Brodeur enjoying record chase, return to ice

Mar 2, 2009 - 5:00 AM By Brian Fitzsimmons PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

NEWARK, New Jersey (Ticker) - Showing off a bruised hand from making a glove save, he slouched near his locker and tried to hold in a humble laugh.

Even Martin Brodeur - a chatterbox as much as he is the greatest goaltender of them all - couldn't give an extensive response when asked about his latest accomplishment.

"That's a big number," he said after stopping 27 shots for his 100th career shutout in the New Jersey Devils' 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday.

"It's hard to believe it a little bit. Only one other guy has gotten more (Terry Sawchuk, 103), and it hit me when the guys were congratulating me. Shutouts are tough to get. It doesn't matter how you get them."

Brodeur started for the third time in four days following a 50-game absence triggered from suffering a torn distal biceps muscle on November 1. And in typical fashion, he reclaimed his spot as the team's cornerstone - a position he's held for the last 15 years.

"I feel pretty good," he said. "I've worked so hard to get to where I am. (Being tired) was not really my concern. I know I didn't play for a long time, but I worked out as hard as I could. Even if I would have played games, I don't think I would have worked as hard as I did in the last two months.

"So, I know physically I was going to be OK. Now, it's really getting my game, my sharpness back."

After all that time, Brodeur has set himself up to re-write the record books in the near future. He needs four shutouts to surpass Sawchuk.

"It's a rarity having any goalie play the way he plays," Devils coach Brent Sutter said. "I don't want him to change."

Brodeur's 547 career wins leave him four away from tying Hall of Famer Patrick Roy - his idol - for the most in NHL history.

"As far as chasing that record, every day I'm going to have to deal with it," Brodeur said. "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."

Brodeur has stopped 66 of 68 shots in three games (3-0-0) since returning to New Jersey, which sits among the top three teams in the crowded Eastern Conference.

A four-time Vezina Trophy winner, Brodeur shut out the Colorado Avalanche, 4-0, in his much-anticipated return to the ice in front of a jubilant crowd on Thursday. Such success carried over into Saturday's 7-2 drubbing of the Florida Panthers, as well as the next day.

"He has four (shutouts) in 13 games (this season), so that's pretty good, too," Devils captain Jamie Langenbrunner said. "He looks sharp. He's obviously well rested and excited to be out there and ... he made some huge saves."

It's been difficult for his young teammates to avoid getting caught up in the hoopla.

"It's great," All-Star Zach Parise said of playing with Brodeur. "He's getting records that won't be broken, in my opinion, and for him to be that great and for me to be a part of it, it's amazing to be a part of history."

"It's unbelievable to come back and do what he's done," Travis Zajac added. "He's fun to be around."

Right now, the loose atmosphere has translated into success on the ice as New Jersey has outscored opponents, 14-2, since Brodeur's return.

"It's kind of nice just to be back with the boys," Brodeur said. "I've been in the league for 15 years and I've played with some of these guys for a lot of that time, had a lot of great experiences. That's not something I was afraid of.

"But it's great to be back."

Four months and many New Jersey victories later, it's like he never left.