Devils 3 – Wild 2
The NHL’s GMs could prove they aren’t utterly clueless, that they actually know something about hockey.
Come April, the braintrust could finally vote Martin Brodeur his first Vezina Trophy.
Perhaps the strongest indictment of their brilliance is that in his nine previous seasons, Brodeur has been runner-up only twice, despite the fact that he has won far more games (352) than any other goalie since 1993-94, when he broke into the league for good.
Brodeur today stands as the only goalie in NHL history to post eight straight 30-victory seasons, breaking the record with a 3-2 triumph over the Wild at the Meadowlands yesterday.
Should he win 10 of the Devils’ final 28, and he’s on pace to win 15 of those, he’ll be the only goalie to record four 40-victory seasons.
The names he is eclipsing are those of legend, while he makes one of his own. Brodeur moved past Patrick Roy (1996-97 through 2001-02) and Tony Esposito (1969-70 through 1975-76), who had shared his record of seven straight 30-victory seasons. The only other goalies who managed three 40-victory seasons are Terry Sawchuk and Jacques Plante, perhaps the greatest of the ages.
And still no Vezina. It is as big an injustice as the writers never voting Scott Stevens a Norris Trophy.
“I have two Stanley Cups. That’s where I try to keep my mind,” said Brodeur, 30-15-3 this season. “I had stats good enough to win that award and it just didn’t happen.
“If it happens, I’ll be really excited about it. If it doesn’t, I’ll look at what I have accomplished.”
Since Brodeur entered the league, Jose Theodore, Dominik Hasek (six times), Olaf Kolzig and Jim Carey have won the Vezina, first awarded in 1928 to Montreal’s George Hainsworth, named for Montreal’s Georges Vezina, who died from TB scant months after collapsing in a game Nov. 28, 1925.
It goes to the “goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at his position.” This year, scouts, GMs, players, coaches, are widely agreeing that Brodeur is the best.
“The Olympics I think opened some eyes towards me,” Brodeur said. “It’s not something I’m going to lose any sleep over, although it’s something I’d love to win.”
First things first with a Vezina, but if Theodore could win the Hart Trophy last year as NHL MVP, Brodeur surely merits consideration for that biggest award. He leads the league in victories, stands third in goals-against and second in shutouts.
“Hey, I’m up for anything,” Brodeur said. “It doesn’t change anything, but [awards] are fun to get.”
Despite the tightness of the victory, there was little doubt that Brodeur would set his record once the Devils took a 2-0 lead. Colin White opened the scoring 15:58 into the first, his right point slap finding the high short side on Dwayne Roloson after John Madden won an offensive draw from Sergei Zholtok. Patrik Elias pulled up on a right wing 1-on-1 rush and used Lubomir Sekeras as a screen for his 17th at 3:06 of the second.
Pierre-Marc Bouchard put the Wild on the board at 7:04 of the second, converting a power play, roofing his fifth from the right side of the crease, over Brodeur’s left pad and glove.
Jamie Langenbrunner reopened the Devils’ two-goal lead at 11:21 of the third with his 15th, directing Brian Rafalski’s right point shot under Roloson’s glove, short side. That goal proved vital when Pascal Dupuis answered 2:09 later. Darby Hendrickson beat Joe Nieuwendyk on an offensive draw, and Brodeur dropped Nick Schultz’s point shot, easy pickings for Dupuis’ 13th.