Jagr's goal: Help Giroux win NHL scoring title

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Jaromir Jagr has a pretty simple goal for the second half of the season: help Claude Giroux win the Art Ross Trophy as the leagues top scorer.

Individually, I have the goal to play the way I think I canthat would make me happy,
said Jagr, who will return to the lineup Tuesday against Winnipeg as the Flyers resume play at the Wells Fargo Center.

Jagr has missed two games with a groin pull.

Maybe help G to win the scoring title. Maybe help Hartsy to have the best season ever. Thats my goals.

No Flyer has ever won the Art Ross.

Jagr has won it five times, the last coming in 2000-01 when he scored 121 points for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

To me, it would be like I won it, Jagr said, about if Giroux were to win the trophy. Its tough for one guy to do it. You always need help from your teammates. There is no more Wayne Gretzky in the league.

When Jagr last won it, his linemates were Martin Straka and Jiri Hrdina with Kip Miller also chipping in at left wing replacing Straka.

Dont kid yourself. Linemates are important.

Giroux (55 points) is second in scoring to Pittsburghs Evgeni Malkin (58 points).

If I play with him and I play good, I think Giroux is going to win it, Jagr said. But its up to me how I play.

Giroux seemed flattered when he heard what Jagr said.

If Im scoring points, Im helping the team win, right? Giroux asked. Obviously, I want to do that. Jags has been talking about me for the last year about winning that. Itd be cool to win it, but I never would go out of my way to win the scoring title. If its there, its there.

Jagrs health is directly tied to Girouxs scoring, given their play as a line with Scott Hartnell.

When Jagr isnt skating well because of groin issues, it slows Giroux down, too. Many feel part of Girouxs recent slump was because Jagr wasnt healthy. It had a trickle down effect on the entire line.

Im not worried about getting him going, Giroux said of Jagr, who has just three assists in January over the eight games he played.

Hes been playing well for us this year. Hes one of the reasons why were on top. He shows up every game. He wants to play. He wants to win. Hes changed the attitude in this locker room. When you see a guy like that work like that, its great to see.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net

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