-James van Riemsdyk
-Joffrey Lupul
-John Tavares
-Martin Brodeur
-Pavel Datsyuk
-Sergei Bobrovsky
-Taylor Hall
-Wayne Simmonds
The next round of voting will pit Datsyuk against Lupul, Brodeur against van Riemsdyk, Hall against Bobrovsky and Simmonds against Tavares. Voting for the Datsyuk-Lupul and Simmonds-Tavares series will begin on May 13 and conclude on May 19. The other two series will begin on May 20 and conclude on May 26. From there, the Final Four will be set.
Even though the Devils’ 2013 season is over, we can still look back at some great moments in New Jersey’s playoff history.
On May 9…
1994- Martin Brodeur stops all 22 shots he faces, pitching his first-career playoff shutout in New Jersey’s 2-0 win over the Boston Bruins in game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Brendan Byrne Arena.
2001- Patrik Elias scores twice, and Scott Stevens and John Madden each add a goal and an assist, as the Devils blitz the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1 in game 7, winning the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series, 4-3.
Even though the Devils’ 2013 season is over, we can still look back at some great moments in New Jersey’s playoff history.
On May 8…
1988- Officials boycott game 4 of the Wales Conference finals between the Devils and Boston Bruins, after the NHL did not suspend New Jersey coach Jim Schoenfeld for his postgame outburst at referee Don Koharski.
Schoenfeld subsequently was suspended, replacement officials were used and Lou Lamoriello coached New Jersey to a 3-1 win in game 4 at Brendan Byrne Arena. David Maley, Pat Verbeek and Tom Kurvers each scored goals, as the Devils even the best-of-seven series at 2.
1995- Just a day removed from his second-career playoff shutout, Martin Brodeur shuts out the Boston Bruins again, 3-0, in game 2 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals at Boston Garden.
2000- Brodeur stops all six shots he faces– yes six, that’s not a typo– in New Jersey’s 3-0 Eastern Conference semifinal-clinching game 6 win at Continental Airlines Arena.
Petr Sykora and Jason Arnott each register a goal and an assist, as New Jersey wins the series 4-2.
2012- Ilya Kovalchuk records a goal and an assist, and David Clarkson scores the eventual game-winning goal, as the Devils polish off the Philadelphia Flyers with a 3-1 win in game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Wells Fargo Center.
The Devils claim the series 4-1 and advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
Even though the Devils’ 2013 season is over, we can still look back at some great moments in New Jersey’s playoff history.
On May 7…
1994- Stephane Richer’s goal at 14:19 of the first overtime lifts New Jersey to a 5-4 win over the Boston Bruins in game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Boston Garden.
Ben Hankinson, Valeri Zelepukin and Bernie Nicholls each pot goals, and Richer nets two as the Devils even the series at 2.
1995- Martin Brodeur stops all 23 shots, and Claude Lemiuex pots a pair of goals in New Jersey’s 5-0 win over the Bruins in game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals at Boston Garden.
2001- Petr Sykora scores once and adds an assist, and Brian Rafalski pots the eventual game-winning goal late in the second, as the Devils stave off elimination with a 4-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Air Canada Centre.
Even though the Devils’ 2013 season is over, we can still look back at some great moments in New Jersey’s playoff history.
On May 6…
1972- Denis and Mireille Brodeur welcomed a baby boy, Martin, into the world. That boy would grow into the Devils’ — and arguably the NHL’s — greatest goalie of all time.
1988- The Boston Bruins hammer the Devils, 6-1, in game 3 of the Wales Conference Finals at Brendan Byrne Arena, taking a 2-1 edge in the best-of-7 series.
Still, this game is widely remembered for the postgame verbal — and possible physical — assault by Devils coach Jim Schoenfeld on official Don Koharski.
2000- Scott Gomez registers two assists, and John Madden notches the game-winning goal, helping the Devils to a 4-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Air Canada Centre.
2012- After falling behind 2-0, the Devils storm back for four-unanswered goals, beating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 in game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifnals at Prudential Center.
Dainius Zubrus scores twice, and Petr Sykora registers a goal and an assist, as the Devils take a 3-1 series advantage.
Even though the Devils’ 2013 season is over, we can still look back at some great moments in New Jersey’s playoff history.
On May 2…
1997- Scott Niedermayer and John MacLean each score goals, and Martin Brodeur makes 21 saves in New Jersey’s 2-0 win over the New York Rangers in game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
2003- Grant Marshall scores at 11:12 of the third overtime, boosting New Jersey to a 3-2, Eastern Conference-semifinal win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Marshall’s goal sent the Devils to the Eastern Conference finals and also ended the longest playoff game in Devils history.
