Brodeur: "There's a good opportunity here"

With his 37th birthday approaching on May 6, Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur knows he won't many more shots at a Stanley Cup.

That's why he wants to make the most of the chance he has this season. His teammates played very well during the 50 games he missed with a torn biceps tendon, going 32-17-1 to take over first place in the Atlantic Division.

Now, he believes he can add something to the mix and the best way he can do that is to be at the top of his game by the time the playoffs begin.

"You look at the situation that you're in," Brodeur said today. "You walk into this locker room and you're like, 'These guys have played pretty well.' We went out and beat some great teams at cricital times in the season and there's a good opportunity here. For me, it's kind of a driving point for me to get to where I need to be to support that cast and go as far as we can."

Brodeur worked hard last summer to get in better condition and try to redeem himself for what he admits was a disappointing performance in the five-game loss to the Rangers in the first round of the playoffs last spring.

"I'm came into this season with the frame of mind before I got hurt (on Nov. 1) to play well," Brodeur said. "It was definitely a disappointing season (in 2007-08). Even though I won a Vezina the year before, I think you always judge it by if I excel in the playoffs and I don't think that I played extremely well in the playoffs. So I just wanted to come back this season and do well and then my injury happened.

"So, now I'm trying to get back to where I was when I left and then have a good run in the playoffs. The years are going by, but they ain't coming back on me either. So, it's important that I take every opportunity I can right now until I stop playing as seriously as I can and make the best out of them. There's not many left. There will be a lot more than people think maybe, but definitely the bulk is in the past."

Brodeur got off to a good start with a 24-save shutout and a 4-0 win in his first game back on Thursday night against Colorado.

"It definitely exceeded expectations," he said. "I just wanted to win. To throw a shutout in there regardless of how many shots, how many chances they got was pretty nice to do. They're not easy to come by in this new league. I was just happy with the way I felt, the way my arm felt, the response from everybody. You've been doing it for so long, it was kind of nice to get back."

Although Thursday's game went well, Brodeur says he still has work to do, beginning with the second start of his comeback Saturday against the Florida Panthers.

"This is one step," he said. "It was a great night, but I have to find this rhythm and play and play and get there so that being a goalie in the NHL becomes second nature to me. I've got to get to that. I don't think I'm there, yet. 

"You had a shutout. Well, all right. We’ll see what

Florida

will bring as far a workload and then playing the puck, different options, tighter games. If my team is going to score four goals, it gives me a good chance to win hockey games.”

Comments

[Captain Cornholio]

Two things I noticed about Brodeur's first game:

One, his recovery from saves looked slower. Not to say he looked like an old man, but he'll get quicker as his conditioning stabilizes. Granted, the team in front of him played about as well as it had all season to help him.

Two, his feet looked fine, but he didn't look completely coordinated from the waist down. Again, as he plays more and returns to better shape, he'll look like his old self.

If it sounds like I'm nitpicking, then I am. But I do think he's right. He has some work to do, and I'm sure he took another step today at practice.

And it would not surprise me if he played both games this weekend no matter what. Both games at home with no travel.

[Topshlf]

This is a cup contending team. I think Marty knows it as well as the players and management. I think Lou is out there looking to make this team better with those thoughts in mind. With Marty turning 37, Lou's going to go for it in my opinion. I'm looking forward to the trade deadline. :)

[Captain Cornholio]

After they beat the Bruins and Sharks in succession, the Devils made themselves official contenders. However, I don't know whether or not they should make any trades. You don't want to make trades for the sake of making them, and the chemistry feels terrific right now.

I won't offer any line suggestions because Sutter could put forwards four through 12 into a fish bowl and pull them out to determine who plays with whom at the moment. Perhaps Lou doesn't need to do anything this year.

[futureman]

Topshlf, I agree with everything you said. I think it's interesting that the Ducks picked up Ryan Whitney. Maybe they will really be looking to move Neids or Pronger now. I think they definetely need a goalie who can keep them in games at this point. JS Giuer just doesn't have it this year, maybe because his dad passed away. I dont know if it is possible, or what it would take, but we could really use one of those two(rather Neids). Without giving away the Farm(no pun intened)

[Captain Cornholio]

Niedermayer won't come back to Jersey. He went to the Ducks to play with his brother and stay closer to home. Won't happen. If the Devils got him back, then the shock of it would kill me, bring me back to life, and then kill me again.

If the Devils insist on getting a defenseman, then go after Kyle Quincey in L.A. I'd recommend Tomas Kaberle in Toronto, but he remains hurt.

[Nick]

We need a D-man or future knowledge that Martin will be 100% healthy for the entire playoffs.

[Josh]

There was one point, I think in the second period, where Marty went down to make a save and kind of sprawled out onto his back, and his left leg was underneath his body and against the post. When I saw that I had to wince, as that could have resulted in a really bad injury to his knee.

