PITTSBURGH – The Devils have owed Martin Brodeur plenty over the years, but if he tries again for his 500th career victory here tonight, they will owe him big-time.
There he was, back to his familiar self Saturday night, keeping the Devils close until they climbed back into the game, and someone on the bench voiced a promptly-penalized opinion of a penalty against New Jersey. Capitalizing on that two-man advantage, the Islanders scored the 2-1 winner at Nassau Coliseum, leaving Brodeur’s quest to become only the second goalie in NHL history to win 500 games until tonight.
Brent Sutter doesn’t tolerate mistakes of such magnitude from his players, and isn’t shy to name names. But he wouldn’t reveal whose mouth helped cost Brodeur that milestone, only previously reached by record-holder Patrick Roy, who won 551 regular season games.
Brodeur did not skate in practice yesterday, as the Devils went without a Sunday off that might have been offered under different regimes, or before they were exposed and embarrassed by these same Penguins, 5-0, last Monday in Newark. That loss prompted Sutter to put them through two grueling days of practice, leading to Thursday’s victory over the Flyers.
Brodeur has started eight straight and 14 of 16 this season for the Devils, 5-8-1, with that milestone slow in arriving.
He has one edge on Roy in his chase for the record. Roy notched his 500th victory in his 993rd game; Brodeur has played 905. Brodeur, however, has collected 18 of his 499 victories via shootout, an avenue unavailable to Roy, whose ties ended as ties.
Roy played 1,029 games for a record of 551-315-13, and Brodeur stands 499-271-121.
Though the Devils reverted to their inoffensive ways against the Islanders, they can take encouragement from the three goals in two games they’ve received from previously goalless Dainius Zubrus. Jamie Langenbrunner also is close to making his season debut after September hernia surgery.
The Devils, 3-5-2 in their last 10, could use any help they can get. One of their six triumphs this season came here on Oct. 17, with Arron Asham netting the winner.
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The Devils play host to the Rangers on Wednesday. . . . John Madden sat out practice yesterday, as well.