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Brodeur lifts Devils to SO win over Ducks

Feb 18, 2012 - 4:35 AM Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Martin Brodeur stopped 36 shots in regulation and then two shootout chances as New Jersey topped Anaheim, 3-2, at Prudential Center.

Patrik Elias netted the winner, starting off the third round on a successful wrister, then Brodeur ended the contest with a dramatic sliding save of a Ryan Getzlaf chance.

"I don't know usually. Tonight I just started from a different side," Elias said when asked if he had a particular strategy for his shootout tally. "I tried to look for the five-hole actually, but he closed that off and I went blocker side."

Adam Henrique and Alexei Ponikarovsky tallied for the Devils, who have won two in a row.

Corey Perry and Sheldon Brookbank scored for the Ducks, who saw a three-game win streak snapped. Jonas Hiller made 25 saves in defeat.

"Marty is a heck of a goaltender," Getzlaf said in praise of his foe. "He has done it for years. It's a different kind of style from most goaltenders but he finds a way to get it done and he did tonight."

Henrique followed up an Ilya Kovalchuk rebound and flipped it home from the slot just 1:25 into the second period.

It was 2-0 for the hosts when Ponikarovsky slipped a shot through Hiller's pads with 9:04 left, but Perry potted a rebound in close with 3:52 to go.

Anaheim knotted the game with 2:13 left in regulation after Brookbank moved up from the point and ripped home a shot from the circle.

Kovalchuk misfired on a pair of chances to win the game in the final minute- plus of the third period, and the hosts received a bit of good luck in overtime.

Just over a minute in, the Ducks saw a potential game-winner erased. Getzlaf had his stick tied up while gliding towards the right post, and a centering pass from Luca Sbisa redirected off Getzlaf's right skate before crossing the goal line. But a review determined a kicking motion and play continued.

"Yeah, I never left my crease," Brodeur said about whether he was sure the goal would not count. "When we saw it on the replay, it was more obvious. With the NHL you just have to wait. You never know what angles they have."

Game Notes

New Jersey has won eight of its last nine home games against Anaheim since December of 1996...Brookbank ended a 167-game goal drought dating back to March 31, 2009...Both clubs are back in action on Sunday, as the Devils head to Montreal, while the Ducks continue their road trip at Florida.