Shoot, Lemieux Can’t Get Sentimental Goal

By the end of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 3-1 victory over the Boston Bruins Tuesday night, all that was missing was a goal by Mario Lemieux.

It wasn’t for lack of effort.

Lemieux, who formally announced his retirement last weekend, took 11 shots in his final regular-season home game. He took six shots in the second period, which was all but four of the Penguins’ shots that period.

“I should have scored with, what, 20 shots?” Lemieux mused afterward. “I guess I’m going to have to wait.”

With the victory, the Penguins tied the New York Rangers for fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings, one point behind fourth-place Florida, where they play Friday.

Lemieux avoided being shut out by setting up Ed Olczyk’s empty-net goal with 58 seconds left to play.

Lemieux repeatedly was serenaded with chants of “Mario, Mario, Mario” and received two lengthy standing ovations.

Pittsburgh’s other goals came from Josef Beranek and Petr Nedved. However, Beranek and Jaromir Jagr left the game because of aggravated groin injuries.

The Bruins have lost nine of 10 and will miss the playoffs for the first time in 29 years.

New Jersey 2, Tampa Bay 2--In a game with a postseason feel, the Devils’ Jay Pandolfo scored at 2:11 in the third period to cause a tie at Tampa.

New Jersey leads the Eastern Conference by two points and Tampa Bay trails Hartford by three for the final playoff spot.

Tampa Bay goaltender Martin Brodeur’s shutout streak ended at three games.

Detroit 3, Calgary 2--Tomas Sandstrom scored with nine seconds left in overtime for the Red Wings, who also got two goals from Steve Yzerman.

Ronnie Stern and Corey Millen had goals for Calgary.