The Mystique of Marty the Invincible went pop, just like a real estate bubble.
“Anyone who expected me to win every game and shut down everyone, thanks for the compliment,” Martin Brodeur said after failing to do that against the league’s worst team, yanked after allowing six in yesterday’s 7-3 loss to the Islanders at Nassau.
Sean Bergenheim completed the hat trick into the empty-net with 0.7 seconds left as the Isles won their second straight from the Atlantic leaders, leaving Devils coach Brent Sutter steaming.
“They should be embarrassed, because they got embarrassed by a bunch of young players that played hard and competed,” Sutter said after his team’s fifth loss in 23 games. “Yeah, I’m upset with this group right now. I know it’s one game, but at this time of the year we need players to rise to the occasion.
“There were some things that certainly concerned me.”
One might be the Devils debut of last Monday’s acquisition, Niclas Havelid, minus-2, paired with minus-3 Bryce Salvador. That might improve with practice.
“It hurts because our standards are high here,” Bobby Holik said. “Some people are saying, ‘Great season so far,’ but it’s not acceptable, especially playing a team that’s at the bottom of the league.”
The loss leaves Brodeur with only the chance to tie Patrick Roy’s record of 551 victories Saturday in his native Montreal, at 548 and 4-1 in his return from elbow surgery.
On Mike Bossy Bobblehead Day, the league-worst Islanders all looked like No. 22 against Brodeur and the Devils. After allowing four goals in four victories since returning from elbow surgery, Brodeur was yanked after allowing six on 26 shots in two periods yesterday. He gave up five in a 6-3 loss in Philly Oct. 24.
Looking less than comfortable on his skates and less than sharp inside his mask, Brodeur had little better success than Scott Clemmensen did the last time the Devils visited Nassau. On Feb. 21, the Isles blanked them 4-0, which also was the last time the Devils lost to anyone.
“That doesn’t happen too often,” Isles coach Scott Gordon said of putting six past Brodeur.
The Isles scored three in the first, stretching their mastery over New Jersey to seven unanswered. Brodeur said he was still clearing his eyes of the snow sprayed by Tim Jackman at the crease when Radek Martinek rebounded Dean McAmmond’s shot for the opening goal, 1:42 into play. Kyle Okposo on the power play and Jeff Tambellini on a breakaway made it 3-for-9 by 14:05, and the Isles were on their way.
Brian Gionta ended the Devils’ futility 29 seconds into the second, deflecting Colin White’s left point shot past Andy MacDonald’s glove for his 15th, but Bergenheim reopened the Isles’ three-goal lead 1:11 later on Mike Iggulden’s first NHL assist.
Jamie Langenbrunner rebounded Salavdor’s point shot for his 21st at 4:01, but Blake Comeau’s PPG at 13:00 made it 5-2. Bergenheim put the Isles up 6-2 with his second of the game and 13th this season at 17:20, a slot shot under Brodeur, as Iggulden notched his second assist of the game and his career.
Kevin Weekes replaced Brodeur for the third, the first time since April 4 that Brodeur was yanked. Patrik Elias scored his 26th on a power-play deflection before Bergenheim completed his hat trick into an empty net in the final second.
*
Isles’ Trent Sutter is out for the rest of the season after suffering a fractured left ankle in the first period.
Islanders 7 Devils 3