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  Sunday, Dec. 26 8:00pm ET
Jagr's two goals pace Pens
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

CHICAGO (AP) -- Jaromir Jagr withstood the physical play of the Chicago Blackhawks and counter-punched the best way he knows how.

Jagr scored twice Sunday night -- to take over the NHL goal lead, as Pittsburgh beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2, the Penguins' third-straight victory.

"I know if I'm going to start fighting, I'm not going to win many," said Jagr, who has 27 goals. "The only time I can hurt them is to score goals. I cannot play defense. I cannot fight, but I have some talent to score goals."

Midway through the second period with the score tied 1-1, Chicago's Brad Brown tried to agitate Jagr. But only a series of wrestling matches and minor penalties -- along with a misconduct to Chicago's Bryan McCabe -- resulted.

Jagr, who also leads the league in points with 58, moved past San Jose's Owen Nolan for the goal lead.

Ian Moran and Tyler Wright also scored for Pittsburgh, which improved to 7-2-0 under coach Herb Brooks.

"There's plenty of room for everybody," said Brooks of the contributions from some of the Penguins' lesser-known players. "Anytime you only give up two goals on the road, you've got to be doing something right."

Tony Amonte and Dean McAmmond scored for the Blackhawks, who continued to struggle at home, dropping to 3-11-3 at the United Center.

"It's a disappointing loss," said Amonte, whose shorthanded breakaway goal gave Chicago a 1-0 lead at 13:22 of the first. "We seemed to lose momentum in the second period and couldn't get it back."

Peter Skudra started in goal for Pittsburgh, but was replaced by Jean-Sebastien Aubin late in the second period after a collision with Chicago's Jean-Pierre Dumont. Skudra and Aubin combined to stop 25 Blackhawks shots.

Chicago led 1-0 after the first on Amonte's goal. After picking off a pass high in the Pittsburgh zone, he raced down right wing and beat Skudra with a 45-foot shot that banked in off the post.

Moran scored an even-strength goal and Jagr connected during a power play in the second period to put the Penguins ahead 2-1.

Moran whipped in a high shot through a screen from the slot at 7:33 and Jagr gave Pittsburgh the lead at 13:37 by snapping a low shot past Jocelyn Thibault from the right circle.

Wright made it 3-1 at 3:17 of the third period on a one-timer from the slot after taking a feed from Robert Dome.

Jagr's empty-net goal with 1:22 left made it 4-1.

McAmmond completed the scoring with 56.2 remaining.
 


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RECAPS
New Jersey 3
NY Rangers 3

Anaheim 1
San Jose 0

Carolina 4
Florida 3

Atlanta 6
Tampa Bay 3

Pittsburgh 4
Chicago 2

Nashville 3
St. Louis 2

Calgary 2
Vancouver 0

Phoenix 3
Los Angeles 2