NHL suspends Sabres RW Kaleta 5 games for hit on Rangers' Brad Richards

BUFFALO, N.Y. - The NHL has suspended Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta for five games without pay for shoving New York Rangers forward Brad Richards from behind and into the boards.

The NHL's department of player safety announced the suspension Monday, a day after the player delivered the check in the third period of Buffalo's 3-2 shootout loss at New York.

Kaleta was assessed a major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct. The league took into account that Richards was shaken up, but returned. The league also noted Kaleta had been suspended twice before in his career.

Kaleta will lose more than $72,000 in salary, and begin serving the suspension Tuesday, when Buffalo plays at Carolina.

He's not eligible to return until March 17, when Buffalo plays at Washington.