Penguins look for Jagr's return to reawaken offense By ALAN ROBINSON AP Sports Writer Wednesday May 02, 2001 5:05 AM PITTSBURGH (AP) - Jaromir Jagr doesn't know if he'll be back in Pittsburgh next season, given that the Penguins might have to dismantle their roster to keep paying his $10 million salary. He does know this: If he doesn't return to their lineup soon, he might not have the chance to win one more Stanley Cup with Mario Lemieux before his future is decided this summer. So, despite a strained right shoulder that probably needs another week to mend, Jagr expects to play Wednesday night as the Penguins try to take a 3-1 series lead against the Buffalo Sabres in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The alternative was not playing - and, to Jagr, that was no option at all. "In this situation, you don't think about yourself, you don't think about your health," Jagr said Tuesday. "The No. 1 thing is to win the hockey game. You'll do anything to get ready for the game, you'll take anything to help you play." That's why Jagr may get a pain-killing injection, even if he doesn't really want one. If he aggravates the injury but doesn't realize it because his shoulder has been numbed, he risks missing the rest of the playoffs. Lemieux said only last week the Penguins probably can't challenge for the Cup unless Jagr is playing and producing. "Obviously, with Jags out there it gives Mario a whole lot more room," defenseman Bob Boughner said. "It does throw a wrench into things when he's not out there." That seemed evident Monday as the Sabres held Lemieux without a point and the Penguins to 12 shots in the final two periods in a 4-1 victory that prevented them from going down 3-0 in the series. No doubt the Sabres' domination helped convince Jagr he needed to return. Even if his shooting touch is off - he was hurting so badly in practice Monday he couldn't shoot the puck - his mere presence on the ice will force the Sabres to alter their defensive strategy. In Game 3, the Sabres did exactly what the Penguins did to them in the first two games, limiting Pittsburgh's scoring chances and staying patient until their defense created offensive opportunities. "We have to be physical on him (Jagr) but, on the other hand, we have to be smart," goalie Dominik Hasek said. "We can't pay too much attention to one player and leave the other player open. That's why they are so good, because they have two great players. If you pay too much attention to one of them, the other gets open." Added Sabres defenseman James Patrick, "You have to be patient and respect the skill of that team. We played more like they have been playing. We played like them, which was super cautious. I don't know how much fun it was to watch, but we got the win." Jagr wouldn't say so, but Lemieux's preseries comments that Jagr needed to play better and be more of a leader also might have accelerated his return. Jagr, discussing the remarks for the first time Tuesday, seemed hurt by them. But he wouldn't criticize Lemieux, saying, "He was trying to push me to a higher level." "I got injured right after he made those comments and it's made everything a lot worse," Jagr said. "I don't think he should say that, he should tell me (in private), it would make it easier on the team. But he decided to say it in public and I respect it. ... Maybe he misunderstands, but I want the same thing he does." Jagr has made dramatic playoff comebacks from injuries before. In 1999, he missed four games with a sore groin, only to return unexpectedly with the Penguins down 3-2 against New Jersey. He scored the tying and game-winning goals in Game 6. The Penguins went on to win Game 7 on the road. "But I'm not superhuman or Superman and can go out there (injured) and score three goals," Jagr said. "For me to play well I've got to be at 100 percent. A lot of great players are out there trying to stop you."