Brian Rolston had one of the NHL’s hardest shots in his 17-year career.
But goalies needn’t fear his laser any longer.
The 1991 Devils draft pick announced his retirement Tuesday.
Former Devil Brian Rolston has announced his retirement from the #NHL. #NJDevils— (@NHLDevilsPR) April 30, 2013
Rolston played in 1,256 NHL games, winning a Stanley Cup in 1995 with the Devils. The Flint, Mich. native registered 130 of his 342 career goals in two tours in New Jersey.
Many of those tallies were scored using a bruising– sometimes literally– slap shot. Rolston also played in three Olympics, winning a silver medal with Team USA in 2002.
Rolston did not play in 2013 but finished his playing career with the Boston Bruins, with whom he also did two tours. Rolston also played stints in Minnesota, Colorado and an infamous 49-game tenure on Long Island.
Though Rolston was a third-line player, Martin Brodeur recalled how he aided New Jersey’s 1995 Stanley Cup-championship run.
Brodeur: "As a player, [Rolston] was instrumental in a lot of the success we had in New Jersey, including our first Stanley Cup…"— (@NHLDevilsPR) April 30, 2013
Brodeur: "… and I can’t say enough about the leadership and passion he brought to our team." #NJDevils— (@NHLDevilsPR) April 30, 2013
He also was one of the few players you’ll ever see perfectly execute the slap-penalty shot
Even though the Devils’ 2013 season is over, we can still look back at some great moments in New Jersey’s playoff history.
On April 29…
1994- Claude Lemieux’s power-play goal at 13:49 of the second period proves to be the game-winner in New Jersey’s 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres in game 7 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.
The Devils win the series 4-3, claiming their first playoff series since 1988.
2000- Martin Brodeur stops all 20 shots, and Colin White scores the game’s only goal in the Devils’ 1-0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs in game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Air Canada Centre. New Jersey evens the best-of-seven series at 1 game apiece.
2006- Patrik Elias records a goal and two assists and Brian Gionta’s shorthanded goal proves as the game-winner as the Devils polish off a sweep of the Rangers with a 4-2 win in game 4 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.
Martin Brodeur says next season will mot necessarily be his last.— Rich Chere (@Ledger_NJDevils) April 29, 2013
Pat Pickens
Brodeur had a good year when he was healthy, posting 13 wins and a 2.22 goals-against average in 29 starts.
Still, I think the key word here is “necessarily.” Will Brodeur feel the same way after he makes 65 starts next year? Who knows. Starting 29 games for Brodeur is like a tuneup, and he should be feeling refreshed.
I know Devils fans are trying to cling to Brodeur for so many reasons. The Devils haven’t had goaltending uncertainty in more than 20 years, and having Brodeur in net is comforting. But Marty will be 41 on May 6, and he’s missed extended time due to injury in four of the last five seasons.
I’m rooting for him to play as long as he wants to, and I know I’m not alone in that regard. I just don’t expect him to want to play beyond next season.
But what do I know?
Corey Griffin
Brodeur will play until he wants. That’s really the bottom line. Lou’s not kicking him out. DeBoer’s not kicking him out. Jeff Frazee, Keith Kinkaid, Scott Wedgewood and Maxime Clermont have no say in when Brodeur decides to hang them up. That said, the erosion in his game is noticeable in spots. He can’t go side to side like he used, which is to expected for a soon-to-be-41-year old. His reaction time is also a tad slower, which, when combined with the Devils’ poor defensive zone coverage this season, has led to some bad goals. The truth is that unless Marty recognizes that, there’s a real chance the Devils might be stuck playing an aging superstar past his usefulness. I’m not saying it’s a definite, but it’d be foolish to not consider the possibility.
That’s the bad news. Now, the good news, which is that Marty is still a better netminder than the league average. He keeps the Devils in games they have no business being in at times and still has the smarts and enough ability to make stops and saves he has no business making (in stretches). He’s clearly better than Johan Hedberg and, for now, better than the plethora of middling goalie prospects floating around the system. The question is whether the Devils can strengthen their defense to the point where he can be good enough to keep the Devils from being nothing more than league average. One of the big moves Lou will have to make this offseason is adding speed, toughness and a little offensive skill to the back end. Whether that comes from within or free agency, it’s an absolute must.
