Not This Time, Marty

(7th February, 2010)

Rangers 3, Devils 1, seemed like an anomaly given who was in net opposite New York’s Henrik Lundqwist.

If Martin Brodeur, the New Jersey goalie who has re-written the record books during 18 years of brilliance, played at Madison Square Garden instead of the other side of the Hudson River, his monument would’ve already been erected on the corner of 7^th Avenue and 33^rd Street.

When Brodeur blanked the defending-champion Penguins, 4-0, on December 21, for his record-setting 104th regular season shutout, he had claimed the last important mark for his position.

His accomplishment is even more remarkable when one factoid is examined.  From the beginning of the 1974-75 season until Brodeur’s debut in March 1992, the whitewash tally was Rangers -34, Future Hall-of-Fame Goaltender -0.

Thus, at the close of business on that record-setting night and -despite a 17 year disadvantage- Brodeur was just one shutout behind New York’s collective total over the last 35 years [the Rangers needed 39 different goalies to post 105 shutouts].

Brodeur –who had previously established NHL highs for games played, minutes played and wins pitched two shutout periods this time around.  But, because of a three-goal spurt by New York during the middle stanza, he lost both the shutout and any chance for a win.

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