Old-Time Duel for Selanne, Jagr

One was ill and played like it at times Tuesday night. The other dragged his balky right leg around the rink at what he claimed was no better than 75% of his top speed.

So, what are we to make of the four-point games Jaromir Jagr and Teemu Selanne had for their teams in a 4-4 tie between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Mighty Ducks before 11,314 at Civic Arena?

Best not to try to make sense of it at all, but to commit the performances of Jagr and Selanne to memory because it won’t be long before another dreary defensive battle fails to capture the imagination.

For one night, at least, it was back to the run-and-gun days of the NHL of yore. You know, the 1980s. Remember the heart-stopping goals, the exciting near-misses, the headaches and sleepless nights for goaltenders?

They were back on display Tuesday, thanks to Jagr and Selanne.

Jagr had two goals and two assists for the Penguins, his best game of the season. Selanne had four assists for the Ducks, tying his career best.

Kevin Hatcher and Martin Straka, who had the tying goal at 11:59 of the third period, also scored for Pittsburgh.

For the Ducks, Travis Green scored the 100th and 101st goals of his career. Fredrik Olausson and Steve Rucchin also scored for the Ducks, who ended a three-game losing streak.

“It was a fast-paced game, up and down, a lot of chances,” said Duck center Matt Cullen, who assisted on both of Green’s goals in his first game back after spending three with Cincinnati of the American Hockey League. “Yeah, it was old-time hockey. Like Edmonton against Calgary in the ‘80s.”

Now imagine if Jagr, suffering from the flu, and Selanne, nursing a strained right thigh, had been healthy.

As it was, Jagr wiped out a 2-1 Duck lead by scoring twice in the final 1:18 of the second period to give Pittsburgh a 3-2 lead. Selanne then assisted on goals by Rucchin and Green that gave the Ducks a 4-3 lead after 10:47 of the third period.

Jagr countered by assisting on Straka’s equalizer, sending a long pass from the right wing to the left goal post. A streaking Straka merely tapped the puck past Guy Hebert for his 14th goal this season.

“I think it was just a matter of time for Jaromir because he’s too talented of a guy to be held down for too long,” Pittsburgh Coach Kevin Constantine said of Jagr, who had only five goals before Tuesday.

Selanne was muzzled by the checking lines of the Detroit Red Wings, Nashville Predators and Carolina Hurricanes since returning to the lineup after missing six games because of the thigh injury.

Coach Craig Hartsburg decided to split up Selanne and Paul Kariya for Tuesday’s game and the move paid off--for Selanne, at least.

Selanne played on a line with Cullen and Green. Kariya played with Rucchin and Marty McInnis, but did not have a goal or an assist for the second consecutive game after having at least one point in 11 straight games.

“Green played really well, and Cullen, what an effort,” Selanne said. “It was great to see, especially now because I’m not 100%. Right now, I know how all the slow guys feel. The last four games have not been fun for me, but at least I can play.”

To be sure, Selanne was much more than a high-priced decoy for the Ducks. But he certainly drew the attention of the Penguins, which opened up scoring chances for Cullen and Green.

“I can’t do any sprints,” Selanne said. “I can’t challenge the defensemen one on one. I don’t have a second gear. I have to be patient. I wouldn’t want to miss any more games. [Today] will be three weeks since I injured it. I can still help the team, just not as much as I want to.”