New Jersey's situation about to explode

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Kovie scored not one, but two goals last night. Still, that's only seven for the $100 million man.

[VM1138 1,921]

He can't stay this terrible forever. Even a floater with his talent would score more frequently, eventually.

[e_prime 1,936]

"This is our hockey team. This is our coaching staff. This is where we're at. I'm not going to get into any more questions about it."

—GM Lou Lamoriello

First win in 6 games. 4-6 in your last 10.

Obviously there's not much he can do with the team because of cap space, but standing by MacLean as coach baffles me. I guess it's too early in the season for Lou to come down and coach, but really... there's no one else out there that could motivate a decent roster and your $100 million dollar man into stringing together a couple of wins?

[Rivalred 630]

They should bring in Hitch

[Guest Crymson]

Kovie has five goals on the year so far.

Five.

Dan Cleary has almost three times as many.

They should bring in Hitch

Ahhhh, the infamous HitchBLEEP.

[edicius 3,269]

Brodeur yanked AGAIN tonight. 4 goals on 15 shots (.733 SV%). Then, in relief, Hedberg gave up 3 on 7 (.571 SV%). Pitiful. Brodeur's got a .896 SV% this season with a 2.84 GAA...and those numbers are only that high because of 3 shutouts.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

At least Kovie got a goal against Atlanta.

[edicius 3,269]

At least Kovie got a goal against Atlanta.

There was a great quote from him on TSN tonight. Something to the effect of "It was just another game. We're still 100 points out of the playoffs."

[Guest Stolberg]

8 pts the last 8 games

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

And a hat trick from Eric Boulton to boot.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

Chalk up another loss. 5-1 to Washington.

[Konnan511 1,736]

Every time I read the title all i can think of is:

[Rivalred 630]

Every time I read the title all i can think of is:

Never watched it and never will

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

How will Lemaire returning affect things in the Swamp?

[edicius 3,269]

Simple...they'll keep losing because they have a sieve in net.

[Buppy 1,720]

How will Lemaire returning affect things in the Swamp?

Their losses will now be at least twice as boring

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

Their losses will now be at least twice as boring

[rage 24]

How will Lemaire returning affect things in the Swamp?

Defense wins.................................NEVERMIND LOL

[edicius 3,269]

And they remain winless under Lemaire. Epic lulz.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

On pace for 47 points.

[Guest Crymson]

It still feels so early in the season, but the season is actually almost halfway done!

The Devils have hardly a prayer of making the playoffs.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

NEWARK, N.J. -- Martin Brodeur has dedicated his Hall of Fame career to serving as the rock behind the Devils' defense. Thursday morning, the NHL's all-time leader in wins said that earlier this week he informed goalie coach Chris Terreri that right now Johan Hedberg is New Jersey's best option in net.

Talk about something you'd never expect to hear.

Hedberg, who has given up just six goals in his last three outings, will get his second straight start Thursday night against the Flyers. It'll mark the first time Brodeur will dress as a backup for consecutive games in nearly six years.

"If that message was relayed (to coach Jacques Lemaire) I don't know, but I wanted to make sure they know I'm comfortable with it," Brodeur said of his conversation with Terreri. "Sometimes they don't react a certain way because of who I am, or for whatever reason I don't know why, but I wanted to make sure they made their own decision and not think about me. I'll be fine. Heddy has been playing really well.

MARTIN BRODEUR

GOALIE - NJD

RECORD: 5-18-1

GAA: 3.15 | SVP: 0.882

"I got pulled three times in (my) last six games. Any other goalie wouldn't be able to get back in the net, but I've got the luxury that they make me play. I told them if I take a little break it wouldn't be that big of a deal. I'm working hard and I'll get back in there soon."

Brodeur hasn't won a game since Dec. 15. He's 1-8 with a no decision in his 10 starts since returning from an elbow injury on Dec. 10 in Ottawa. The no decision came last Saturday in Carolina when he was burned for three goals on seven shots in just eight minutes before Lemaire mercifully pulled him from the game.

Almost shockingly, Brodeur is 5-18-1 this season with a League-worst .882 save percentage.

"He's a fighter, but it's something new for him. It never happened," Lemaire said. "He only knows what's really going on inside and how he takes things. It's gotta be different for him because he's been on top, he's been the best for a long time. Now it's tougher for him, but he's a fighter."

Lemaire on Thursday will coach his seventh game since being brought back for the fired John MacLean on Dec. 23. He has seen enough over his first six to note that Brodeur does not deserve all the blame for his struggles.

NHL INSIDER

Lemaire not used to Devils' struggles

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After begining his third stint as New Jersey coach, Jacques Lemaire said he saw something in his return that he hadn't seen before with the Devils -- a feeling of defeat. READ MORE ›

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"He's had bad games in the past but he bounced back the following game. Here it's not only him, it's the team too that makes him like this," Lemaire said. "It's how we play in front of him, too. You look at last game that I pulled him, he made the first three saves on the goals. He made the first save, there was a goal. He made another save, they got a goal. He made another save, they got a goal. If you go back to all the games, how many saves has he made like that where the puck has gone in the net? So, it means something -- we have to play better in front. That's why I can't only blame him, it's the whole team."

Brodeur won't absolve himself that easily even if he's probably never seen a Devils' team play so poorly in front of him.

"You don't get the goal support, but when you don't give them a chance to get into the game because you're down 2-0 or 3-0 right from the get go, you're not doing your job either," Brodeur said. "It goes hand in hand."

Lemaire said he can see by watching practice that Brodeur is getting closer to earning another start. It could come Saturday when the Devils play the second half of their home and home against Philadelphia.

If Brodeur does play at Wells Fargo Center it'll be the first time he's started against the Flyers this season.

"When you play a lot and you don't win it plays mind games a little bit. I wanted to refocus on the right things and that's what I've been doing this week," Brodeur said. "People have bigger egos than I do. For me it's important to play well, feel good and have fun doing it. It's been really tough so I wanted to take a step back and work."

"I've been working hard, talking to Chris and I'll feel better when I get back in the net."

[edicius 3,269]

Maybe Brodeur should have thought of that before the Devils' playoff chances were at 0.008335%.

[rrasco 1,312]

Or he just wants to keep his stats from getting any worse. 5-18-1, holy cow!

[edicius 3,269]

Or he just wants to keep his stats from getting any worse. 5-18-1, holy cow!

And if I recall correctly, he's been pulled 7 times this season, that one game where he was pulled 8 minutes in being the fastest pull of his career.

I'll say that again: Martin Brodeur - the goaltender darling of the hockey media, crowned as better than Roy and Sawchuk combined - has been pulled more times than he has wins this season.

Yowch.