We're into the second half of the hockey season, and the push for the playoffs begin!

Brodeur Chases Another Milestone

Written by: Tyler Bodman on 9th March 2009

Martin Brodeur is 3 wins and 3 shutouts shy of being the greatest goalie of all-time. | read this item

Surgery to his bicep forced him to miss 50 games this season. Now that he’s back he’s making up for lost time.

Martin Brodeur is 4-1-0 with two shutouts since returning on Feb. 26. He sits just three wins back for the all-time record set by Patrick Roy at 551 and three shutouts shy of Terry Sawchuk’s record of 103.

Saturday was the first time since returning from his injury that Brodeur has looked human, allowing six goals for the first time in 162 games since Oct. 21 2006.

Brodeur is looking at the silver lining of the injury. For the first time since ’94-’95, a shortened lockout season and year the Devils won the Cup for the first time in franchise history, he will play fewer than 67 games. Even if Brodeur plays every game from now till the end of the season that will only give him 32 games played on the campaign.

He’s surprised himself with his play since returning.

“My expectations weren’t that big,” Brodeur said in a conference call. “I thought it was going to take me a little longer to really feel at ease. I thought it was going to take a little longer to get used to it.”

The good news for Devils’ fans is that he will be fresh for the post-season. It’s something that people have questioned over that past few seasons.

“I think you have to take every positive you can from an injury,” Brodeur said. “Sometimes it’s hard to have them. But definitely not playing as many games, you know, we’ll see what that translates into, what kind of success in the playoffs.”

“I think you really have to stay humble when these things are approaching.”

Being mentioned as one of the greatest goalies of all-time is something that he’s not all together comfortable with.

“When people tell you stuff like that, you don’t like to believe it,” he said. “But I don’t think as an athlete you can see yourself like that. I think if you do, it’s not the right way to approach who you are, where you want to be. I think you really have to stay humble when these things are approaching.”

As for which record he looks forward to breaking the most; well that’s simple says Brodeur.

“I think for me the most important one would be the wins,” he said. “I think when you play hockey, you play to win. When you win, everybody’s happy. That’s the bottom line.”

Brodeur can tie the wins record in his home province on Saturday against the Canadiens. The Devils’ next game goes tomorrow at home against Mikka Kiprusoff the Calgary Flames.

On that note, the Calgary Flames and goaltender Mikka Kiprusoff are also chasing a record. Fittingly it’s Brodeur’s single season wins record of 48 games. Kipper has 39 wins in 61 games to date. With 16 games left it’s out of the question to think he can reach that mark.

Brodeur knows what kind of a player Kiprusoff is and knows that his record might fall.

“He’s definitely got a shot at it,” said Brodeur. “He’s got lots of games left. You still got to win them. But I think definitely in Calgary, it’s a pretty good hockey club there, so he’ll have a great chance.

Some people question playing a goaltender as many games as Brodeur and Kiprusoff but, Brodeur says that goalies like him just need to be in the net.

“Well, you know what, I think he’s got to play until he can’t,” said Brodeur. “I think when you’re a competitor, you play to win games.”

Mike Keenan agrees with Brodeur.

“The best goalies want to play as much as possible,” said Keenan. “That’s been the history of goaltenders that I’ve coached. You just have to be aware of their work-to-rest ratio, and we give Miikka a lot of days off. All he does is play the games, and that keeps him fresh physically and mentally.”

You won’t find any ill wishes towards Kiprusoff from Brodeur.

“Hopefully he’ll get 50,” he said. “I think it will be a great mark for a goaltender to get.”

Maybe he’s already looking forward to the next challenge.

Topics: Martin Brodeur, Mike Keenan, Mikka Kiprusoff, Milestone, New Jersey Devils