Devils stifle Lemieux

New Jersey's Sykora (l) put two goals past the Penguins

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Eastern Conference

The opening game of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals went exactly the way the defending champion New Jersey Devils wanted.

Patrik Elias set up two goals for Petr Sykora as the Devils kept the Pittburgh Penguins' hot-shots Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr safely at bay in a 3-1 victory in Rutherford, New Jersey.

Randy McKay also scored for the home team and their goalie Martin Brodeur had a relatively easy night against a Pittsburgh side, which looked tired after their dramatic overtime victory over Buffalo in the semi-finals.

The legendary Lemieux was so frustrated early in the third period, he seemingly aimed a slap shot at the sideboards in the direction of Devils forward John Madden.

In fact, the only Penguin who played well was rookie goalie Johan Hedberg, who made 18 saves.

Their only goal came from Martin Straka and distinct improvement is needed all round if Pittsburgh are to turn things around in game two on Tuesday.

Western Conference

Joe Sakic scored two goals and goalie Patrick Roy turned in a superb performance to lead the Colorado Avalanche to a 4-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues in game one of the Western Conference finals.

Milan Hejduk added two power-play goals as Colorado ended St. Louis' six-game winning streak.

Tempers fray in Denver

Sakic was awarded Colorado's first post-season penalty shot when Blues goalie Roman Turek was whistled for throwing his stick at the puck in the second period.

And he converted, flipping a wrist shot past Turek to give the Avalanche a 2-1 lead. They never looked back.

Roy made 30 saves to extend his impressive play-off run - he has allowed four goals in the last five games.

Scott Young had scored a short-handed goal in the second period for St. Louis, but it was not enough.

The sides next meet on Monday.

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Saturday's NHL results:

Eastern Conference:

New Jersey Devils 3-1 Pittsburgh Penguins
(Devils lead series 1-0)

Western Conference:

Colorado Avalanche 4-1 St. Louis Blues
(Avalanche lead series 1-0)