Lemieux and most Penguin officials refused comment on the injury yesterday. But Coach Scotty Bowman said that "hockey doesn't need to lose a player like Mario Lemieux in an incident like this; he's a very important player to the N.H.L."

Calls to Lemieux's home seeking comment were answered only by a tape machine. Protective Role for Graves

Graves, although a much-admired and effective member of the Rangers, is a role player. He is known primarily for his checking skills and his willingness to protect Mark Messier, the Ranger superstar, whose absence from Game 2 with back spasms raised talk of the possibility that the injury to Lemieux had evened matters. No one disputes the notion that if the Penguins play without Lemieux and the Rangers play without Graves, the Rangers get the best of the deal.

The injury occurred 5 minutes 5 seconds into the game, with Pittsburgh ahead, 1-0. After Lemieux fell to the ice in pain, Graves gave his prone body a shove while the Garden fans hooted and cheered, much as fans did two years ago in a playoff game after Pat LaFontaine of the Islanders suffered a concussion when two Rangers lined him up for a collision. As LaFontaine was being rushed to the hospital, fans surrounded the ambulance and rocked it while pounding on the windows.

After Tuesday night's game, Coach Roger Neilson of the Rangers said "it's great not having to worry about Lemieux."

Neilson complained to reporters yesterday that the quote was taken out of context. A review of the audio tape revealed that Neilson was responding to a question about how the injury to Lemieux had changed the Ranger strategy for the rest of the game.

In an interview with reporters after practice at Rye Playland yesterday, Neilson said that Graves "slashed him too hard and he got a two-minute penalty for it." Neilson that said Kevin Stevens of the Penguins had slashed King and that act wasn't penalized. The Rangers have put together a videotape of this and other incidents to use if they are called before O'Neill for a hearing.