Devils G Brodeur shines in return to lineup

Feb 27, 2009 - 4:51 AM NEWARK, New Jersey (Ticker) -- It did not take long for Martin Brodeur to remind the New Jersey Devils what they had been missing.

After a four-month absence with a devastating injury, Brodeur made 24 saves as the Devils blanked the Colorado Avalanche, 4-0, on Thursday.

"I didn't want to disappoint anybody," Brodeur said. "Everybody was excited, I was excited to come back. I know all my friends and family are excited. I just wanted to do well. It was a lot of pressure for just one game."

New Jersey went 32-17-1 without Brodeur.

A four-time Vezina Trophy winner, Brodeur turned aside five shots in the first period, 12 in the second and seven in the third to register his third shutout of the season and 99th career - leaving him four behind Terry Sawchuk's all-time mark of 103.

"I was really anxious all day, more nervous than I thought I'd be," Brodeur said. "I had butterflies. I don't feel them too often. I thought I was going to be able to go out there and just be my old self and not think about much. But it was a big deal for me to get back in the net.

"It was kind of a nice game to play because I was able to get my feet wet in the first period, a couple of saves in the second and we shut them down pretty well in the third."

Brodeur also recorded his 545th career win, pulling within six of Patrick Roy's all-time record.

"This was just a good game for me to come back on the schedule," Brodeur said. "As far as chasing that record, every day I'm going to have to deal with it. I'm excited about it, no doubt about it, but what's in my mind right now is getting back in top form for the playoffs. Winning is what we're in business to do. Hopefully, we'll get it done, put it past us and move on."

The 36-year-old Brodeur was not tested often but appeared to shake off whatever rust built up from not playing since a 6-1 win over the Atlanta Thrashers on November 1, when he suffered a tear in his distal biceps muscle in his left arm.

"The elbow was great," Brodeur said. "I didn't feel anything all game long. I tested it a couple of times, especially getting up and moving across (the net), anchoring myself on the post. I didn't get many shots on the glove side. Even playing the puck, I didn't feel anything."

Although Brodeur also received plenty of help on the offensive end, most of the booming cheers were directed toward him.

"I heard it," Brodeur said. "It was fun. I think the fans were great. I expected that, too. I've always had a good relationship with the fans. There were a lot of people out there and they were all into it."