven years left on the nine-year, $60 million deal he signed in July 2011, has been largely ineffective in 10 playoff games. He has one goal and no assists and has a minus-3 rating. "Dont put words in my mouth, because Im not blaming Brad, because he is a hell of a hockey player thats having a hell of a time," Tortorella said. "I need to make decisions about what I feel is right for our team to win tonights game. Thats why I made that decision." Richards had already been dropped to the fourth line and had his ice time cut. Richards inability to get New Yorks woeful power play going left him as an odd-man out. He said being on the fourth line made it difficult for him to be effective. "It doesnt work for him," Tortorella said of Richards. "Im not playing him the proper way, but I cant put him in a situation on the other lines because I think the other lines stepped up. "I am looking to get some sort of identity on that fourth line, and thats where Brad comes out and I go with these guys. We got some fresh legs and enthusiasm." Richards, in his 12th NHL season, had only 10 shifts and a career playoff-low 8:10 of ice time Tuesday in New Yorks 2-1 loss that put the Rangers on the brink of elimination. Richards is a prime candidate to have his contract bought out after this season. After this years lockout, each team was given the option of two amnesty buyouts that could be used to terminate contracts before next season or the 2014-15 season. The buyouts will cost two-thirds of the remaining amount on a deal -- paid evenly over twice its remaining length -- and will count against the players overall share in revenues, but not the individual teams salary cap. A buyout for Richards would cost the Rangers $24 million over 14 years. "Nothings over," Richards said. "Work harder and try my best to never let it happen again." Richards, who had 11 goals and 23 assists in 46 games during the regular season, was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP when he and the Tampa Bay Lightning captured the Stanley Cup under Tortorella in 2004. "This is a guy that Ive grown up with, a guy that I love as a person and a player," Tortorella said, "but I have to make that decision regarding (the benching). Its not about blaming that guy." Evan Engram Jersey . -- When the Florida Panthers fell behind by two goals in the first period to the top team in the NHL, it appeared they were on their way to yet another loss. Daniel Jones Jersey . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. 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THE 5 EVENTSMen (2 events): Singles, doublesWomen (2 events): Singles, doublesMixed doublesTHE FORMAT64 players for the mens and womens singles (16 seeds), 32 teams for the mens and womens doubles (8 seeds), 16 teams for the mixed doubles (4 seeds).Knock-out tournaments. All matches will be best of 3 sets, except for the mens singles final, which will be best of 5 sets.The two losing semi-finalists will compete in a bronze medal match.The tie-break operates in every set. In the mixed doubles the third set will be played as a match tie-break (10 points).MILESTONES1874British officer Walter Clopton Wingfield establishes the first rules of lawn tennis.1877The first Wimbledon tournament is held, and won by Englishman Spencer Gore.1881The US Open is held for the first time.1900Great Britains Charlotte Cooper wins two gold medals in tennis at the Paris Games (womens singles and mixed doubles). She thus becomes the first female Olympic champion.1905The Australian Open is held for the first time.1925The 4th Grand Slam tournament, the French Open, is held for the first time.1927Following a conflict between the International Lawn Tennis Federation and the IOC concerning professionals at the Games, tennis disappears from the Olympic programme until 1988, in Seoul.1968The dawn of the Open Era. Creation of the professional circuit and ATP rankings.1969Australian Rod Laver completes a second calendar Grand Slam, a feat he had already achieved in 1962.1973Introduction of the tie-break.19888German Steffi Graf becomes the first tennis player to pull off the Golden Slam, winning all four Grand Slam tournaments and Olympic gold (in Seoul) in the same calendar year.dddddddddddd2012Swiss Roger Federer wins Wimbledon for the 7th time to claim his 17th Grand Slam title. He leads the all-time list ahead of American Pete Sampras and Spains Rafael Nadal (14 Grand Slam wins each).STARSRod Laver (Australia)Mr. Grand Slam. The only player to have completed two calendar Grand Slams, in 1962 and 1969. The left-handed ace won a total of 11 Grand Slams tournaments and 5 Davis Cup titles between 1959 and 1973.Martina Navratilova (Czechoslovakia/United States)The Queen of Wimbledon. The Czech-born American won 18 Grand Slam singles titles, half of them at Wimbledon. She won a total of 59 Grand Slam titles, including womens and mixed doubles. Her final Grand Slam win came in the mixed doubles at the 2006 US Open, at the age of 49. Navratilova also holds the record for most singles titles: 167.Pete Sampras (United States)Pistol Pete. 14 victories in Grand Slam tournaments between 1990 and 2002, including 7 Wimbledon titles. That saw the American equal Willie Renshaws record (although the competition maybe wasnt as stiff in the 1880s...), a feat matched by Roger Federer in 2012. An immense champion, Sampras also won 2 Davis Cups and 5 World Tour Finals. ' ' '