Devils' Brodeur ready for home opener

NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey Devils coach Peter DeBoer declared goalie Martin Brodeur "ready to go" in his season debut Friday against the New York Islanders at Prudential Center.

Brodeur sat out Thursday's season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins, ending his NHL record streak of 18 consecutive opening starts with the same team. The 41-year-old Brodeur had a light skate Friday morning in preparation for his first start of the 2013-14 season before what is sure to be an electric atmosphere at The Rock.

"He's ready," DeBoer said. "He's in the best shape I think he's been in, conditioning wise and weight wise, in a long time. He looks hungry and ready. His mindset is great and I think the shortened season last year and injuries he had, have left him ready to go to open this season."

DeBoer opted to give Brodeur an extra day of rest following the death of his father, Denis. The elder Brodeur died on Sept. 26 at the age of 82. Following his dad's passing, Brodeur left the Devils to fly to Montreal and subsequently missed the team's final preseason game against the Philadelphia Flyers while attending the funeral.

Cory Schneider, who was acquired by the Devils in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks on June 30, made 18 saves in a 3-0 loss to the Penguins at Consol Energy Center.

The loss didn't sit well with DeBoer.

"There are a lot of areas you want to clean; we did some things very well and some areas we were good but we made a handful of mistakes and they capitalized," DeBoer said. "The Penguins are the type of team, as are the Islanders, who capitalize on your mistakes, so we have to be prepared for that.

"If you make mistakes against [Sidney] Crosby, [Evgeni] Malkin and [John] Tavares, they'll make you pay."

The coach acknowledged he will make some lineup adjustments against the Islanders.

"We'll flip some things around and juggle the lines, and keep doing that until we get some type of chemistry," DeBoer said.

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