By Michael Farber, SI.com
Omsk, to my knowledge, never has been described as the city that never sleeps.
For a long time - at least until the early 1990s, when the Soviet Union was breaking up, Omsk was the city where foreigners couldn't sleep. Omsk was closed. The city in southwest Siberia was a members-only kind of place because of the military industrial infrastructure there, a no-go zone, like the area around New York goaltender Henrik Lundqvist for much of Game 4 in the Rangers-Penguins series.
Even today Omsk is not exactly a tourist mecca like New York, where hotels are plentiful as long as you have a spare $305. In Omsk there is, well, basically, only the Omsk Tourist Hotel where, 30 seconds after entering the Spartan rooms, a female voice will call and ask in proper, if accented, English: Sex? Massage? Don't ask how I know.
Anyway, the differences between the grand hockey metropolises are mentioned in this space only because these seem to be the only logical destinations for Jaromir Jagr, the Rangers star right wing, who spent a happy season during the 2004-05 NHL lockout in the Siberian Shangri-La and has vowed to return at some point to Avangard Omsk of the Super League.
Of course he has been happy in New York playing for Rangers coach Tom Renney, as well, but this Czech international man of mystery has been vague about his plans for next season. Maybe Broadway. Maybe the Russian Borscht Belt.
"You never know what's going to happen next year, Lundqvist said. "But whatever happens, people around here will remember him as the great player he is."
This could be the swan song for Jagr with the Rangers. His seven-year contract, signed originally with the Washington Capitals, is expiring, and he is free to follow his heart -- or some oligarch's wallet.
He failed to meet all the standards during 2007-08 that would have triggered an automatic renewal of his NHL contract -- except one. If Jagr wins the Conn Smythe Trophy, he would have yet another season in New York. After a goal and assist in the Rangers' 3-0 victory over the previously unbeaten Penguins, this possibility has gone from preposterous to merely wildly improbable. Pittsburgh still leads the second-round series three games to one with a swell chance Sunday at home to close out the banged-up Rangers, who, like a light bulb that burns brightest just before it expires, cobbled together a magnificent, combative effort to prolong matters.
But consider this: Jagr surpassed Philadelphia's Daniel Briere for the playoff scoring lead with 15 points, which included two goals (one an empty netter) and an assist Thursday. He has been a force, a marauder who has been willing to play in high-density areas. Instead of being a conduit, a perimeter player, Jagr has thrown his considerable weight around, boring in on Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.
Certainly he has been willing to pay a price. Jagr scored the first New York goal midway through the second period in Game 4, cleverly using Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar as a screen and whipping the puck through Fleury. As the Rangers captain cut to the middle in celebration, defenseman Brooks Orpik clobbered him with a cheap shot that went unpenalized. Jagr lay on the Madison Square Garden ice for perhaps a minute, and then slowly clambered to his skates. The Garden erupted into cheers, 18,200 chanting his name.
"I couldn't celebrate (the goal)," Jagr said. "When I got hit, I was thinking Jerry Maguire. You remember that? (Rod Tidwell, played by Cuba Gooding Jr., getting Kayoed.) And I wanted to (get up) and start dancing, but I just couldn't do it. I was just thinking that it would be a funny thing to do."
Do they have Dancing as a Star in Siberia?
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Comments (20)
good blog,send to groups to get more views
Ny | 05/01/08, 11:55 PM
Report Offensive CommentYou seriously think that was a cheap shot Farber? No way he took it easy on him, you come to the middle keep your head on a swivel. Jagr's lucky Orpik didn't get all of him, or his head would be in the 12th row. OK Rangers you won a game but I still expect you to cry about something. Let's hear it...
fleckpsu06 | 05/02/08, 01:27 AM
Report Offensive CommentThe Rangers looked very good. If you think about the entirety of the series, after this game it has been very evenly played, and we just have to hope the Pens win on Sunday to keep the pressure that will come with going back to NY after loosing two in a row.
Jagr is a faker...he didn't even get hit that hard. Go to Russia and good riddance. Hope he goes to the Hall as a Ranger.
EnoughJOEPATERNO | 05/02/08, 01:31 AM
Report Offensive CommentI agree with fleck, there's no way it was a cheap shot. He didn't get a chance to celebrate his goal because Orpik whacked him RIGHT as it went it. It was a clean hit, he cut across the middle and didn't see it coming. If it was Scott Stevens throwing the hit, it would've made the highlight reels.
