Weekes ready for his close-up; Brodeur: 'It's not my retirement party'

Tonight will start for the Devils with a ceremony to honor Martin Brodeur for breaking the NHL wins record on March 17.

When the puck is dropped 13 minutes later, however, Brodeur will be on the bench and Kevin Weekes will be in net facing the Tampa Bay Lightning in what might be the team's biggest game of the season.

The Devils have lost six games in a row and desperately need a win tonight over the last-place Lightning to get headed in the right direction heading into the playoffs. Aftrer tonight's game, the Devils have only four regular season contests remaining.

Weekes said he is not thinking about it as it being on him to break the losing streak.

"I'm not really looking at it that way," he said. "We want to try and play as well as we can and give ourselves a chance to be successful. That's pretty much what I said all year. We can't overthink things and, obviously, we know things won't turn around overnight. We just want to try to play as well as we can within our game plan and when we do that we give ourselves a chance to win. More often than not, we've come out on the right side when we've done that this year."

Nevertheless, this might be Weekes' biggest start in his two seasons with the Devils.

"I don't really look at it that way," he said. "Obviously, we've been on a little bit of a skid here in losing these consecutive games. But, at the same time, at the end of the year, especially when you're in a back-up role, you look at the games that you've played and the games that you won and, give or take, any one of those games could have been the biggest game because the games that we won, we got the two points. So, especially with the race being as tight as it is with the playoffs, who knows? The Columbus game could have been the biggest game or the L.A. game could have been the biggest game.

"Right now, just because we're on this skid, we're not putting any extra pressure on ourselves that way. We just want to play well and I just want to play well and give the team a chance. That's always my objective."

It might seem strange for Weekes, though, to start on Martin Broduer's night.

"Not really because we start games on everybody's night," Weekes said. "There are a lot of holidays: Veteran's Day, Remembrance Day. There are a lot of significant holidays or days of recognition for certain people. So, in that sense, I don't really look at it like that.

"Obviously, he knows the respect I have for him and what he's accomplished and the significance of it. If there's anybody in here that understands that it's me -- his fellow goalie and goaltending partner."

***

Brodeur admitted that the timing of the ceremony is a litle awkward with the team on a six-game losing streak.

"Definitely, we'd love to be in a better situation," he said. "I think when you have a celebration, you want people to be happy to a certain extent. It is what it is. We'll do it tonight and this will put a lid on this whole thing. Definitely, it's been nice, but we just want to get back to winning."

Brodeur said he wanted the ceremony to be brief not because of the losing streak, but because, "I don't like the attention that much. It's been great, It's been overwhelming. I know this is the last thing for that. The night that I broke the record was probably the best night I've experenced. So, anything else, I understand the principle of it and all that, I think it's great, but, for me, it's still playing hockey. It's not my retirement party."

The ceremony is scheduled to last 10 minutes. I asked Brodeur again this morning if he is going to speak during the ceremony and he said, "I don't know. I don't think so."

I guess there is a small chance he will speak, but, at this point it appears, it would be something very brief and off the top of his head.

The official times for tonight's festivities.

7:02 p.m.: Ceremony for Brodeur begins.

7:12:45: Skate around for both teams.

7:13:45: National Anthem (sung by Arlette).

7:15:45: Opening faceoff.

Comments

[pando20rules]

wow, TG gives it to us down tot he second..... that's awesome!

[Sccratch20]

Hey TG, you Misspelled Brodeur...sorry to point it out.

[Henrik L]

Arlette will break this losing streak for us.

[Sccratch20]

on the title that is

[Major Cornholio]

I'm sure the game operations people plan these things down to the second all the time. They probably had to clear every second of it with the NHL, too.

[JohnnyB]

Brodeur and Retirement in the same sentence gives me the creeps

:(

[HF]

def need a big effort from arlette...

[TG]

Fixed it. As the cliche goes: Haste makes waste.

