Richards says Pens' Cooke slew-footed him

Rangers center Brad Richards, nursing a jammed neck from an open-ice hit delivered from behind by the Penguins' Matt Cooke, on Friday accused the oft-suspended forward of "a slew-foot, a cheap play" that was not called a penalty.

Richards, who was held out of practice for treatment but intends to play in Saturday's much-anticipated matinee in Boston against the defending Stanley Cup champion Bruins, fell backward and hit his head on the ice after Cooke's left leg swept him off his skates midway through the second period.

"He came up beside me, from behind, and slew-footed me," said Richards, who remained on the ice momentarily and raised his arms to the officials, seeking a penalty call.

"I've played enough games to know what a slew-foot is," he said of the dangerous play in the Rangers' zone. "It is a slew-foot. It's not like he hit me face-to- face; he came at me sideways. It's a cheap play."

Richards, 31, said he experienced no concussion symptoms -- he missed 10 games with a concussion when he played for the Dallas Stars last season -- just a "stiff neck . . . it's locked up."

Asked if he was disappointed that after a review, the league did not fine or discipline Cooke, Richards said: "The league does what they do. It's not like it's the first time he's ever done it . . . That's their choice."

Rangers coach John Tortorella, who also coached Richards with the Tampa Bay Lightning, declined to comment on the play or Richards' remarks. "I'm not going to talk about it," he said.

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Cooke, who has been named in players' polls as among the dirtiest players in the NHL, has a history of blindside violations. Last March, his elbow to the head of Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh triggered a suspension of 10 games and the first round (seven games) of the playoffs. In November 2008, his hit to the head of forward Artem Anisimov drew a two-game ban. This year, however, Cooke has only 14 minutes in penalties in 45 games.