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PITTSBURGH (AP) – Jaromir Jagr scored two goals, Mario Lemieux
got two of his own. With the playoffs approaching, the Pittsburgh
Penguins' two stars are getting hot just at the right time.
|  | | Defenseman Bob Boughner blocks a shot for Pens goalie Johan Hedberg. |
Jagr, trying for a fourth consecutive scoring title, had his
fourth multiple-goal game in March as the Penguins beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 Thursday night.
Pittsburgh won its third in a row, all with rookie Johan Hedberg
in goal, to move within one point of fifth-place Buffalo, 90-89, in
the Eastern Conference playoff race. With five games remaining, the
Penguins have surpassed their 88 points of last season.
Steve Sullivan scored his league-high eighth shorthanded goal to
put Chicago up 1-0, but the Blackhawks -- eliminated Wednesday from
the playoff race -- lost their sixth in row. They have eight goals
in the six games, never scoring more than two in any game.
Jagr, who began the night a point behind Colorado's Joe Sakic in
the scoring race, got four points on two goals and two assists. He
put the Penguins ahead 2-1 in the first period with his 45th goal,
then added his 46th a period later, a goal initially awarded to
Lemieux.
Jagr, who now has 112 points, is trying for his fourth scoring
title in a row and fifth since 1995. He has three goals in two
games after going four games without a goal.
It was only the second time since Lemieux returned that both he
and Jagr had two goals in the same game. The other time was March 2
against the New York Rangers.
"I think he's going to win another scoring title," linemate
Jan Hrdina said. "It's going to be tough, with us playing three of
the last four on the road, but I think he's going to get it."
So does Lemieux, who has combined with Jagr to win every NHL
scoring title since 1992 but one.
"It's important for him and the organization. It's a great
accomplishment and we want to keep it in Pittsburgh," Lemieux
said.
Jagr wasn't even in the top 15 scorers when Lemieux returned in
late December.
"Nobody gave me a chance early in the season," Jagr said.
"But there's five games left and I have a chance. I'm not going to
say no, it doesn't matter to me because yes, it does matter to me.
If I'm that close, I would like to win it."
On his second goal, Jagr held off Michael Nylander with one hand
while sweeping the puck toward the net with the other hand from
along the right wing boards. Lemieux appeared to steer the puck
past goaltender Jocelyn Thibault from along the left side of the
net, but TV replays showed the puck glancing off the back skate of
Chicago's Kevin Dean.
"They are such a great team on the rush," Chicago interim
coach Denis Savard said. "It is difficult to defend. When you give
them time and space, that's what's going to happen. They will beat
you on the rush."
Lemieux got both of his goals in the final 3:44. He scored at
16:16 of the third, driving to the net to put in a rebound of a
shot he somehow steered through two Blackhawks from the slot.
Lemieux added an empty-net goal with 34 seconds remaining on
Jagr's assist and some fans, unaware he had lost the previous goal
he was awarded, threw hats onto the ice to celebrate a hat trick
that wasn't.
"The fans made a mistake," Lemieux said, smiling.
With four points -- he figured in the Penguins' last four goals --
Lemieux has 33 goals and 35 assists for 68 points in 40 games -- a
pace that would have easily won him a seventh scoring title if he
had played a full season.
Hans Jonsson also scored for Pittsburgh, 37 seconds after
Sullivan's goal at 7:31 of the first, for his fourth of the season
and third in as many Pittsburgh home games.
Jagr scored at 13:33, putting his stick out to knock down a
Lemieux pass and angle it past Thibault.
Jagr has had three two-goal games and one three-goal game in
March and has 10 goals in his last 11 games despite the recent
scoring slump.
Hedberg is 4-1-1 since joining the Penguins, allowing five goals
during the three-game winning streak.
Still, coach Ivan Hlinka wants to play Garth Snow sometime
before the playoffs, perhaps Saturday against St. Louis.
"Don't ask me yet about the goalies," Hlinka said. "We just
have to find the right time and the right place for him (Snow.)"
Game notes
Chicago has scored more than two goals only once in 10
games, a 3-2 victory over Nashville on March 15. ... The Blackhawks
have been outscored 24-8 during their losing streak. ... Penguins
right wing Alexei Kovalev sat out the third game of a three-game
suspension. ... Lemieux has 25 goals in 25 career games against
Chicago. ... Pittsburgh right wing Kevin Stevens sat out the game with a
sore knee.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Chicago Clubhouse
Pittsburgh Clubhouse
RECAPS
NY Rangers 6
NY Islanders 4
Toronto 2
Philadelphia 1
Pittsburgh 5
Chicago 2
Montreal 6
Tampa Bay 2
Nashville 4
Phoenix 3
Colorado 1
Calgary 0
Los Angeles 3
Columbus 0
San Jose 7
Anaheim 4
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Jaromir Jagr's shot goes in off the skate of Kevin Dean.
avi: 1073 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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