Martin Brodeur took the NHL record for games played by a goaltender while leading the New Jersey Devils to a 4-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Friday.
The Devils veteran, already the record holder for the most wins by an NHL goaltender, surpassed Patrick Roy in his 1,030th appearance to add another milestone to his decorated career.
“It was a fun game to be a part of, to be sure,” Brodeur told reporters. “It was an exciting game and it was fun to play.”
PHOTO: AFP
Brodeur is also joint record-holder for the most regular season shutouts with Terry Sawchuk on 103, but was denied sole ownership of the mark by the Senators’ (17-13-4) Alexandre Picard and Jarkko Ruutu, who scored in the second period.
After a see-saw contest early on, Jay Pandolfo and Bryce Salvador scored to break a 2-2 tie and seal the win for the Devils, who extended their winning streak over Ottawa to nine dating back to Oct. 27, 2007.
Jamie Langenbrunner and Brian Rolston also scored for the Devils to support Brodeur, who overcame a collision with Ottawa’s Jonathan Cheechoo in the second period that left the goaltender laid out on the ice for several minutes.
“He’s probably the best goalie to ever play, so you have to get in front of him to limit vision as much as you can,” Cheechoo said. “Even when he was screened he made saves most goalies wouldn’t.”
Brodeur’s latest win extended his NHL-record total to 579 while reaching the games played record in two fewer seasons than Roy, who played for the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche from 1985 to 2003.
Langenbrunner opened the scoring in the first period for New Jersey before Ottawa tied the game 39 seconds into the second through Picard.
Rolston put the home side back ahead before Ruutu made it 2-2 with a wrist shot 6:06 into the period.
Pandolfo, who was sidelined for 17 games with a shoulder injury before returning this month, made a go-ahead tip-in with less than two minutes left in the second and Salvador added an insurance goal at 9:52 in the third.
Sens goaltender Brian Elliot finished with 18 saves.
CANUCKS 3, CAPITALS 2
In Vancouver, British Columbia, Mason Raymond scored the tying and winning goals as the hosts edged Washington.
Ryan Kesler had a goal and an assist while goalie Roberto Luongo stopped a late Alexander Semin penalty shot.
Semin and Chris Clark scored in the first period for the Capitals.
BLACKHAWKS 5, BRUINS 4, SO
In Chicago, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews scored shootout goals, leading the surging home team over Boston.
Despite blowing three leads and having its shutout streak snapped at 150 minutes, Chicago improved its NHL-best home record to 15-3-1 and moved into the lead of the Western Conference.
Toews, Kris Versteeg, Patrick Sharp and Andrew Ladd scored during regulation for the Blackhawks, who defeated Boston for the first time in almost six years.
Boston goalie Tim Thomas made 40 saves, many of them acrobatic stops, but couldn’t prevent the Bruins from losing their third straight game.
SABRES 5, MAPLE LEAFS 2
In Buffalo, New York, the hosts scored four times in the second period to make it eight straight wins over Toronto.
Goalie Ryan Miller made 40 saves for his 20th win of the season.
Derek Roy, Toni Lydman, Mike Grier and Matt Ellis all scored in the middle period. Thomas Vanek also scored for the Sabres, winners of five of six.
Rookie Viktor Stalberg and Lee Stempniak scored for the Maple Leafs.
LIGHTNING 6, BLUES 3
In St Louis, Missouri, Tampa Bay snapped a six-game losing skid by downing the hosts.
The Lightning’s Vincent Lecavalier had a pair of assists, giving him 700 points for his career. Jeff Halpern and Steven Stamkos each scored twice.
PANTHERS 6, HURRICANES 3
In Sunrise, Florida, Rostislav Olesz and Radek Dvorak scored goals 37 seconds apart early in the third period to key Florida’s win over Carolina.
Jordan Leopold, Bryan McCabe and Keith Ballard scored in the second period for the Panthers, and Dominic Moore added a short-handed goal in the third.
Patrick Dwyer, Scott Walker and Eric Staal scored for the Hurricanes.
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