March 7 postgame quotes: Jaromir Jagr

On being a leader by example for Dallas:
“I don’t know…I’m not really sure. Last year, I knew [Philadelphia had] a lot guys who could score goals. This year, I’m getting paid a lot more money than I did last year, so I’ve got a little more responsibility on the power play and scoring goals. That’s why I have to change my thinking a little bit. I’ve got to be more hungry for the goals than I was last year.”

On where he sees his game at halfway through the season:
“It’s not about me, It’s about the team. Like you said, everything’s so tight. The race for the playoffs is going to go to the last game. I like the way we’ve played in the first half, but I think we can get a lot better in the second half and hopefully we’re going to be injury-free and Kari’s going to play the same way he played the first half. He’s just one of the best, maybe the best goalie. This is the way we play. Our defense depends on the goaltender and some who score goals and work hard….We’re not the [most skilled] guys in the league, but we can work hard.”

On his chemistry with Jamie Benn:
“I think we are probably 30% of what we can play. I think we’ve got a long way. We can get a lot better. Obviously I play a different defense style of the game than he’s probably used to. But it’s tough for me at my age to change. I can not dump and chase. I’m not fast for that, so I like to keep the puck, and he adjusts a little bit. I know it’s not his game, but he’s doing a good job.”

On his goals:
“The first one was beautiful. [Jamie Benn] found me on the backdoor on the power play. The first 15 games, we kind of struggled on our power play, but lately we’re doing a lot better job, and it’s important. Short season, the games are so tight and the special teams are going to win the games for you. So we have to focus and we have to be good.”

On whether he’s aware of his career goal race with Teemu Selanne:
“I don’t know, actually. I’m not 25 anymore. I don’t look at the stats at all. I don’t know…I don’t really worry about it. It’s not in my mind. I kind of changed the last few years, the last five, six years. The goals and the points, it’s not in my head. That’s why it’s sometimes hard to get them. If you want to be a goal scorer, you want to end up winning the scoring title, so you’ve got to have it in your head. You have to be hungrier. But I’ve changed. I’m not 22, 25 anymore.”