Jaromir Jagr left 53 seconds into New York's season-ending 4-2 playoff loss Saturday when the Rangers forward's dislocated left shoulder was slammed into the boards on a check by New Jersey defenceman Brad Lukowich.

"I knew as soon as I got hit it's not going to be good," he said.

Jagr, the NHL's second-leading scorer this season, was already hampered by his sore shoulder that forced him to miss Game 2. He was injured in the series opener at New Jersey when he tried to reach for Devils forward Scott Gomez late in the 6-1 loss. The New York star made a surprise return Wednesday in Game 3 with limited effectiveness.

Without him, the Rangers couldn't avoid being swept out of the playoffs in their first appearance since 1997. New York lost its final five games of the regular season to fall from first to third in the Atlantic Division on the final day.

The four-game playoff sweep meant the Rangers ended their season with nine straight losses.

"You always look at the way you finish and it wasn't pretty," said Jagr, who does not know if he will need surgery to repair the shoulder.

The right winger, who posted team records of 54 goals and 123 points this season, went into the deep right corner in the Devils' end when Lukowich met him with a hit on the right shoulder. The force drove Jagr into the boards, leading with his left shoulder.

"I dislocated my shoulder in Game 1," the 34-year-old Jagr acknowledged for the first time. "I came back and tried in the third game and didn't get hit.

"This game I got hit into the boards. I don't know exactly what happened, but it wasn't good."

Jagr, who had only one assist in the series, crumpled to the ice and stayed down until he was assisted by New York's training staff. He skated off, doubled over and with his left arm drooping, and headed straight down the tunnel to the dressing room.

"I wasn't trying to hit him any harder than anyone else," Lukowich said. "A guy like him, very rarely do you ever get a chance to hit.

"I was just playing the game. He was no target or anything."

New York was outscored 17-4 in the sweep, recording half its goals in the final loss. It was the first time in six games the Rangers scored more than once in a game.

Jed Ortmeyer's tally in the closing minute of the first period put New York on top for the only time in the series. That lead was gone early in the second.

"The worst hockey we played was before the playoffs and in the playoffs," Jagr said. "I don't know why that is."