End to End
Brodeur always seemed at
home making saves in the
playoffs. But on April 17, 1997,
he added something new.
He scored a goal. It was the
first game of a playoff series
against the Canadiens.
With New Jersey leading
late, the Canadiens pulled
their goalie. Brodeur flipped
the puck the length of the
ice. It sailed into the open
net. New Jersey won 5–2. It
was only the second time a
goalie had scored in the NHL
postseason. Brodeur added
two regular-season goals
later in his career.
But the Devils had a hard
time scoring goals, too. It
took a strong second half
of the shortened season
for the team to make the
playoffs. That was when
Brodeur took over. The
Devils beat the Boston
Bruins in the first round
in five games. Brodeur
shut out the Bruins three
times. He gave up just
five goals in all.
He was just getting
started. Brodeur helped
lead the Devils past the
high-powered Pittsburgh
Penguins and the rival
Philadelphia Flyers. The Devils were on to the
Stanley Cup Final for the first time.
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