The New Jersey Devils started the year on a hot streak until Martin Brodeur was placed on IR. Brodeur missed 13 games but made his return on Thursday night against the Carolina Hurricanes. In the first period the Devils were on the powerplay when a bizarre play happened.
Carolina Hurricanes forward Patrick Dwyer was killing the penalty when he had an excellent shorthanded scoring chance. He was hooked on the play and the Devils were going to have a player headed to the penalty box. Brodeur had just made the save, making him the last Devils player to touch the puck, when Jordan Staal picked up the puck and sent a pass to the point. The only problem was it was a bad pass and the puck went all the way down the ice and into the empty net because Hurricanes goalie Dan Ellis had left the ice to give the Hurricanes an extra attacker on the delayed penalty. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this is Brodeur’s first career power play goal.
https://twitter.com/DaveLozo/status/314879362111520768
Yikes, that stat has to hurt New York Rangers fans.
Martin Brodeur has scored for the Devils. He's the first goalie with three career goals.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 21, 2013
There are 84 skaters that have played at least 14 games this year without a goal. Martin Brodeur now has more goals than all of them.
— CBS Sports NHL (@CBSSportsNHL) March 21, 2013
And one more fun stat:
Tonight @NHLDevils #Brodeur was credited w/ a goal vs. CAR. Last time a goalie scored? @NHLCanes Ward on 12/26/11 vs…you guessed it, NJD.
— NHL (@NHL) March 22, 2013
[NHL.com] [GIF via: @GoldAndOrSmith]