Jagr Returns, Penguins Win

Rangers roster

"Getting the three points, I don't care about that," said Jagr. "I knew it was a very important game for the team and I'm glad we won."

Alexei Kovalev, who traded by the Rangers to Pittsburgh last season, had a goal and three assists in his fourth career four-point game against his old team.

"Maybe I know too well how to play against them," Kovalev said. "Everything I'm trying to do just seems to work for me. I got a lot of room to shoot the puck. Give any good player a lot of room, he'll make things happen."

The Rangers were coming off a big win against Philadelphia on Saturday. John MacLean had a goal and an assist for New York, which is one point behind Montreal for the final playoff spot in the East.

"It was obviously a very important game," said defenseman Brian Leetch, who assisted on all three Rangers goals in the second period. "There's no need to talk about how big it was. It's right there."

Jagr's return clearly kick-started the Penguins, who went 3-7-2 in the eleven games without him.

"I thought we played a very spirited game tonight," said Pittsburgh coach Herb Brooks. "Obviously, No. 68's presence in the locker room, on the ice, really meant a lot to our club. The two goals in the third period were big ones. Despite giving up four goals, I thought it was a real solid effort on our part."