For the first time since the 1993-94 season, the Devils will have someone in their opening-night net not named Martin Brodeur.
The living legend will watch from the bench Thursday in Pittsburgh as new-addition Cory Schneider gets the start when the Devils open their season against the mighty Penguins. It will break Brodeur’s NHL record of 18 consecutive opening-night starts — a record even he admitted is likely to stand in perpetuity.
Brodeur missed four days of practice after his father, Denis, died on Sept. 26 and he returned home to Montreal for the services. With the Islanders in Newark to play the Devils on Friday, Brodeur will get the start then to extend his home-opener record to a 19th consecutive season.
“It ended up being a fairly easy decision with the last week and half Marty has had and what he’s dealt with,” coach Pete DeBoer said after Wednesday’s practice. “So, if we were able to give him the extra day, back-to-back games, it just seemed like the right thing to do.”
Brodeur, 41, is in the final year of his contract, although he has not admitted to this being his final year. He said he would have been ready to play in Pittsburgh if asked, but the extra day to watch could help.
“I haven’t seen much action in preseason,” said Brodeur, who looked rusty in playing just 99 minutes in the exhibition schedule. “It’s kind of nice to be able to get a game day and get on the ice and be on the bench and see the speed. That’s going to help me out to prepare for my game.”
Schneider surely seems to be Brodeur’s heir apparent, and if that’s the case, the Devils look to be in good hands. The 27-year-old was obtained in a draft-day trade with the Canucks that sent back the No. 9-overall pick, and he gave up just one goal on 80 shots in the preseason.
“Very excited,” Schneider said. “I’ve always come to be prepared for anything. … At this level, you always have to be prepared. You can never be caught off guard.”
DeBoer has made it clear he has no set plan for how many games he would like to play either goalie, but that it’s not such a bad thing to have too many good players. For now, it’s Schneider Thursday, Brodeur Friday.
From there, the coach will keep filling out the lineup as he thinks it will best give his team a chance to win, and best beat back the skeptics who have mostly predicted his team to finish near the bottom of the new Metropolitan Division.
“I think Marty and I are very capable goalies and I think that’s a good thing to have on a team,” Schneider said. “I think they’re going to try and utilize us both as much as they can. However that works out, I’m not sure.”
Young defenseman Alex Urbom was placed on waivers at noon Wednesday, and if he clears, he will most likely be assigned to AHL Albany.
Once that happens, veteran forward Patrik Elias will be taken off injured reserve, as he has now practiced for three straight days and declared himself ready to go.
“I’m great to go, today,” Elias jokingly said Wednesday.