Die Macht » host the first two rounds of last seasons NC

WILMINGTON, Mass. -- The speed and scoring touch that made Jaromir Jagr one of the NHLs best players are gone. Even the famous mullet that flowed from beneath his helmet disappeared many moons ago. But his passion for hockey remains. Now hes bringing that back to Pittsburgh, the city where he won Stanley Cups in his first two seasons. More than two decades later, the 41-year-old right wing can help the Boston Bruins win their second title in three seasons. First, they must beat the offensively potent Penguins in the Eastern Conference finals. The first two games are in Pittsburgh, with the schedule to be announced after the Western Conference semifinals end Wednesday. "I dont really remember the last time I was in this position," Jagr said after practice Tuesday. "It doesnt happen very often and the players should realize that. Its not automatic to make the playoffs or automatic to be in the last four teams to play for the Cup." Jagr was just 18 when his rookie season began in 1990. He was on the Penguins team that beat the Bruins in six games in the conference finals. A year later, Pittsburgh swept Boston in the same round, winning the first game on Jagrs overtime goal. The Penguins went on to win their first two Cups those seasons. Way back then, he didnt concern himself with how long he might keep playing. "I dont think you think that way at all," he said, but "if you love something, it doesnt matter what it is. If you love your job, you love your wife or somebody or something, you just want to be with that all the time. So, to me, I love this game. So as long as I can play, I want to play. Thats the reason Im playing. I just love it." That desire has taken him to six NHL teams, with a three-year break from 2008-11 to play in Russia. He brought it to the Bruins, who needed an offensive boost, when they obtained him from the Dallas Stars on April 2. But Pittsburgh is the city where he established himself. "A lot of people still remind me (of) that, but it happened 13 years ago, the last time I played for them," Jagr said. "So its a long time and 23 years ago was my first game." But what if someone had told him when he was starting out that hed be playing for the Bruins against the Penguins in the playoffs all these years later? "I dont think anybody would have told me that," Jagr said with a laugh. "I was 18 years old so I didnt think that far ahead. I was kind of thinking, Whats going to be tomorrow? not Whats going to be 20 years later?" Hes already won a playoff round this season against a former team. The Bruins won the conference semifinals in five games over the New York Rangers, where Jagr set the clubs single-season record with 54 goals in 2005-06. Bruins fans havent seen that scoring skill all that often. Jagr scored just two goals in 11 regular-season games and none in 12 playoff games for Boston. "I always love to score. Nothing is going to change me," he said. "Maybe something greats going to happen a little later." Its not as if he hasnt come close. "I think its unfortunate that his numbers dont reflect his play," Boston coach Claude Julien said. "I can remember twice, hes got the open net, right next to it, and gets robbed twice. Its got to be a little frustrating for a guy like him. "Hes there. Hes in the right position." With his big body and vast experience, Jagr still controls the puck while shielding opponents from it until he can make a good pass. When he was moved up from the third to the second line during the playoffs, his new linemates, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, started producing. "Hes made a lot of good things happen with that line," Julien said. And Bergeron expects Jagr to score soon. "Its right there. The goals are coming," Bergeron said. "Hes an amazing player. Im learning a lot. You need to learn where to be on the ice with new linemates." The Penguins certainly arent taking him lightly -- not one of the greatest players in their history. "Hes still got that good ability to get a shot off in tight spaces," Pittsburgh forward Sidney Crosby said. "So, yeah, I definitely think hes still a threat out there." Brenden Morrow was Jagrs teammate with Dallas this season until being traded to Pittsburgh on March 24. "Hes still just as excited as any 18-year-old in the locker room," Morrow said. "His skills are still there. His big bodys tough to move when hes planted and has possession of the puck. He played real well for us in Dallas, scored some big goals. "Hes a threat every time hes on the ice." Penguins coach Dan Bylsma, just 17 months older than Jagr, agrees. "I dont look at birth certificates," he said. "Hes still got game, maybe not the same hair as he did when he was in Pittsburgh, but hes still got game." A game that -- as it did 22 years ago -- can still help a team win a Stanley Cup. "We knew what we were getting out of a 41-year-old (future) Hall of Famer and that was that he was going to be solid," Julien said. "Hes been nothing but a great asset." ------ NOTES: Pittsburgh won all three games it played against Boston this season, all by one goal. ... Bruins defenceman Andrew Ference returned to practice after missing the last seven games with a lower body injury. Julien said he wasnt ready to say Ference would play in Game 1 if hes healthy.Jacob Stallings Jersey . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. Jim Leyland Jersey . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. https://www.cheappiratesjerseys.us/902e-danny-murtaugh-jersey-pirates.html . Oyama had six birdies and two bogeys at Kintetsu Kashikojima in the event also sanctioned by the Japan LPGA Tour. "I have been having this neck ache thats been affecting my golf recently," Oyama said. Wholesale Pirates Jerseys . MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also will attend the session, which was announced Monday. The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta. Dick Groat Jersey . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night.TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Leticia Romero scored 21 points and No. 7 Florida State beat No. 23 Florida 83-58 on Thursday night for its eighth straight victory.Shakayla Thomas added 16 points for the Seminoles (9-1), and Ivey Slaughter had 13 points and 10 rebounds for her 20th career double-double. Florida State has won four of its last five meetings in the in-state rivalry.Ronni Williams led the Gators (6-3) with 20 points. It was Floridas second loss to a ranked team in five days, with both coming on the road.A big key to Florida States win was rebounding as it enjoyed a 45-35 edge on the glass and a 19-2 advantage in second-chance points.The 25-point win is the fourth-largest margin that the Seminoles have defeated the Gators.BIG PICTUREFlorida: The Gators came into the game averaging 74.9 points but were held to a season low. They are 0-3 when scoring fewer than 70 points this season and 51-99 in Amanda Butlers 10 seasons att her alma mater.ddddddddddddlorida State: The Seminoles were 2-6 against Top 25 teams during the regular season last year, which is a big reason why they didnt host the first two rounds of last seasons NCAA Tournament. FSU though is 2-1 this season with the lone loss being by two points to top-ranked UConn. The win should also help bolster their RPI rating as the season progresses.UP NEXTFlorida: The Gators will remain in Northwest Florida to face North Carolina A&T on Sunday in a neutral-site game at Gulf Coast State College in Panama City.Florida State: The Seminoles are at UAB on Saturday. The two teams met last year, which FSU won 84-44.---More AP college basketball at http://collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Joe Reedy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/joereedy ' ' '