The team doesn't have a formidable defense and it appears still to be auditioning goalies. Playoff hockey is less forgiving, more rigorous, more cautious and more self-conscious than regular hockey, circumstances not necessarily favorable to a team whose principal strength is scoring goals. On the other hand, Lemieux almost always plays big when he needs to. In addition, there is the peculiar circumstance of his being both the team's owner and its star. Clearly, though, he also wanted to protect his investment.
Teams make their profits in the playoffs.
Lemieux, then, is uniquely under pressures of commerce and pride. One indication of how seriously he takes both responsibilities is that several weeks ago the team announced he would no longer see reporters individually, but would speak to them only as a group after practices and games. The final variable is his health. He suffers periodically from back pains that are nearly chronic. In photographs taken before he retired, he is often wearing loafers and no socks because he couldn't bend over to reach his feet.