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Brodeur notches 500th win as Devils topple Flyers

Nov 18, 2007 - 4:51 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Martin Brodeur's wait is over.

The three-time Vezina Trophy winner finally notched elusive career victory No. 500 by making 26 saves as the New Jersey Devils defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, 6-2, on Saturday in a battle of Atlantic Division rivals.

Brodeur, 35, joins Hall of Famer Patrick Roy as the only goaltenders with at least 500 victories. Roy is first on the all-time list with 551 career wins.

"It's hard to believe," Brodeur said. "You go out to play and be successful. I've been fortunate to stay healthy and play with a lot of good teams. The next thing you know, you hit these numbers."

After beating the Flyers, 4-1, on November 8 for his 499th win, Brodeur had lost three straight starts in his bid for No. 500.

"We've been working hard and have been playing well," Brodeur said. "The guys have talked a lot about winning this for me. It took a little longer than we thought, but the guys did it in a good way for me."

Six different Devils scored to hand the Flyers their first regulation loss at home this season.

Dainius Zubrus, who burned his former team with two goals in that victory on November 8, opened the scoring midway through the first period.

Defenseman Andy Greene's blast from the left faceoff circle was stopped by Martin Biron, but Zubrus skated freely in front of the net and deposited the rebound past the goalie for his fourth tally of the season.

"I was a Flyer a long time ago," Zubrus said. "I still have friends that come over to say hello. It's just one of those coincidences, I guess."

The Devils doubled the advantage just under three minutes later.

At his own blue line, Zubrus pushed the puck ahead to Karel Rachunek. The Czech defenseman skated up the right wing and blasted a shot from just inside the blue line that beat Biron between his right pad and blocker for his first goal of the campaign.

Patrik Elias pushed the advantage to three just 3:33 into the second period. Defenseman Johnny Oduya blasted a shot from inside the blue line that was stopped by Biron.

The netminder stopped the follow-up shot by Zach Parise but could not control the rebound. In the ensuing scramble, Elias banged the puck into an open right side of the net to make it 3-0.

Elias, who has been Brodeur's teammate for the better part of 10 seasons, was honored to be part of the historic win.

"You look around the history of the league and it doesn't happen too often," Elias said. "It's a privilege to be a part of his career for quite a long time. Having a guy like that, it gives you the chance to succeed. It's very well-deserved."

Mike Richards finally got the Flyers on the board with his career high-tying 11th goal.

After defenseman Lasse Kukkonen's shot from in close was denied, a mad scramble ensued. Richards, who was stationed on the doorstep, found the puck and lifted it over a prone Brodeur at 15:54.

Jay Pandolfo responded quickly for the Devils, racing down the left wing and wristing a shot from the left circle that beat Biron inside the left goalpost with 1:42 remaining in the session to give the Devils a 4-1 lead. It was Pandolfo's team-leading seventh goal of the season.

Scottie Upshall got the Flyers back within two just 27 seconds into the third period, but the Devils scored goals 32 seconds apart to ice the game.

Brian Gionta backhanded a shot while falling to the ice that hit the side of the mask of Antero Niittymaki, who replaced Biron to start the period. The puck landed in the back of the net at 2:33 to give New Jersey a 5-2 bulge.

Parise beat Niittymaki shortly thereafter to cap the scoring.

"You guys have been talking to us about not being able to score goals for a long time," Parise said. "We know we're capable of doing it. We played a great game, and if we can build on it, we're going to be a tough team to beat."

Brodeur added one more memorable save for the highlight reel as he reached back to make a glove stop on a shot by Daniel Briere.

"It was Marty's night tonight," Briere said. "The save that he made was one of the best of the year. I know that it was a special night for him, but I wish it didn't happen against us, to be honest."

Niittymaki allowed two goals while not recording a save. Biron turned aside 18 shots in two periods of work.