It was in sadness Cory Schneider got one more chance to corroborate something he already has proven to be true.
The Devils’ presumptive backup goalie started the preseason finale Thursday night at the Prudential Center in Newark, a 4-1 win over the Flyers when he stopped all nine shots he faced over two periods and finished his four-game the exhibition schedule by allowing just one goal on 80 total shots.
Yet Schneider only played in this game because Martin Brodeur, who was slated to start and play the whole way, left New Jersey after the morning skate to go back to his native Montreal where his father and famed Canadiens photographer, Denis Brodeur Sr., died at the age of 82. Denis had undergone two surgeries for brain tumors over the past year and a half.
“Denis proudly dedicated his life, on and off the ice, to the game of hockey and for that he will be fondly remembered,” Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers, right now, are with Martin and his family.”
Added NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, “Some of the greatest teams and greatest players in hockey history — including his son, Martin — are preserved forever by his grand body of work. … The National Hockey League sends heartfelt condolences to Denis’ family and friends.”
Martin Brodeur, 41, is in the final year of his contract, and has played just 99 minutes of hockey this preseason, giving up seven goals on 38 shots for a .816 save percentage. He is in the last year of his contract, and coach Pete DeBoer said missing this start will be “no issue” concerning Brodeur’s readiness to start the season on Oct. 3 in Pittsburgh.
Lamoriello secured Brodeur’s successor in a draft-day trade with the Canucks that brought Schneider in exchange for a first-round pick (No. 9 overall). Although Schneider has been outstanding — the one goal came on a 6-on-4 man-advantage for the Flyers in Philadelphia on Tuesday — DeBoer said it hasn’t changed anything concerning his plan of how to split up the starts once the regular season begins.
“We knew what we were getting,” DeBoer said. “He’s come as advertized. I don’t think there is any surprise. He’s had an excellent preseason, but we knew we were getting a world-class goalie, so it hasn’t changed anything for me.”
After spending the latter part of the first five-plus years of his career in a goalie controversy with Roberto Luongo in Vancouver, Schneider is now playing the role of good teammate, not willing to put a number on how many games he would like to play no matter how the preseason has gone.
“It’s going to be different in the regular season, it’s not going to be like this,” Schneider said. “So I have to step up my game another level for the regular season.”
Denis Brodeur Sr. was a celebrated hockey photographer in Montreal and is survived by his wife, Mireille, sons Denis Jr., Claude and Martin, and daughters Sylvie and Line, along with his grandchildren, one of whom is Martin’s son Anthony, a goalie drafted by the Devils this past year.
Jaromir Jagr (lower-body) participated in the morning skate, but did not play and will finish the preseason without playing in a game.
Both he and DeBoer said he could have played if it were the regular season, but there was no need to push it.
“You have to look at the big picture,” said the 41-year-old Jagr. “Everybody wants to be good in the [season] opener, but you want to be as good in Game 20 as in Game 1. It’s still worth two points.”