Devils goalie Martin Brodeur makes a save on a shot by Minnesota Wild's Andrew Brunette (15) as Mike Mottau (27) helps out. (Rich Schultz/Associated Press)Martin Brodeur is closing in on another record.
In his first appearance since breaking the NHL victory record, Brodeur made 35 saves in the New Jersey Devils' 4-0 win over the Minnesota Wild on Friday night for his 101st shutout, just two behind Terry Sawchuk's mark.
Patrik Elias scored twice, giving him 30 for the season, and Brian Gionta and Johnny Oduya added goals to help the Devils extend their team-record home winning streak to 11.
The focus was again squarely on Brodeur as the Devils rebounded from an emotional letdown Wednesday night afater a 4-2 loss in Carolina with backup Kevin Weekes in goal.
That came a night after Brodeur defeated Chicago to earn his 552nd win to break Patrick Roy's record.
Brodeur was back in goal against the Wild and Jacques Lemaire, his coach when the Devils won their first Stanley Cup in 1995.
Not surprisingly, the two defensive-minded teams played a scoreless first period with few scoring opportunities; the Devils outshot the Wild 6-4.
The Devils scored three times in the second.
Elias got things rolling with an unassisted goal at 1:24.
New Jersey fired the puck into the Minnesota zone and Wild defenceman Marek Zidlicky failed to control it on the end boards. The puck popped right to Elias who flicked a shot past Niklas Backstrom.
The New Jersey goal seemed to ignite the Wild who finally generated some quality chances. Brodeur was up to the challenge, stopping a backhander from Eric Belanger and a crease shot by Colton Gillies.
The Devils broke it open on goals by Gionta and Oduya in a 1:03 span. Gionta finished off a 2-on-1 break with Zach Parise at 9:59, and Oduya followed with a blast from the point that concluded Backstrom's night as Josh Harding came in to finish up.
The Wild, with four power plays in the period, outshot the Devils 16-7.
In the third, Elias got his second tally, a power-play goal at 8:32 to give the Devils a 4-0 lead.
The remaining drama centred on Brodeur and the shutout bid that he preserved with stellar short-handed saves on Mikko Koivu, Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Kim Johnsson.
Devils defenceman Colin White missed a second straight game because of a lower-body injury. Jay Leach and Jay Pandolfo were healthy scratches for New Jersey.
Minnesota scratched Brent Burns (concussion), Craig Weller, Derek Boogaard and Kurtis Foster.