And it really sickens me that everyone made such a big deal that Jagr "didn't miss a shift." That's because NOTHING WAS WRONG, he stayed down on the ice to try to draw a penalty. Didn't work. Get up and play, Sally!
egon196 | 05/02/08, 10:14 AM
Report Offensive CommentRangers in 7!!!!
THEGREATONE | 05/02/08, 12:53 PM
Report Offensive CommentNice hit, should've been about two seconds earlier than this wonderful article would be about something else. Jags sould've kept his head up.
Hf4life | 05/02/08, 01:10 PM
Report Offensive Commentsorry, should've
Hf4life | 05/02/08, 01:16 PM
Report Offensive CommentIt was definitely a dirty hit. Only a $hitsburgh fan would say otherwise.
Hank W. | 05/02/08, 01:20 PM
Report Offensive CommentEverything a winning team does is dirty to the losing teams. The ONLY two reasons the rangers won last night was 1) Lundqvist was in the zone and had to stand on his head the entire game. and 2) Malkin kinda sucked on the PS.
Hf4life | 05/02/08, 01:25 PM
Report Offensive CommentThe Rangers won. Your point is?
Hank W. | 05/02/08, 01:31 PM
Report Offensive CommentPens will be on home ice, it'll be a nice way to see Jags so into the sunset. The team that drafted him will be the team to send him on his way.
Hf4life | 05/02/08, 01:34 PM
Report Offensive CommentRanger's played a good game though. Game 5 will be a good one
Hf4life | 05/02/08, 01:45 PM
Report Offensive CommentThe real cheap shot of the game was Malkin's towards the end. That was pathetic, but not unusual for a Russian player. Why they have to cheapen their game so often when they are so talented is beyond me.
Phantomphan | 05/02/08, 01:50 PM
Report Offensive CommentI heard there was two of em, I only saw the one with like 2 minutes remaining. Love the Pens, but that was not cool
Hf4life | 05/02/08, 01:53 PM
Report Offensive Commenti'm crying about stupid fans like you fleckpsu06 because i don't see any Ranger fans complaining, only fans like you complaining that Ranger fans complain
NYfan2008 | 05/02/08, 01:54 PM
Report Offensive CommentRangers in 7!!!!
THEGREATONE | 05/02/08, 02:47 PM
Report Offensive CommentGood luck Rangers, your gonna need it
Hf4life | 05/02/08, 03:26 PM
Report Offensive CommentRed Wings fan's 2 cents: Penguins play a very attractive attacking brand of hockey...the way the game should be played. Malkin is a supremely talented player who will only get better. He, along with stars like Crosby, Datsyuk and Iginla will help this league get healthier. Those two plays at the end of the Ranger's 3-0 Game 4 win were ugly...not the way the game should be played.
Sportsfan216 | 05/02/08, 03:51 PM
Report Offensive CommentSee New York fan I knew you'd cry abotu something
fleckpsu06 | 05/03/08, 09:40 AM
Report Offensive CommentThe Pens are young and got out-worked by a team on the brink of elimination, in their barn.
They played a close game, but were just outworked.
It was a lesson and they will use it when they close out the series at home.
It was a clean hit by Orpik and Jagr was rocked by it with no faking. He got caught. He got up, shook it off and played well the rest of the game. In other words, he played hockey.
It was good to see Crosby and Malkin mix it up. That rarely happens with either player and they looked a little fed up. It will probably be the last time that you see both of them involved in a dust up together. Pens fans who say that Lemieux never fought are wrong. When he got mad, he hurt people. If the refs are going to let Crosby get hit in the mouth with the butt of the stick repeatedly, then he better go make it stop.
The Rangers have stepped up their game in the playoffs, but they are no match for the Pens. They don't have the firepower and the Pens are playing a semblance of a defense. They also have the benefit of having the hottest goalie in the playoffs. The Rangers have a very good goalie, but he is facing impossible chances with the Pens aggressive style.
Right now, I see a final matchup of Detroit and Pittsburgh. That could make for an interesting final. I would like to see how the Pens stand up to an attacking style similar to their's.
pharaoh | 05/04/08, 10:21 AM
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