[Captain Cornholio]

I remember that sequence, Josh. That's what I meant by him not having his full coordination yet. Overall, he looked about as good as I thought he would.

[futureman]

I know, but once I heard Neids name as a rumor I couldn't stop thinking about him. I know it's unrealistic but he would be perfect. I hope Martin's back will hold up. Neids has been in my dreams and my wife thinks I am crazy. He already won a cup for his brother. He should come back and win one here. Then have his number raised to the rafters.

[Al (Philly Devil)]

Marty was not slow last night and showed aigility going side to side which Clemm and Weekes do not do that well. There were a lot of bad angles, short angle shots and Marty responded extrmemly well and so to on wrap arounds. Nothing was wrong in marty's game. Why, because they hit post, one squence? Marty's fine, don't turn the puck over in the last minute and don't let Ryan Smyth destroy the PP all by himself. (He is a masterful player Captain Canada is). Umm, Marty can't help those things.

[Shari]

Marty did have some coordnation issues but all things considered I thought he looked great. As far as Nieder, dare to dream as much as I would LOVE to see them get another cup it would be wierd without Nieder there.

[kstatik]

Are people serious about Kaberle knowing the price for him?

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/tor090225.html

"It would take in my opinion . . . I won't divulge the entire details, the minimum would be this: a minimum of a first-round pick, a guy that can play on our team right now and a top prospect," Burke said during an afternoon conference call. "It would be a package just like I paid [when I was in Anaheim] when I got Chris Pronger from Edmonton. I'm not putting a price on it that I haven't paid myself in the past."

[Captain Cornholio]

I wouldn't touch Kaberle right now because he's hurt. I'm not sure I would even when he's healthy with THAT price tag on him.

By the way, the Flyers lost to the Habs tonight in overtime. The Devils lead division by five points with one more game played.

[Tapiolevo09]

Clemmer gets a win for Lowell. A solid 3-2 road victory for Clemmensen. Bergfors and Pelly each scored their 14th goals for the season, while rookie Matt Halischuk added 2 assists. Bergfors had 10 shots on goal. Lowell is loaded with young prospects and is starting to remind me of some of the old Albany teams who had prospects like Madden, Pandolfo, Elias, Brodeur, White, etc.

[Shari]

Cornholio, when you get a chance go to cbc.ca they have this show called the fifth estate, there is an episode called The Code it's about fighting in Hockey, you can watch the whole episode on line, it was pretty compelling, it starts with the Sanderson death and has interviews with some fighters and of course Don Cherry, I'm sure that you will enjoy watching it.

[Dave]

I'm getting worried.

I'm finding that I almost always agree with the words of a guy who calls himself Capt Cornholio.

[Dave]

Bergfors has 5 goals and 5 assists over his past 8 games in Lowell. Hate to see the Devils dangle him as trade bait without ever giving him a decent shot to make the big team, with some real ice time.

But if the Devils don't appreciate his skill level, maybe it'd be best for him to get moved.

[Pat]

That could be the incentive to let Gio walk this summer. I really don't see him being traded before next week.

[Jacko]

Speaking of Gionta, he is handling the puck with much more confidence than earlier in the year. He was always drive towards the net and fire, now he's willing to pull and analyze, its a good sign even though he'll probably want a raise he doesn't deserve to come back.

My seats are right by the Devils goal that they defend twice. Brodeur looked better than I would have expected him to. His rebound control was fine and his balance was less than what we have come to expect from Marty. But overall, he played a solid game and better in those situations than Clem or Weekes would have. In particular, I was thinking about the puck that got deep on him that he deflected to the corner with his blocker. That's what has made him exceptional, most goalies just knock that puck down and depending on where it lands, could be a great scoring chance on a fat rebound. Marty calmly lets the puck come to him and at the last second allows the puck to glance of his pads into the corner and away from the goal.

These small things, if you're paying attention to them, save goals. There is a reason it took Clem 30 games or so to shutout a team, because he leaves so many rebounds up front and to the sides of the net. Brodeur's style dictates the direction and limits rebounds. Watch for that this afternoon, I'm confident you will agree with the assessment.

[JJ]

We HAVE to get another veteran defenseman. It will happen. I'm sure Lou has multiple lines options cooking. I would love to see him make a deal with Ottawa and bring back Chris Neil & Philip Kuba. That would put us over the top without a doubt. Not sure what that would cost us though.

[JJ]

Sorry, meant to say multiple options cooking.

[jay]

personally, id rather see rolston back at center between patty and gio.. i think zubs could fit better on the holik and pando/rupp line while shanny could play with clarkie and maddog at center. i just dont think zubrus has it to be on that line with elias and gio. he isnt enough of a play maker the way zajac has proven himself to be. the one or two shifts he played with patty and gio was some of the best hockey theyve played all season.i dont know if zubrus is just worried about the deadline or what but he just hasnt played well enough (in my opinion) to continue playing on the second line.