Brodeur struggles coming in cold

Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur said he had hard time feeling comfortable tonight after he came in to replace the injured Kevin Weekes 57 seconds into the second period. He gave up three goals on 10 shots, but still earned his 554th career win -- extending his NHL record.

"I just didn't feel it too much out there," he said. "I was just hard. They got a couple of shots early. They scored a goal after that. Then, they didn't get any shots. They got a breakaway goal (Ryan Malone) and then after that something bounced in front of me and they get an empty-net goal (Martins Karsums). I just couldn't wait for that game to end."

It was only the 12th relief appearance of Brodeur's 15-season NHL career and his first since March 20, 1998 at Washington when he replaced Mike Dunham halfway through a 2-0 loss to the Capitals.

This one was particularly difficult for Brodeur after the pre-game ceremony and because he was supposed to have the full night off.

"It is tough," Brodeur said. "I'm not going to hide it. Usually, when I get days off, they're days off. Injuries, you can't control that, obviously. But sometimes when somebody is having a tough game, you can kind of prepare youself a little bit for it. But an injury, the amount of times it happend to me in my career, I could probably count on one hand, Definitely, it was weird."

Brodeur sensed Weekes might be seriously hurt when he didn't get up initially, so he turned to assistant equipment manager Matt Mitchell and asked him to get his mask from the locker room. It was eerily similar of Nov. 1 when Brodeur was injured in the second period against Atlanta and Weekes had to get his mask from the locker room.

"He got hurt and he was down," Brodeur said. "Usually you get hurt, you're able to see his face. I kind of went back because I didn't have my mask with me. It was in the locker room. So, I kind of told Matty to get my mask. After that, I'm like, 'Did he get up?' No he's still down. So, I figured all right, let's take the baseball cap off and put the work helmet on."

***

Brodeur said he enjoyed the pre-game ceremony, in which he was honored for breaking Patrick Roy's NHL wins record on March 17..

“It was awesome,” Brodeur said of the 12-minute ceremony. “What everybody did for me was really appreciated. It was simple and it was tasteful, exactly what I expected from this organization and the NHL."

***

Before anybody get carried away, the Devils realized that they're not going win a lot of games playing the way they did tonight. But they considered this the first step in the right direction.

"It's better now," Brodeur said. "It's good enough. I don't think you can go out and play like that every night and expect to win a lot of games. We pulled it off. It was a situation that we needed to play a certain way and we came through, But we've got to play better on the road. It will be a little tougher."

They'll find that out Saturday night in Buffalo, which hung on to its slim playoff hopes by defeating Washington in overtime tonight.

Comments

[Major Cornholio]

I have to think that when Brodeur has received a night off in recent years, he wouldn't enter the game unless the other guy got hurt or thrown out of the game. If the other guy gave up a dozen, then Brodeur still wouldn't come in to replace him.

A statistic like that makes you appreciate what Brodeur has meant to the Devils during his career. Not many people in any line of work get to hear they'll definitely get a break no matter what.

Conversely, even fewer get to hear they'll perform no matter how badly they do! Think of all the backups Brodeur has had, even though they've done well for the most part.

[Major Cornholio]

The Devils arrived to wind, rain and snow in Buffalo at 12:17.

[I gotta cut loose, FOOTLOOSE, kick off my sunday shoes.....Pearl Jammed]

I am glad that Marty said that about the team realizing that the kind of effort they put out tonight will not fly against a better more organized team

[Hot Dogs]

Jamie has to be thinking 30 goals this seasons. After some clutch goals, the captain wants it!

[RickyM2]

Finally!!! The team won one for Marty, instead of the other way around... I think we are connecting to a cup contending team again... As they say "BACK TO WORK GUYS" As for Clemmer's return... I hope he can handle playoff pressure.. Incase we need him

[Matt]

I think you need not to worry about Clemmensen and pressure. I think he had all the pressure one could expect having to take the place of brodeur and keep this team in the hunt.

[shredder29]

Yea i jinked weekes!!! Great guy yes but we need solid goaltending to win the cup and this only makes us that much better. Thank GOD!!!!

[Gilly]

Good effort by the Devs, hopefully one that will snap the team out of this funk. Brodeur was spot on about tonight's effort. It was good enough to get the win tonight, but they can not expect to win too much if they keep playing this way.

Now, that being said, the team seems to be heading in the right direction again, and there is no telling what scoring 5 goals can do for a team's confidence. Now if we just roll out another tonight in Buffalo.

On a side note, Holik may be public enemy No. 1 here, but he turned a bit of ignorance into a bit of brillance when he goaded Halpern into taking, not one, but 2 penalties. That turned the game.

Now keep it rollin' (hope Patty is back soon) Devs!

[Bing]

A definite stomach turning game. I felt every shot at our goal in my my gut. Thankfully the team played well enough to get the win. They have to play hard tonight in Buffalo as they are up against a team desparate for a win. Good luck and may the hockey Gods be with you.

[Per]

I wouldn't worry about Clemmer, he won't play much and he has handled pressure well during this season. I'm worried about Marty, he has NOT been coming up with the big saves we need this time of the year.

[RangersSuck]

Marty has, in the past few games, looked a bit slow with his glove, as he did in the few games before his injury. He also seems slow going from post to post. I wonder if there's something they're not telling us?

Giving up four goals against one of the worst teams in the league is simply unacceptable. It's great that we scored five, but the defense has got to get its act together.

[Falcone]

Marty has got to play better. You can tell his mental focus was beating Roy's record. His mental focus hasn't changed to winning a cup. He needs to change his attitude and focus on winning as a team. He played aweful last night and aweful the last few games. Marty needs to step up and be the best goalie of all time.

[michael jackson]

Clemmeson all the way!

[Zorin]

shredder29, it's messed to be happy about any of our guys to get hurt, especially Weeks. You were right about one thing, he is a nice guy, but WE ALL know that.

I'm gonna get Splinter and TMNT to get you, lol!

[ChipArm]

I would think the only situation close to this was when Corey Schwab beat the crap out of the Isles goalie and got tossed.