No goals, no problem. That's the stance Jaromir Jagr is (rightfully) taking during the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The NHL veteran hasn't found the back of the net in 35 postseason games and has just one point in the Panthers' best-of-seven first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Islanders.
Jagr knows that his role on the young Panthers team goes well beyond putting up points. It's all about leadership.
In Florida's Game 4 victory, Jagr picked up his lone point of the series -- his 200th playoff point of his career -- assisting on a power play goal by Teddy Purcell. Though he's 0-for-13 on shots against New York netminder Thomas Greiss this series, the NHL journeyman isn't concerned.
"Do you remember who scored goals 10 years ago? I don't," Jagr said after Game 4, according to NHL.com. "I don't even remember who won the Cup, to be honest with you. It's everything about the Cup. Who cares (if I score)? I want to help of course, but nobody remembers next year. Only the champions."
The only thing that matters right now to the Czech superstar is that his team picked up a big 2-1 victory on Wednesday to tie their series with the Islanders at 2-2 as it heads back to the BB&T Center in Florida for Game 5.
Jagr, 44, has taken a leadership role on the team, along with goaltender Roberto Luongo, 37.
The forward plays on an explosive top line for Florida along with Jonathan Huberdeau, 22, and Aleksander Barkov, 20, whose ages combined don't add up to Jagr's. Neither of Jagr's linemates were born when he made his NHL debut in 1990, nor when he won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 1991 and 1992.
It is that championship pedigree that Jagr is trying to bring to the young Panthers team, a club in search of its first playoff series victory since 1996. Though he hasn't scored, Florida coach Gerard Gallant said Jagr "played real well" in Game 4.
As for the two-time Stanley Cup champion, he's content with his current role in The Sunshine State.
"I don't force anything," Jagr said. "I've scored enough goals. If I don't score any ever [again], I'll be happy with my hockey career. I don't worry about it."
For more content, follow us on Twitter @SportsWN or LIKE US on Facebook.
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
