Funny how Martin Brodeur’s 102nd shutout seemed to validate all other strategies, even the breakup of the Z Line.
Coach Jacques Lemaire sounded as if the trio that carried the Devils last season is no longer in fashion after Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Carolina in Newark. Lemaire replaced center Travis Zajac mainly with late signee Rob Niedermayer on the line between captain Jamie Langenbrunner and top scorer Zach Parise.
“I feel much better with the [lines] we have right now — our team is much more solid,” Lemaire said. “It’s too bad that we’re breaking a line that had so much success last year, but I talked to the guys. They want to go on with this. They feel it’s helping the team.”
There wasn’t much offense generated, however. One goal bounced in off Langenbrunner’s chest after Niedermayer’s centering pass glanced off the goalie Cam Ward’s stick, and the other was Parise’s empty-netter.
All this while Scouts’ Row was noting, ‘Trap, trap,’ as the Devils forechecked one deep.
Zajac finished among the league leaders in plus-minus last season, but he was mostly left to center a line with rookies Niclas Bergfors and Matt Halischuk. That is until the Devils defended against a last-gasp Hurricanes attempt to recreate their comeback in Game 7 of the team’s first-round playoff series last season. Then he had Zajac, Langenbrunner and Parise, who were scorched last April 28, back together to put away the first home victory of the season (1-3).
*
The record alert is on, with Brodeur only one behind Terry Sawchuk’s NHL record of 103 career shutouts. . . . The Devils, 3-0 on the road, return to action Thursday at the Garden.