NHL ROUNDUP : Lemieux Considers Retirement; Penguins Lose to Canadiens

The news was bad for the Pittsburgh Penguins even before they lost to the Montreal Canadiens, 4-1, on Monday night at Pittsburgh.

Mario Lemieux, whose condition was diagnosed as Hodgkin’s disease last season, is so frustrated by his bad back he’s talking about retirement.

“I feel like I’m 28 going on 48,” the defending NHL scoring champion said. “If it doesn’t work out this year, I’ll think about retiring this summer.”

This is the first time Lemieux has discussed leaving hockey. Last fall, he disdained talk of a premature retirement, saying he still had things to accomplish. After a battery of radiation treatments sent his cancer into remission, Lemieux came back to win the scoring title last season and proclaimed he was still hungry to play.

Two operations and three months away from competitive hockey haven’t alleviated the back pain. He has appeared in only four of the Penguins’ 52 games this season. He has played a regular shift in only two. He hasn’t been in the lineup since Nov. 7.

Some mornings, Lemieux wakes up and feels fine. Other days he needs help to tie his shoes. There has been no way to predict how his back will feel.

Lemieux said he will discuss his future with those close to him.

“But I’m the one who feels the pain,” he said.

Despite the absence of Lemieux, the Penguins have spent most of this season in first place in the Northeast Division, but the Canadiens moved a point ahead of them with Monday night’s victory.

Montreal scored on each of its first two power-play chances.

Washington 4, N.Y. Rangers 1--Steve Konowalchuk and Michael Pivonka scored 43 seconds apart during the Capitals’ three-goal second period at New York.

Tampa Bay 2, Toronto 1--Tim Bergland and Randy Poeschek each scored for the Lightning, which held the Maple Leafs without a shot on goal during the final 14 minutes at Toronto.

Calgary 4, Edmonton 3--Robert Reichel scored two goals to lead the Flames at Calgary.