Need a Devils’ captain? Heeeere’s Johnny.
No disrespect to last year’s man, Patrik Elias, but because coach Brent Sutter put it up for grabs based on current performance, it’s turning into a run-away.
Last night, John Madden became the favorite in a 3-2 triumph over the Maple Leafs in Newark – with the sort of heroics great captains perform.
Thanks to goalie Martin Brodeur and some luck, the Devils were tied with the Leafs with five minutes remaining and Toronto on the power play. Suddenly, Madden outraced ex-Islander Jason Blake to a blocked shot and took off up-ice, opening space on Blake for a left wing, short-handed goal that turned the tables and put New Jersey in front for good.
“That goal was pretty amazing,” Sutter said. “A huge goal in the last [five] minutes of the game.”
Madden’s short-hander with 4:12 left was his sixth of the year, tying fellow penalty-killer and linemate Jay Pandolfo for the team lead. He’s halfway to last season’s total, 12 games into the year.
In 1999-2000, Madden tied the league’s rookie record with six short-handers, but he didn’t have one last year. He said in last night’s situation, going on offense was not on his mind.
“Not even close. I was just looking to kill the penalty,” Madden said. “I knew Blake was on my shoulder and I was going to dump it, but someone on the bench said, ‘You’ve got him.’ I got lucky.
“I enjoy it because so many times killing penalties, they’ll put one in, so it feels good,” Madden said after his 14th career short-handed goal.
Zach Parise added insurance 1:37 later, his fourth becoming the winner when Mats Sundin scored 6-on-4 with 31.1 seconds left.
The triumph gave the Devils a 2-1 record in their first Newark homestand and consecutive victories as they visit the Garden tonight. Brodeur, back in stellar form last night, will play his third in four nights.
A second-straight feeble crowd, generously announced at 14,523, half-filled the $380 million, 17,600-seat Newark arena.
Rookie David Clarkson put the Devils in front 14:17 into play with his first of the year. From his defensive left corner, Mike Mottau bounced a long lead off the lively new right boards, allowing Clarkson to step inside of Leaf defenseman Andy Wozniewski and collect the breakaway just outside the right circle. Clarkson cut left to backhand his fourth career goal past goalie Vesa Toskala. Brodeur collected his first assist of the season, 28th career, on the goal.
Alex Steen tied the game for the Leafs with a slick move at 10:56 of the second. Another long lead pass, up the left side, sent Jiri Tlusty against Sheldon Brookbank. Tlusty dropped the puck to Steen, who dragged it behind his back past Vitaly Vishnevski to cut across the goalmouth and slip his third behind Brodeur.
That set the stage for someone to be a hero, and Madden stepped into the role by skating away from Blake.
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The Rangers, who face the Devils tonight, blanked New Jersey 2-0 at Garden on Oct. 25, on two Jason Dawes goals. . . . Sundin’s goal extended the Devils’ streak of allowing a power-play goal to 11 straight games. . . . New Jersey played seven defensemen again. Mike Rupp sat out. . . . The Devils were outshot 28-11, but held a 12-8 edge in decisive third period. . . . Karel Rachunek remains out for the Devils with a groin injury.