NEW JERSEY VS. PITTSBURGH COLORADO VS. ST. LOUIS

Wednesday, May 16 Updated: May 17, 7:56 PM ET Despite the drama, Jagr is still Jagr By Brian A. Shactman ESPN.com PITTSBURGH -- Jaromir Jagr has been in various stages of distraction or discouragement since the start of the playoffs. Or so it seems. After opening the playoffs with only one goal in a six-game series against Washington, the Penguins captain was publicly challenged to play better by his teammate and owner Mario Lemieux. Jaromir Jagr isn't always as serious as he seems. In Game 1 against the Sabres, Jagr's shoulder was injured, which sparked the "don't play vs. take painkillers and play" debate. Jagr had a spirited pregame discussion with coach Ivan Hlinka before missing Game 2. After he missed Game 3, he said it bothered him when the Pittsburgh crowd cheered when he was announced as a scratch. In the midst of the painkiller decision-making process, Jagr reiterated his belief that he will be traded during the offseason. The drama seemed to end before his Game 4 return on May 2 when he said it had been "the most difficult week of my life." Then, a day after the Penguins staged a monumental comeback against the Stanley Cup champs in Game 2, Jagr addressed his future (again) and pointed out (again) that he might end up traded to a nonplayoff team so winning the Cup (again) is paramount. But unlike other players would in his situation, Jagr isn't sulking around the locker room or on the ice. "He acts the same every day to me," Penguins defenseman Ian Moran said. "I think with him, everyone is used to him bouncing around and having so much fun like he has the last few years. He's getting older now. He's 29 and has matured. "God forbid he takes something serious. People take that the wrong way." Martin Straka, one of the pending free agents the Penguins might sign in the offseason in favor of keeping Jagr, has spent time on a line with Jagr during the playoffs and hasn't detected a difference in his play. "He's trying to help the team out. He's been a leader in the locker room, and he's been a leader on the ice," Straka said. "If he's not scoring goals or doesn't have as many points as the other guys, it doesn't mean he's not playing well or trying hard. It's just not going in for him. He's going to get his bounces and get back on track." The Devils were focused on their own issues for the first two rounds and weren't aware of the situation until the series began on Saturday. "I've heard about it because it's on TV and everyone is on his case," said Devils forward and Czech countryman Patrik Elias. "He hasn't been as dominant as usual. But it's the playoffs. You can't be dominant. You need a whole line working together. "Maybe, I don't know, the situation with Mario Lemieux coming back, maybe he let down mentally. I think he plays better when the pressure is on him." Whether Jagr is distracted or discouraged by his shoulder and the future, the Devils aren't taking Jagr's lack of point production for granted. In the 1999 Eastern Conference quarterfinals, the heavily-favored Devils lost to the Lemieux-less Penguins in seven games. Jagr, who missed four games of the series with a groin injury, scored two goals and three assists in the other three games. His overtime goal in Game 6 tied the series at 3. "Every time he's on the ice, he's as dangerous as he ever has been," said Devils forward Bobby Holik, whose Game 1 hit on Jagr was thought to have exacerbated his shoulder injury. "The moment you let up on him, he's going to take it all the way. He's just as dangerous as ever. His mind might be distracted a little bit with the turmoil that has gone on, but other than that, he's the same Jagr he's been for 10 years." Jagr, the NHL's scoring champion with 121 points (52-69-121), doesn't have a point in the conference finals and has only two goals and 12 points in 13 playoff games. Last season, Jagr had 16 points in 11 playoff games. Over his career he has averaged more than a point per game in the playoffs (65-82-147 in 137 games). Part of his drop-off in production is due to the Penguins' defensive style. However, New Jersey defenseman Ken Daneyko is happy to take some of the credit. "Sure, there's a possibility he's injured. (But) I think our team has done a pretty good job on him," Daneyko said. "It's funny, even on our team, when a guy isn't playing well, people say, 'Maybe he's hurt, maybe he's this.' Let's not forget, there are two teams out there, and sometimes a team is able to shut a certain player down." According to Elias, there is a good chance Jagr would have scoring problems despite any personal distractions. "It has to be tremendously tough that everybody knows he's one of the best players to play hockey, and everyone is aware of him when he's on the ice," Elias said. "He always has two or three guys on him. In the playoffs, it's tough; you don't get too many individual chances." Jagr's teammates don't seem concerned about his lack of production or his frame of mind. "It's tough to find any negatives about him as a person," Penguins forward Kevin Stevens said. "There's a lot of pressure on him, and when the media's around him, they all ask him the same questions. "He's meant a lot to the city of Pittsburgh and has meant a to to this team. ... I'd love to see him stay here, love to see him end his career here." Brian A. Shactman covers the NHL for ESPN.com. He can be reached at brian.shactman@espn.com. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories

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