NEW YORK The last time Jaromir Jagr scored a playoff goal was four years and four teams ago, in Game 2 of the 2012 first round for the Flyers against the Penguins. After four shots on goal in Game 4 of the 2016 first round for the Panthers against the Islanders on Wednesday night, Jagr has had his last 93 playoff attempts fail to sneak past a goaltender.
Still, with an a sist in Floridas 2-1 win to even the best-of-seven series at two games apiece, Jagr became the fifth player in NHL history with 200 Gary Carter Jersey career playoff points, joining Wayne Gretzky, Mark Me sier, Jari Kurri and Glenn Anderson all members of the 1980s Oilers.
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Its only one thing I care about, and its a lot of guys counting on me to help, and I just dont want to disappoint them, Jagr said. I just want to do the best for people who trust in me. Thats all I worry about, nothing personal. I just want to be here to help. Thats what I really worry about, is how Im going to help.
Jose Reyes Jersey Jagr helped the Panthers this season with 27 goals and 39 a sists for a team-high 66 points. He turned 44 in February, and over most of the past two games in Brooklyn has mostly looked it, but then you get a moment like the one in the second period of what was then a scorele s duel.
The Panthers were on a power play after Matt Martin was called for tripping, and Jagr rushed the net, all but trying to shove the puck past Thomas Grei s. The New York netminder denied the effort, but Jagr scooped the loose puck, did a little shimmy behind the net, shook off a defender, cro sed to the other side Matt Harvey Jersey and flipped a quick pa s over to Teddy Purcell, who couldnt help but score into the yawning cage.
Jaromir Jagr, right, and Teddy Purcell celebrate Purcell's goal. (Getty Images)
If Jagr wasnt going to score himself, this was good enough, a reminder of what a creative offensive player he has been and still is, and a reminder that at some point, the drought will end for a player who has scored on 13.8 percentof his career shots in the regular season and 11.6 percentin the playoffs.
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I keep saying, even before this game, these last three games, (Jagrs) line contributes and they bring us momentum, Panthers forward Nick Bjugstad said. They make plays, make it hard for the D to be in their Keith Hernandez Jersey way. Its a tough game to play against a guy like Jags. He just sticks his butt out and makes plays.
Jagrs rear end might deserve its own induction to the Hall of Fame, but, like the man to whom it is attached, it truly is a butt that wont quit. What is incredible about Jagr is that while he does show plenty of signs of age, waning strength isnt one of them, and if he gets position on you, Neil Walker Jersey youre pretty much done.
Hes capable to do anything, said Jagrs linemate Aleksander Barkov, who, at the age of 20 now, was born three years after Jagr last hoisted the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 1992. Hes a great player, and he can do anything in the offensive zone. Hes very smart and he can protect the puck, he has a great shot, he can pa s great, just a great player.
Reaching the 200-point plateau in the playoffs is just another marker of Jagrs greatne s. Part of the fun of experiencing him at 44 is that, with nothing left to prove to anyone, he can just go out, play and let the numbers come as they may.
I dont force anything, Jagr said. Ive scored enough goals. If I dont score any, ever, Ill be happy with my hockey career, man. Dont worry about it. To be honest with you, do you remember who scored goals 10 years ago? I dont. I dont even remember who won the Cup, to be honest with you. So, its everything about a Jay Bruce Jersey Cup. Who cares who scored? I want to help, of course, but nobody remembers the next year only the champions.
With that, Jagr winked and smiled. With his help, the Panthers avoided going down 3-1 in the first round, reclaimed home-ice advantage in the series and still can be very positive about their chances of being champions.
