GREENBURGH - Barring divine intervention, Jaromir Jagr won't play in the game in which the Rangers need him the most: Wednesday night's Game 3 matchup with the Devils at Madison Square Garden.
Jagr, in his first public comments since injuring his left shoulder late in the 6-1 loss in Game 1 on Saturday, said that he wasn't sure whether he would be back in time to help keep the memories of a surprising Rangers season from being quickly swept away in the best-of-seven series.
As his teammates practiced at the MSG Training Center here, Jagr received treatment on his shoulder, which was either dislocated or separated by a lunge at the Devils' Scott Gomez in center ice during a third-period penalty kill. He then emerged in gray shorts and a gray t-shirt bearing the grim news.
Asked if he would dress for what could appears to be a last stand on Broadway against the Devils, who lead the series 2-0, Jagr said, “I don't think so. It would have to be a miracle. It's better, but it's something you can't play hockey with. It's just too much pain. There's a lot of risk, but I don't worry about the risk.”
Jagr, who missed Game 2 on Monday, said the pain stops him “from doing anything, actually,” and that he felt it even while watching the 4-1 loss from his Upper West Side apartment. He didn't say whether he would stay home to watch the game tonight.
The Czech veteran, who played in all 82 regular-season games and carried the Rangers offense with 54 goals and 69 assists, wasn't in obvious discomfort while discussing his status.
As his teammates practiced at the MSG Training Center here, Jagr received treatment on his shoulder, which was either dislocated or separated by a lunge at the Devils' Scott Gomez in center ice during a third-period penalty kill. He then emerged in gray shorts and a gray t-shirt bearing the grim news.
Asked if he would dress for what could appears to be a last stand on Broadway against the Devils, who lead the series 2-0, Jagr said, “I don't think so. It would have to be a miracle. It's better, but it's something you can't play hockey with. It's just too much pain. There's a lot of risk, but I don't worry about the risk.”
Jagr, who missed Game 2 on Monday, said the pain stops him “from doing anything, actually,” and that he felt it even while watching the 4-1 loss from his Upper West Side apartment. He didn't say whether he would stay home to watch the game tonight.
The Czech veteran, who played in all 82 regular-season games and carried the Rangers offense with 54 goals and 69 assists, wasn't in obvious discomfort while discussing his status.