BRODEUR BRILIANT EN ROUTE TO WIN No. 40!!!
New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur made 24 saves on Saturday in a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche to reach 40 wins for the seventh time in his brilliant career.
"Lately, when Martin Brodeur hasn't been good, he's been great."
Missing Patrik Elias and Colin White on Saturday, the Devils got 24 big saves from their netminder and rolled to a 4-2 win over the Avalanche in Colorado.
Brodeur delivered a handful of sensational stops en route to his 40th victory of the campaign, extending his own NHL record with a seventh 40-win season. While no goaltender in history has done it more than three times in a career, Brodeur reached the 40-win plateau for a third straight season.
Jay Pandolfo notched a goal and an assist as his line with John Madden and Brian Gionta accounted for two tallies and three helpers. Madden added his 19th for the Devils, who received a group scoring effort with Elias sidelined (bruised knee).
Dainius Zubrus and Jamie Langenbrunner also scored for New Jersey, which led most of the day and secured their third win of the four-game trip.
Brodeur did the rest for New Jersey, which has grabbed points in 11 of its last 13 on the road.
The reigning Vezina Trophy winner demonstrated again and again Saturday why he's regarded as one of the best in the game.
New Jersey (42-24-6) took a three-point lead in both the Eastern Conference and the Atlantic Division, and was assured of finishing the weekend in no worse than first place.
Montreal, Ottawa and Pittsburgh sat in a three-way tie as of Saturday, with the Canadiens slated to host the Islanders on Saturday night. The Penguins, minus Sidney Crosby, and Ottawa were set to play on Sunday.
The Devils now head back to Newark, where they face the Rangers Wednesday and the Islanders Friday. New Jersey finished 4-1 against the Northwest Division in its final interconference game, and will play nine of its final 10 regular season matchups within the division.
