Jagr removed himself from WC with calf injury

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Jaromir Jagr played 7:09 of Mondays Winter Classic against the New York Rangers.

He sat on the bench for 52:51.

I didnt bench him, said coach Peter Laviolette.

No, Jagr took himself out because he was injured and couldnt skate.

Jagr said he was speared in the left calf at Pittsburgh earlier in the week. When he split the Rangers' defense late in the first period, he had no legs, no breakaway speed.

It was swelling and getting worse and worse in my leg, Jagr said. I just couldnt skate hard and I didnt want to just be on the ice to be there. I knew at that point I couldnt help my teammates.

He played just two shifts in the second period, then remained on the bench for encouragement for the remainder of the game.

It (the cold) is not gonna make it worse, Jagr said. I wanted to be with my teammates. And you never know. Maybe we get a shot at a 5-on-3 power play and you dont have to skate that much. But I wanted to be with my teammates there.

Jagr left the game for the dressing room near the end of the first period. Though he returned to start the second period, the Czech right wing played just two shifts.

Flyers' general manager Paul Holmgren did not comment on Jagrs prognosis for Thursdays game against Chicago.

E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net.

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