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Panthers-Devils Preview

Dec 10, 2009 - 6:11 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Florida (11-14-6) at New Jersey (21-7-1), 7:00 p.m. EDT

While Martin Brodeur seeks the NHL record for career shutouts, his New Jersey Devils teammates have supported him with plenty of offense during the club's four-game winning streak.

Brodeur is likely to be in net again to go for the record as the Devils look to continue their balanced scoring when they host the Florida Panthers on Friday night.

Brodeur tied Hall of Famer Terry Sawchuk for the league record with his 103rd shutout when he made 22 saves in a 3-0 win at Buffalo on Tuesday. The four-time Vezina Trophy winner wasn't able to make the mark his alone Wednesday, stopping 21 shots in a 4-2 victory over Carolina.

Brodeur did extend his NHL record with victory No. 576, and is three games shy of tying Patrick Roy for the most games by a goalie in league history (1,029).

The Devils (21-7-1) have won four in a row and seven of eight to climb within one point of Washington and San Jose for the NHL lead.

Eight Devils have combined for 13 goals during the win streak, with five players scoring two each and 12 recording at least a point.

Andy Greene might be the biggest surprise among those contributors. The defenseman had his first career two-goal game Wednesday, giving him eight points over the last eight games. He has set personal bests with five goals and 12 assists after recording two goals and seven assists in 49 games last season.

"We're not an overpowering team offensively, so we need goals from our defensemen," coach Jacques Lemaire said. "I always have a feeling that Andy is going to slow down, but he never does. He plays well every night. It doesn't matter who we're playing against.

"He's very good. He controls the puck and makes plays. I never thought he could be this good, but right now he's playing like an All-Star."

Greene had an assist and Brodeur made 19 saves in a 3-2 road win over Florida on Oct. 10.

The Devils are 21-8-0 with three ties all-time against the Panthers at home, winning eight of the last nine.

That dominance has been spurred by Brodeur, who won 25 of his last 31 meetings with Florida while posting a 1.86 goals-against average and three shutouts in that span.

The Panthers (11-14-6) have dropped four straight and went 1-5-4 in their last 10. The lone win in that stretch was 6-5 in a shootout over Colorado on Dec. 2, and they have lost four in a row since, scoring five goals.

Florida fired 32 shots on goal Wednesday, but were beaten 3-0 by Steve Mason and Columbus.

"We weren't able to capitalize on our chances," said Tomas Vokoun, who made 29 saves. "It's been a problem for us lately."

Steve Reinprecht, second on the team with 10 goals, has one goal in 18 games after scoring nine in the previous eight.