NEWARK, NJ – Martin Brodeur was so irate following game four of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against Carolina that he smashed his stick against the boards and slammed it to the ice in disgust. That reaction drew questions from his own children and a “forced” promise from the netminder to not do it again.
Brodeur had nothing to apologize for Thursday night as he stopped all 44 Hurricanes shots on the way to his 23rd career playoff shutout as the New Jersey Devils blanked Carolina 1-0 at the Prudential Center. The victory put the Devils up three games to two in the best-of-seven series with game six set for Sunday in Raleigh.
Given the relative hullabaloo with Brodeur and Jussi Jokinen at the end of game four, it only made sense that the future Hall-of-Fame netminder and his counterpart, Cam Ward, would be featured in the first stanza of game five.
Early in the period, Ward had a collision with David Clarkson and the Devils’ forward drew a goaltender interference for his trouble. Carolina poured four shots on Brodeur during the man advantage but fa iled to score. New Jersey then had a power play chance when ‘Canes defenseman Dennis Seidenberg took a roughing penalty. Ward stood tall in the Hurricanes net, keeping the game scoreless.
New Jersey continued to press the Hurricanes, especially with the teams playing five-on-five hockey. Both teams received a scare late in the period when Ward need to take a couple of moments re-gathering himself following a pileup in his crease and moments later, Chad LaRose collided with Brodeur who came out of the crease to break up a Carolina opportunity. Brodeur stayed down on the ice, trying to draw a penalty, but when he was forced to jump up to quickly get back to the net. Seconds later, he was called for interference on Carolina’s Matt Cullen in front of the net.
The Hurricanes had to be enthused coming into the second period in a scoreless tie despite being out shot 16-9, including getting just four shots on Brodeur with the teams at full strength. They nearly scored seven minutes into the period when Jokinen deflected a Ryan Bayda shot off the post and onto Brodeur’s back. The puck started rolling toward the goal line but the New Jersey goalie scrambled to grab the disc before it went in.
Midway through the stanza, the Devils went on the power play thanks to a tripping call on Carolina’s Patrick Eaves. With just 27 seconds left on the man advantage, defenseman Andy G reene fired a shot from the point that Clarkson redirected with the shaft of his stick up and over Ward to put his team ahead.
The goal seemed to open the game up with both teams going up and down the ice at breakneck speed, few whistles and plenty of scoring chances. The shot count for the period finished with Carolina putting 19 on Brodeur while New Jersey sent 15 in Ward’s direction but the score still sat at 1-0 in favor of the Devils at the intermission.
The key part of the third period for the Hurricanes may have been the first five minutes. They had three minutes of power play time, only to be stonewalled by Brodeur. Ward kept up his end of the goalie battle, showing a quick glove hand in stopping a drive by Zach Parise midway through the period and denying a Jay Pandolfo break-away. All that was left was for Brodeur and his defense, which blocked 22 shots in front of Brodeur, to close out the record-tying whitewashing.
Games notes…Attendance at the Prudential Center was 17,625…Brodeur’s shutout tied him with Patrick Roy for most goose eggs posted in playoff action. The 44 shots were the most he has ever faced in a regulation shutout…Brodeur played the final two periods with a cut on his ankle from the collision with LaRose…Ward was outstanding in his own right, stopping 41 of the 42 shots he faced…New Jersey’s Greene dressed f or the first time in the 2009 playoffs, replacing injured Bryce Salvador. He played in 11 post season games for the Devils in 2007, notching two goals and one assist…Jamie Langenbrunner (lower body injury) missed his third straight game for the Devils…Carolina coach Paul Maurice also tinkered with his lineup, replacing injured Sergei Samsonov (lower body) with Dwight Helminen…Game six will be played sometime on Sunday. The time will be determined by the outcome of Friday’s game between the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals. If New York wins and ends the series, the ‘Canes and Devils will play at 2 P.M. on NBC. If Washington extends the series, Carolina and New Jersey will play Sunday night.
Contact the author at don.money@prohockeynews.com
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