updated 8:53 p.m. ET April 22, 2006

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The New Jersey Devils knew what to expect in the playoff opener. The inexperienced New York Rangers certainly did not.

The result was a rout.

Patrik Elias scored two of New Jersey’s playoff-record five power-play goals and the Devils earned their 12th straight victory by beating the Rangers 6-1 Saturday in the opener of the Eastern Conference series.

“We were warned before the game that they are going to keep calling the penalties the way they did in the regular season,” Elias said. “This was more emotional today because we know what’s on the line.”

The Devils turned the emotions into goals, while the Rangers continued to march to the penalty box and took themselves right out of the game.

New York survived the first period by allowing just one man-advantage goal in four opportunities, but the discipline and penalty killing got progressively worse.

The calls varied from hooking, to elbowing to cross-checking and roughing. Marek Malik took a swipe at an opponent’s face right in front of an official.

“We lost our composure, we had some selfish hockey, some undisciplined play, and we had guys that chose to think of themselves ahead of their teammates,” Rangers coach Tom Renney said. “One thing we know for sure is we’re not going to beat the New Jersey Devils from the penalty box.”

The Rangers were called for 16 penalties that totaled 43 minutes and produced 13 power plays for New Jersey. Scott Gomez, Brian Rafalski and Jamie Langenbrunner also scored with a man advantage.

New York, which lost its final five games of the regular season to allow the Devils to win the Atlantic Division on the last day, tied it 1-1 on rookie Petr Prucha’s first-period, power-play goal. But the Rangers, playing their first postseason game since 1997, just couldn’t stay out of the box.

Elias gave New Jersey a 1-0 lead during New York’s first infraction, and Gomez and defenseman Ken Klee beat Rangers rookie goalie Henrik Lundqvist in the second. Rafalski, Langenbrunner and Elias made it a blowout in the third.

“It was one of those crazy games where sometimes it happens,” Gomez said. “We hope the power play goes that way the whole playoffs but that’s impossible.”

The final New Jersey goal, scored with 4:26 remaining, might prove to be the most costly to New York.

FREE VIDEO Devil of a win 4/22: Patrik Elias talks to NBC Sports' Joe Micheletti after N.J.'s Game 1 win over the Rangers NBC Sports

Right after Elias scored, Rangers leading scorer Jaromir Jagr was helped to the dressing room with an apparent upper-body injury. He took a swipe at Gomez, but didn’t connect.

He will be evaluated by doctors on Sunday, and his status for Game 2 on Monday is unclear.

“It doesn’t matter. We have to get ready for the next game whether I play or not,” said Jagr, who had 123 points this season.

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