RICHTER KNEE SHOULD BE OK 
By BARRY BAUM
Original Publication:  January 11, 2001 
 
In a procedure that should help his movement on the ice, not to mention maneuvering in and out of those tight taxi backseats, Mike Richter sat out practice yesterday to have fluid removed from his increasingly painful left knee. 

Coming off one of his best recent performances (16 saves) in the 2-1 loss to Dallas Monday, Richter said he expects to play in the Rangers' next game, Saturday at Boston, and then, perhaps, Sunday against Minnesota at the Garden. 

Richter, who had surgery last April to repair a torn ACL in the same left knee, said it has been bothering him since right before Christmas. But with three days until the Bruins game, the 34-year old goaltender chose to have it drained yesterday by assistant team doctor Anthony Maddalo in order to reduce the progressive swelling. 

"It wasn't exactly as much fun as I anticipated," Richter joked at the team's practice facility at Rye Playland. 

A few hours after the procedure, Richter said it was too soon to sense how the knee would feel once he returns to the ice. However, he added that Dr. Maddalo "didn't seem concerned at all" about the knee's condition. 

Richter will sit out practice again today, but hopes to return tomorrow. Coach Ron Low, who has used Richter relentlessly this season (30 starts in 42 games), said that he would likely start back-up Kirk McLean in one of the games this weekend. 

Realizing that he might have over-utilized Richter earlier in the season, the first-year Ranger coach said that he doesn't want to repeat that mistake. 

"As far as him being tired, we don't want to get into that situation again," Low said. 

And yet, Richter, after a devastating slump, has begun to noticeably upgrade his play. So, too, have his teammates, though with little to show for it. In the last three games (0-2-1), Richter and the Rangers have held their own against Dallas, the Devils and Phoenix, all playoff-bound clubs. Still, the Rangers are winless in their last eight (0-6-1-1). 

"I thought the game in Phoenix [a 3-1 loss last Thursday]  was a huge step forward [for Richter]," Low said. "I think he's been positioned better. He hasn't been scrambling nearly as much. He's been keeping pucks with him, not as many rebounds as there were before." 

Richter, in his 12th Ranger season, agrees that his skills are sharper of late. 

"Everything's not perfect and I can play better," he said. "But I feel strong in the net. I have for the last three games."