Jaromir Jagr Against Quotations

Let's go back to early in the season; would you think we can play 5-on-5 against teams that good?

I wouldn't say the effort wasn't there, we just didn't play smart enough. Not many teams play the trap against us. It's something new we have to learn ... It looks like they're already starting to play playoff hockey.

I finished the game, I'm OK. I knew I was not going to be a big factor. I was hoping they'd play the checking line against us. It still didn't work.

I thought we were going to win. Some calls were tough against us, some calls were fair. We had a 2-0 lead, we should have been able to win the hockey game.

I will be far from the only one who will leave after this match (the third place play off against Russia which the Czechs won 3-0 on Saturday).

We played against very good teams, playoff teams for sure, maybe candidates to win the Stanley Cup. They're already playing playoff hockey and I don't think we're playing it yet. The two games teach us we are not there yet. We have to play smarter.

We had a chance the last four games against easier opponents than Ottawa. It's not a playoff, but it's almost like a playoff game.

It was the kind of game that was played in the neutral zone rather than on net. Neither team had a lot of chances. They had a lot of guys back, especially against our line. We really played to their strength.

It's very important to score the first goal. We scored the first goal against Slovakia (in the quarterfinals). Sweden scored the first goal against us (in the semis). Finland scored first against Russia (in the semis). When you're down, you have to change your game plan.

It used to be much worse. It's been four years, but it is more special because we're playing a very good team tonight. It's not so much that it came against Pittsburgh, but it's more about how we're playing as a team.