Bruins 2 - 3 Devils
Final
  for this game

Brodeur to make possible last start with Devils vs. Bruins

Apr 13, 2014 - 2:48 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Martin Brodeur will get the start Sunday in what could be his last game in a Devils sweater, as New Jersey hosts the Presidents' Trophy-winning Boston Bruins on the final day of the regular season.

The 41-year-old Brodeur, who has led New Jersey to three Stanley Cup titles during two decades with the club, is a free agent after this season. While Brodeur hasn't made his plans clear for next season, at times he has expressed interest in coming back for 2014-15, even if it's for a team other than the Devils.

A first-round pick by New Jersey in 1990, Brodeur has spent his entire career with the Devils and the future Hall of Famer has racked up numerous NHL records during his career, including most wins (687) and shutouts (124).

"It's kind of hard. I'm just going to go out and play like it's another game, but definitely knowing in the back of my mind it might be my last one I'm going to play here," said Brodeur of Sunday's start.

Brodeur will wind up starting New Jersey's final two games of the season over Cory Schneider, the man tabbed to replace the legendary goaltender as the Devils' No. 1. Schneider started 43 games this season for New Jersey, while Sunday's outing will mark Brodeur's 39th start of the campaign.

The Devils, who were eliminated from the playoffs for a second straight season earlier this week, have lost three straight games. The last two setbacks have come after overtime, dropping New Jersey to 0-13 this season in games decided by shootouts.

Brodeur made 28 saves through regulation and OT in Friday's home game against the New York Islanders, but Josh Bailey beat the veteran netminder with a spin-o-rama in the second round of the shootout to send the visitors to a 3-2 victory at Prudential Center.

After New York's Frans Nielsen and Damien Brunner of the Devils exchanged markers to open the shootout, Bailey charged down the right side and cut in front before spinning around and backhanding the disc past Brodeur to put the Islanders on top.

Jaromir Jagr then had the puck roll off his stick at the other end before Ryan Strome skated down the left side and used the same move as Bailey to beat Brodeur and send the Devils to their 17th straight shootout lost, extending a dubious NHL record.

Ryan Carter and Patrik Elias each scored once for New Jersey in the loss. The Devils fell to 20-11-9 as the home team after the setback.

Brodeur's Devils will take on a Boston team that already has locked up home- ice advantage throughout the playoffs. The Bruins did so with Saturday's 4-1 home win over the Buffalo Sabres, clinching the franchise's first Presidents' Trophy since 1989-90.

David Krejci scored twice and Tuukka Rask made 24 saves to help the Bruins wrap up the league's best regular-season record.

"It's a nice achievement," said Krejci about the Presidents' Trophy, "but we're trying to accomplish something different."

Patrice Bergeron netted his 30th goal and Gregory Campbell also scored for the Bruins, who will host Detroit in the opening round of the playoffs.

Boston is 23-11-6 as the visiting team this season, but has lost four straight (0-1-3) on the road.

The Bruins have claimed eight of the last nine meetings with the Devils, but the clubs have split two encounters in 2013-14. Both teams picked up a road victory in the season series and Boston has won four straight and six of seven in New Jersey.






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