Brodeur comes back with a shutout

Win No. 545. Shutout No. 99.

It was just another day at the office for Martin Brodeur Thursday night in a 4-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche at Prudential Center.

Not quite.

It was Brodeur's first game back after missing nearly four months with a torn biceps tendon in his left arm. He didn't have to make a lot of tough saves among the 24 shots that he faced, but it seemed like old tmes for Brodeur in his first game since Nov. 1

He now needs only seven more wins to break Patrick Roy's NHL record of 551 career wins and five more shutouts to break Terry Sawchuk's all-time mark of 103 shutouts.

It was his third shutout this season and first since a 5-0 win over Dallas on Oct. 22.

Brodeur admitted this shutout was a little different, though.

"It's special," he said. "I had a couple of good shutouts in my career in different areas and different games, but this one was pretty special to come back after that long. I didn't get tested much. I had 24 shots, but there were still a couple of shots (that were tough) and they hit a post. I got a little lucky. It was kind of nice."

When asked when he first started thinking about a shutout, he replied, "Last night, when I was dreaming."

"It was a great game that we played," he said. "It was nice to get that early goal (from Jamie Langenbrunner 4:38 into the game). It was nice not having that many shots early on (only one in the first 11:13). I had a chance to get my feet wet before getting a little work, so definitely that was nice."

Some in the crowd of 16,107 cheered Brodeur almost every time he touched the puck, which was strange at times. He admitted he was more nervous before the game than he thought he would be.

"I was able to function, but I felt butterflies and I don't feel them too often," he said. "I thought I was going to be able to go out there and just be my old self and not think about myself, but again it was a big deal for me to get back. The fans were great. I don't know if they were sarcastic about cheering me on these saves sometimes, but it definitely nice."

And he made it through the game without feeling any pain in his arm.

"The elbow was great," he said. "I didn't feel anything all game long. I tested it a couple of times, especially getting up and moving across becaus I have to anchor myself to the post with the arm. I didn't get many shots to the glove side and when I got that one (from T.J. Hensick in the second) my elbow was bent so I didn't feel anything. I felt pretty good. Even playing the puck I didn't feel anything so it was good."

As well as Scott Clemmensen and Kevin Weekes played in Brodeur's absence, his teammates were happy to have him back.

"You're getting the best goalie that's played, you're getting him back and he looked as sharp as ever tonight," left wing Zach Parise said. "He played really well and we did a great job as a team of limiting their scoring opportunities."

The performance of Brodeur and the rest of the team put Devils coach Brent Sutter in a joking mood afterward.

When asked if he looked like he never left, Sutter replied, "He played well. You're talking about Marty, right? I wasn't sure."

Sutter laughed and said, "Brent had a joke."

Then he said, "He played well. He was under control and his teammates played very well in front of him, too. He played a solid game."
 

***

Travis Zajac and Parise each had a goal and two assists tonight. Jamie Langenbrunner had a goal and an assist and Patrik Elias scored the other Devils' goal.

Defenseman Paul Martin also had a good return after missing four games with an upper body muscle pull. He had two assists tonight, a plus-3 defensive rating and was solid throughout in playing a team-high 23:45.

"I felt pretty good, a little rusty early from not playing for a little bit, but I did the little things and felt good," he said.

Comments

[JohnnyB]

What Gretzky was to Edmonton, Orr was to Boston, Yzerman was to Detroit...Brodeur is to NJ. What a comforting feeling it is to have him behind us. All I keep thinking about is the future and what its going to be like post-Brodeur.

[GazzaG]

All hail King Marty.

Great result and a great performance after the road games.

[Tim]

for all the dumb rags fans that think lundqvist is better than marty..
Marty 11 games 3 shutouts
Lundqvist 54 games 2 shutouts
funny how that works

[Craig in Vancouver]

Way to go Marty!!! The team still isnt playing as well as it was before, but you can see the flashes and hopefully they can get back to how they were playing about a month ago.

Just gave my friend $100.00 to put on the Devils in vegas... My other buddy got 20-1 in late january on the devils. I got 8-1 today...

[Liz H]

I think we did see what the future would be like post-Brodeur in these past 50 games without him. Though I do agree, it will be hard to imagine him not being there in the net.

[Braddock]

Great game Marty! Sad that the 'Canes can pull over 18k in Raleigh, and the Devs barely hit 16 with the return of the Greatest of all time tonight.

[Jeff in Hoboken]

TG, can you expand a bit on what you said about the cheering being "strange" at times? It sounds like Marty was getting mixed signals as well.

I watched it on MGS+ and it sounded like people were just really excited about his return--to the point where it didn't matter how Marty interacted with the puck, just the simple fact that he's back and looking healthy was enough to make fans applaud.

Off topic: That 16,100 number, does that include the luxury box attendance (or lack thereof)? It sickens me to see this barren center ring around the arena every time they show a huge wide angle shot of the arena.

[Kasey]

Henrik couldn't put a crown on his for best goalie in area with both Brodeur and DP hurt thanks to Clemmer...now he's lost with Marty looking like this...

[Braddock]

Jeff-

It does include the luxury box seats. Just a guess, but JVB must not have effectively learned the principle of scarcity all those years at Lehman. 78 boxes at the Rock vs. 60 or so at New Yankee Stadium and I think around 50 at Citifield. Plus the Devs refuse to sell them as an individual ticket like the Flyers do. They should have cut down the number, maybe put them all on one side and lowered the upper deck. Still a sweet building tho.

[David]

This "barren center ring" you speak of is not necessarily an indication of empty seats. If I had a ticket in the black seats then I too would be in the fire or ice lounge eating as much free food as possible. I sit in the cheap seats and we know if its its a good crowd if the last row is filled throughout the arena and tonight it was a good crowd. It's a shame some of the boxes are dark and empty.

[njdave]

Jeff tell that to Vanderbeek he could care less what it looks like as long as they pay $ for those seats, no one cares whether they show or not. Lets face it we could probably do without most of the corporate fans anyway, they're usually too busy on their blackberrys to pay attention to a hockey game!!

[JerseyLove]

Ohh Marty, those cheers were not of sarcasm, but pure jubilation. I felt butterflies just seeing him between the pipes.
The other highlight of the game was Parise's goal--absolutely sick.

I just pray this team can continue playing with the same intensity, and continue the scoring.

[95-00-03]

I was at the game tonight and I can honestly say this was the best defense we had all season. Marty was relaxing most of the night watching our offense firing at the net and our defense defending our zone.

I was there for game 7 of the 03' finals and tonight looked like a replay of that game. I don't want to jinx anything but this team looked like they were on a mission.

GO DEVILS!

[Craig in Vancouver]

What do you guys think.... Center or D man at the deadline... Im almost tempted to keep the D together they deserve it as far as im concerned...

[justin]

the place went bananas when he came out for warm ups, when he was announced in the lineup, and when he was named first star. it was one of the most fun i have been to all season.

[Hoekster316]

Craig - Neidermeyer! Hope that answers your question.

[Drew]

Who the heck cares how many people are there... I would rather have 15k or 16k fans that want to be there, then have extra lumps in the seats taking up space, making the lines longer and getting in the way.

What else is there to do in Raleigh? Newark is how far from NYC, the city that pretty much goes 24/7? People have so many options with plays, comedy shows, 3 hockey teams, 2 basketball teams, etc.... With so many options maybe the casual person doesn't come down to a hockey game in this area then in Carolina... big f'ing deal... it is quality not quantity!

[Devils Worshipper]

Craig, we need Tim Connolly

[richard goskowski]

thr boss is back go marty best ever