updated 1:03 p.m. ET April 23, 2006

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Jaromir Jagr’s attempted swipe at Scott Gomez left the New York Rangers’ star forward with an injury that could sideline him in the playoffs.

With the Rangers trailing by four goals and virtually no chance of coming back late in the third period Saturday, Jagr was sent out by coach Tom Renney to get what he called “practice” in penalty killing. Jagr tried to hit Gomez, New Jersey’s second leading scorer, and lunged toward him.

He didn’t connect and then stumbled as he appeared to stretch his arm out awkwardly.

Right after Patrik Elias scored the Devils’ final goal in the 6-1 opening victory of the best-of-seven series, Jagr was escorted to the dressing room and favored his left arm.

Renney only confirmed that Jagr had an “upper body injury,” and the right winger who finished second in the NHL with 54 goals and 123 points didn’t offer any more details or any assurance he’d be able to play Monday night in Game 2.

He is expected to be evaluated by doctors Sunday. He didn't participate in the team's 45-minute practice.

“I don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow. After that, if I’m ready to play, I’ll play,” he said. “It doesn’t matter. We have to get ready for the next game whether I play or not.”

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New York was done in on Saturday by undisciplined penalties that led to five New Jersey power-play goals in 13 opportunities.

If the Rangers don’t have Jagr in the lineup, they will have to figure out how to stop the Devils’ offense while trying to replace the player who had a hand in nearly 50 percent of their goals in the regular season.

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Jagr wasn’t ready to concede anything, even if he is forced to watch instead of play. The loss was New York’s sixth straight.

“We can win,” he said. “You always have to believe.”

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By dropping their final five games in the regular season, the Rangers missed a chance to win the Atlantic Division. A 5-1 loss to Ottawa in the finale dropped them from first to third in the Atlantic and from third to sixth in the Eastern Conference.

That put them on the road to start their first postseason appearance since 1997 instead of inside the friendly confines of Madison Square Garden.

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