NEW YORK - From a white-walled hallway on the bottom floor of the Barclays Center on Thursday night, a member of the Washington Capitals public-relations staff extended his hand to guide Mike Richards into an expansive room.
Less than two hours before Washington's game against the Islanders, a red Capitals curtain, draped from a portable rod, marked the spot where Richards would stand and carry out a task that he always considered a chore when he was the Flyers' captain: answering questions from the media. No, Richards never much liked this part of being an NHL player, but here he was, an NHL player again.