With Jagr Out, Penguins Hurting

The Pittsburgh Penguins must be trying to tie their way into the playoffs. Without Jaromir Jagr, their offense is struggling.

The Penguins got only 17 shots and few good scoring chances in a 1-1 tie with the Ottawa Senators on Monday night at Pittsburgh.

“It was kind of boring hockey, I guess,” said Pittsburgh’s Martin Straka, who couldn’t score on two breakaways. “They don’t give you anything and kind of sit back and wait. I think we did the same thing. Just sit back and wait. But we got some chances at the end and they did, too.”

The Penguins are 0-2-2 since Jagr injured his hamstring a week ago Monday in Tampa, Fla., and are 1-0-4 in their last five home games. Ottawa is 1-14-4 all-time in Pittsburgh.

Jagr was to be released from a hospital Monday night, three days after having surgery to remove a blood clot from his left thigh. He is not expected to play again until at least mid-March and possibly could be out even longer.

“We don’t have a clue [when he’ll return],” Penguin General Manager Craig Patrick said. “It all depends on how his legs react.”

Washington 3, New York Islanders 2--Adam Oates scored his 300th goal with 5:01 left, giving the Capitals a victory at Uniondale, N.Y.

Oates rushed down the right side on a four-on-four and attempted a centering pass to Steve Konowalchuk. Instead, the puck caromed off Islander defenseman Aris Brimanis’ skate past goalie Roberto Luongo to lead the Capitals to their third win in four games.

Buffalo 5, Florida 2--Stu Barnes scored twice and Dominik Hasek stopped 30 shots at Sunrise, Fla.

The Sabres, who pulled within one point of the eighth-place New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference, got three second-period goals and kept Pavel Bure, the NHL’s leading scorer, quiet for much of the night.