[Per]

Well said Marty...Johnny B., the word NOT was also included in the sentence :)

[Pete]

Where has Arlette been all this time? I go to most games and I haven't seen her recently. I wish she could be our Kate Smith.

[High Inquisitor of Fire and Ice Pearl Jammed]

Good stuff TG, i don't see it as being that big a deal either, but i guess some people feel it is. I would rather have Marty going tommorow anyway against buffalo who is fighting for a spot.

[lol]

Here's just something to consider as to why the team is slumping right now. This is what I think is going on in the players minds:

Jamie L. - "I know I am the captain and all but the real season doesn't start till the 1st game of the playoff's so whatever happens till then doesn't really matter. Besides we have the division in our pocket anyway."

Patrick Elias: - " I already broke the record for the most points and I am a little sore so I will just relax and get ready for the playoff's (sighs and looks up at the rafters)"

Marty B. - "Look I already am the greatest goaltender of all time, have 3 cups rings and my team is on vacation till the playoff's begin. I'll try harder when they do I promise :) "

Zack Parise - "This sucks! I try every game and 3/4 of this team is playing like crap! I just hope they wake up when the playoff's start. What do you think Travis?"

Travis Zajak - " I love playing in the NHL and I am just gonna do whatever I have to do every game like you do Zack."

Bobby Holik - " I like being in the penalty box. "

Mike Rupp - "Look they pay me to hit people, not score, so give me a break!"

David Clarkson - "I just wanna play hockey and I'll hit whoever Rupp doesn't. If I get a goal that's great too - isn't life great!"

Brian Gionta - "Look I am 5'0 tall and I am trying so what do you guys want from me. I get beat up every game for cryin out loud!"

Brendan Shanahan - "Man am I tired! I felt great when the season started but right now I feel like they don't pay me enough for this."

ALL THE DEFENSIVE PLAYERS - " Marty will get that one!"

[High Inquisitor of Fire and Ice Pearl Jammed]

HAHAHA.... lol... lately it does seem thats the Defense's attitude.. good stuff

[johnson the third]

brodeur..sutter..ehh nobodys goin anywhere. We need little changes ...LIKE CLEMMER ON THE BENCH AS MARTYS BACKUP IF THE DONT MAKE THE PLAYOFFS. whos with me?

[Frank Rizzo]

Pearl, you are getting out of hand. I may have to buck you down to private pearl jammed.

[JerryG]

I know it's not likely to happen, but it would be a tremendous sign of respect for Marty and what he has accomplished if Tampa Bay is out on their bench during the ceremony.

[High Inquisitor of Fire and Ice Pearl Jammed]

wait i went decidedly NON military here. The Ministry appointed me to make sure things run smoothly

[Pat]

Has Arlette been out b/c of her baby, most likely, right?

[Rick Astley to TG's Duran Duran...Pearl Jammed]

thats probably the most logical reason Pat..

[colonel embo slice]

I'm definitely breaking out my Arlette CD, "We're on Fire" to get pumped for tonights game!!!!!

[SonicDude]

truly outstanding work LOL. may i step in and do sutter and lou?

Sutter:
"I need to beat the crap out of a couple of my players. In fact, I already started. Elias wont play tonight because he's...uhh.."sore" ."

Lou:
"I am the true captain of this team, not jamie, not brent, not that cornholio guy."
"Trade deadline? I didnt know there was one...since when?"
"There are UFAs under 35 years old...since when?"
"Brent, you need to play Stevens and Niedermayer more...they're not on the team?...since when?

[ams920]

PJ, I laughed out loud at work, my favorite to date! I didn't know TG liked Duran Duran :-)

[lol]

Nicely done Sonic :p

I forgot Kevin Weekes: - "Man I hope these guys don't hang me out to dry like they are doing to Marty. I'm just glad they finally let me play a game. C'mon guys we can win this one!"

[Paula Abdul <3 TG, she told Pearl Jammed]

glad i could offer you a smile today ams920 :)

[B.C.]

Man this blog rules. I dont know how i'd make through a day of work without it...