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head coach: Kevin Constantine

roster: C - Ron Francis, Martin Straka, C. Ferraro, Tyler Wright, Robert Lang, Sean Pronger. LW - Stu Barnes, Andreas Johansson, Alex Hicks, Garry Valk. RW - Jaromir Jagr, Alexei Morozov, Ed Olczyk, Robby Brown, Robert Dome. D - Darius Kasparaitis, Kevin Hatcher, Chris Tamer, Fredrik Olausson, Neil Wilkinson, Ian Moran, Brad Werenka, Jiri Slegr, Tuomas Gronman. G - Tom Barrasso, Ken Wregget, Peter Skudra.

injuries: Sean Pronger, c (broken foot, day-to-day).

transactions: None.

standings:

Eastern Conference - Northeast Division
Team         GP   W   L   T   PTS   GF   GA
y-Pittsburgh 82  40  24  18    98  228  188 
x-Boston     82  39  30  13    91  221  194  
x-Buffalo    82  36  29  17    89  211  187  
x-Montreal   82  37  32  13    87  235  208  
x-Ottawa     82  34  33  15    83  193  200  
Carolina     82  33  41   8    74  200  219   

y - Clinched division
x - Clinched playoff spot

game results:

4/07 Phoenix       L 2-1
4/09 at Ottawa     L 4-1
4/11 Florida       T 3-3 
4/15 Tampa Bay     W 4-1
4/16 at Carolian   W 4-1
4/18 Boston        W 5-2

team news:

by Brett Taylor, Pittsburgh Correspondent

Pens Clinch Division Title: After Mikael Renberg gave Tampa Bay an early 1-0 lead in the April 15 game, Jaromir Jagr, Ron Francis and Stu Barnes pounced on the Lightning and never looked back as the Penguins rolled to clinch the Northeast Division title.

All three players on the Pens top unit scored, and Jagr nailed the 300th of his career. Jagr had a goal and two assists total, giving him 100 points on the season. Barnes reached the 30-goal plateau for the first time in his career and Tom Barrasso won his 30th game of the season.

It wasn't their best performance of the year, but it was a much needed victory in a time when wins were not coming easy for the Pens. The club had gone 1-5-4 in its previous 10 games, prompting Jagr to crack wise with coach Constantine following a 3-3 tie with Florida on April 11. Jagr was upset that the coach had separated him from his usual linemates, Ron Francis and Stu Barnes. Jagr instead skated with fellow countrymen Martin Straka and Robert Lang. While that duo is still plenty talented, Jagr didn't like his new surroundings. Since they didn't hit the ice until the third shift of the game, Jagr felt he was on a checking line and didn't feel he was getting enough ice time. Combine the move with the frustration of the previous games, and Jagr ended up saying some things he would later regret. Here's a sampling:

"Of course, only we are (sunshine). He's perfect."

"I've got no pressure on me. I'm out on the third line now. I'm on the checking line."

The local media was quick to pounce on the story and it seemed a revolt was in the making. But Constantine was quick to take control. He conducted a private meeting with Jagr the next day and then addressed the team. Problem solved. Jagr saw the light and came away the wiser.

"I've got to realize everybody else is looking at me," said Jagr. "Before it was Mario and a million other guys, and I just was somewhere behind and did my own thing. It's different now."

"If I sit on the bench, I say 'Why do they pay me the money?' I feel guilty," explained Jagr. "If I didn't care, I'd just sit there, take the money and sit there."

If it were up to Jagr, he'd play the entire game. He thrives on ice time and is one of the best conditioned athletes in the sport. But Constantine would rather see his star play around 21 minutes a night and stay fresh into the playoffs.

The dispute over playing time aside, Jagr and Constantine appear to have buried the hatchet. Jagr realized he was wrong for saying what he did and apologized to Constantine, but the coach said that no apology was necessary.

This whole incident might have been good for the club. It seemed to light a fire under the squad and get them back on track. Not only did they steamroll the Bolts, but they went on to win their final two games of the season over Carolina and Boston. That's a good way to enter the playoffs.

Supporting Cast Impressive in Carolina: With a top unit of Rob Brown, Robert Lang and Alexei Morozov, the Pens easily put the Carolina Hurricanes away. Jaromir Jagr, Ron Francis, Stu Barnes, Kevin Hatcher, and Tom Barrasso didn't even make the trip to Carolina. They all stayed home to mend for the upcoming playoffs. With the stars at home, Pittsburgh's supporting cast rose to the forefront with three power-play goals and a strong defensive game to secure a 4-1 win. Lang led the way with a goal and two assists, Brown had two goals and Morozov added a goal.

All the big guns returned to the lineup Saturday against Boston and picked up where they left off. Jagr and Hatcher each scored and Martin Straka recorded a hat trick in a 5-2 win.

Pens Meet Montreal in First Round: After finishing the regular season with 98 points the Pens will meet the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs.

The first two games will be in Pittsburgh on Thursday and Saturday. Then they will go to Montreal for games three and four and then back to Pittsburgh for game five if needed.

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