Getty ImagesNEWARK, N.J. - Martin Brodeur is writing a storybook script for his assault on Patrick Roy’s NHL record for wins.
The way things are going, the record-tying victory could come in his native Montreal on Saturday.
Brodeur moved within two wins of tying Roy’s record of 551 on Tuesday night, making 35 saves in the New Jersey Devils’ 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames.
“I think for people around me, they feel it’s a great story,” Brodeur said of having a chance to tie the mark at home. “It’s still alive. I have a chance. One more game to go.”
Brodeur would have to beat Phoenix on Thursday night to get a shot at the mark on Saturday.
Brodeur’s performance against the Flames might have been his best since returning from elbow surgery earlier this month. At least, it was the most the four-time Vezina Trophy winner has been worked.
“The type of game as far as the quantity of shots and the power play time we had to spend killing six or seven penalties, I think the playing and the feeling were a little different than the other ones,” said Brodeur, who has won four of five starts since returning from a four-month hiatus.
Jamie Langenbrunner, Brian Rolston and Zach Parise scored and the Devils killed off six of seven power plays in helping Brodeur post victory No. 549. New Jersey tied the franchise record with its eighth straight home victory.
It was very different from the Devils’ previous game, an embarrassing 7-3 loss to the New York Islanders. Brodeur was lifted in that contest.
|
“I was in certain situations where the puck hit me today, and Saturday it didn’t,” Brodeur said. “I worked hard yesterday in practice on a couple of little things, my balance. In Long Island my balance was not great and I worked on it.”
The win was the Devils 10th in 13 games, and it helped them avoid their first losing streak in more than two months.
Calgary newcomer Olli Jokinen’s third goal in four games could not prevent the Flames from losing their third straight game. Curtis Glencross scored with less than a second to play for the final goal. It came on the Flames’ final power play.
The Devils played an awful first period and fell behind when Jokinen tallied his 24th goal of the season on a nice cross-ice pass by Michael Cammalleri midway through the period.
Defenseman Dion Phaneuf came close to making it 2-0 early in the second period, but Brodeur pushed the slap shot from between the circles just wide of the net.
Brandan Shanahan of New Jersey was called for slashing seconds later, but the Devils took advantage of the Flames’ power play. Colin White led a rush up ice, and Langenbrunner wristed a shot that seemed to get between goalie Miikka Kiprusoff’s body and right arm for a short-handed goal.
Rolston gave the Devils the lead with a power-play goal with 1:59 left in the second. Shanahan took a shot from the left circle, and the puck deflected to the right side of the net where Rolston tapped it in for his 13th goal.
|
The play was reviewed, but the goal stood. Curtis McElhinney then replaced Kiprusoff.
“This time of year you want to feel good, and play better and better, night after night,” Kiprusoff said. “We’ve had a couple of tough games. We have to try to learn from this and get stronger next game.”
Brodeur drew chants of “Marty, Marty, Marty” from the crowd when he slid across to stop Jamie Lundmark alone in front shortly after Parise’s goal.
More on: Martin Brodeur | National Hockey League
Ryan Callahan scored three goals as the New York Rangers beat Philadelphia 5-2 on Saturday for their seventh straight win over the Flyers.
ProHockeyTalk headlines |
Video: NHL from NBC Sports |
Gretzky says Cup race is wide open In the latest NHL Network news update, Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky talks about the division races and how 22 teams have a shot to win it all this year. |
Slideshow |
NHL All-Stars Take a look at the players who competed in Team Chara's 12-9 victory over Team Alfredsson. more photos |
Slideshow |
more photos |
Slideshow |
more photos |
Slideshow |
Slideshow |
more photos |
Video |
Breakdown of East races March 8: Pierre McGuire and Mike Milbury break down the playoff picture in the conference. |