Lemieux

PITTSBURGH -- Mario Lemieux might miss the NHL All-Star Game because of a groin injury.

Lemieux, who has missed eight of the Pittsburgh Penguins' last nine games, does not plan on playing in Tuesday night's road game against the New York Islanders. He is expected to decide Wednesday if he will try to play Thursday night in Washington.

"If I don't play (this week), it would be tough to play in the All-Star Game,'' Lemieux said.

The All-Star Game is Sunday in Sunrise, Fla.

Lemieux, the NHL's leading scorer, has played only a few shifts since sustaining a groin injury Jan. 7 against the Islanders. He hasn't skated since spending a few minutes on the ice in practice Monday.

"It's taken a lot longer than I thought,'' Lemieux said. "It's frustrating. Every day you get up and it's still there.''