TORONTO – It was one more piece of evidence that argues both ways in this special Devils’ season, asking Lou Lamoriello to further beef them up today for the Cup run they’ve already started, or pleading not to break up a great thing.
For the first time in his comeback, it wasn’t a cakewalk for Martin Brodeur, yet he’s 4-0 since missing 50 straight. The Devils are 18-4 in 22 after Johnny Oduya’s OT winner with 11.2 seconds left last night for a 3-2 triumph over the Leafs.
Though Lamoriello indicates he isn’t blockbusting this bunch, they’ll wonder until today’s 3 p.m. trade deadline. Then, they say, they’ll get into the silverware business.
“Everyone will look around the locker room and know exactly what we’re going with,” Jamie Langenbrunner said.
“Just play,” said Patrik Elias, who reached the 25-goal level last night. “When we play the right way, we’re a gooooood team.”
Lamoriello said last night he’s not done trying. While still in the market for whatever bargains might crop up, perhaps a center, by this afternoon’s deadline, the GM says he’ll try to fulfill his promise to Scott Clemmensen to trade him where he can play regularly.
“If something came about with Scott Clemmensen, we gave our word that we would do whatever was possible,” Lamoriello said. “For what he did, you cannot ask for any more. It’s an unfortunate situation.
“Quite frankly, it was a very difficult decision to send him down, but it was the only decision. Saying that, however, we’re not going to give him away.”
Clemmensen was sent to the minors last Wednesday when Brodeur was activated after missing 50 games from elbow surgery. This was after Clemmensen came up from Lowell to post a 25-13-1 record during the team’s Brodeur-less emergency. Among teams with goal issues, the Red Wings and Sabres are possible.
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The Devils scored in the first five minutes for the fourth straight game, a David Clarkson flub that went in at 3:30 an instant after the net was dislodged by tumbling Leaf defenseman Jeff Finger. The video ruling held that since the net was dislodged by a defender and the puck would have gone in, Clarkson’s 15th stood, per rule 63.6, Awarded Goal.
Brodeur’s bid for a third shutout in four games lasted into the third, when John Mitchell scored twice, the first coming at 2:32.
Patrik Elias put the Devils back in front 2:49 later with his 25th. Mitchell tied the game again with 9:15 left in regulation.
Oduya averted the shootout by driving to the net and putting away Brian Gionta’s left wing, last rush, shot that slipped behind Vesa Toskala, the 52nd Devils’ shot of the night.
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Meanwhile, The Post has learned the Devils initially offered a player from their current lineup for Atlanta’s Niclas Havelid, whom they acquired Monday for minor-league rookie Anssi Salmela.
Devils 3 Leafs 2