May 5th

STANLEY CUP CONFERENCE FINALS START THURSDAY

The National Hockey League today announced the dates for the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoff Conference Finals, which begin Thursday, May 8, when the Detroit Red Wings host the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final. The Eastern Conference Final begins on Friday, May 9, when the Philadelphia Flyers visit the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Starting times and national broadcast information will be announced later today. NBC and Versus are the national rightsholders in the United States.

Western Conference Final, #1 Detroit vs #5 Dallas

Game 1--Thurs, May 8--Dallas @ Detroit
Game 2--Sat, May 10--Dallas @ Detroit
Game 3--Mon, May 12--Detroit @ Dallas
Game 4--Wed, May 14--Detroit @ Dallas
*Game 5--Sat, May 17--Dallas @ Detroit
*Game 6--Mon, May 19--Detroit @ Dallas
*Game 7--Wed, May 21--Dallas @ Detroit

Eastern Conference Final, #2 Pittsburgh vs #6 Philadelphia

Game 1--Fri, May 9--Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh
Game 2--Sun, May 11--Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh
Game 3--Tue, May 13--Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia
Game 4--Thur, May 15--Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia
*Game 5--Sun, May 18--Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh
*Game 6--Tues, May 20--Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia
*Game 7--Thur, May 22--Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh

*If necessary


OFF-SEASON DECISION FOR JAGR, RANGERS

It's possible that Jaromir Jagr has played his last game in a New York Rangers uniform, but not likely he's played his last in the NHL.

Jagr and the Rangers dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to the Pittsburgh Penguins Sunday afternoon, losing their Eastern Conference semifinal in five games and prompting plenty of questions about the Czech wingers future.

Jagr's contract carries over into next season only if he wins the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs MVP, but that's pretty much an impossibility now that the Rangers have been eliminated.

When Jagr, a five-time Art Ross Trophy winner as the NHL's scoring champion, becomes a free agent this summer, Rangers general manager Glen Sather must decide whether he wants to resign the 36-year-old winger.

"I don't think I'm going to retire from hockey," Jagr said after Sunday's loss. "I know I'm going to play somewhere. I don't know where.

Jagr played brilliantly down the stretch and throughout the playoffs — he still leads the post-season with 15 points — after leading the Rangers in scoring during the regular season with 71 points in 82 games, so there are bound to be plenty of suitors for his services.

But several of his teammates want him to return as the team's captain.

"He is obviously one of the best players in this game and if he wants to stay, it's great for us," goalie Henrik Lundqvist said.

As for Jagr, he is no rush to make a decision about his future.

"I'm just going to take time and see what happens. I'm not going to make any decision 30 minutes after we lost a hockey game," Jagr said. "It's going to be a long time."