Painful memories for Brodeur

NEWARK, N.J. -- The last time New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur faced the Atlanta Thrashers at Prudential Center, he suffered the worst injury of his illustrious 16-season career.

After the team's morning skate Friday, Brodeur didn't need to be reminded.

"I thought about it," Brodeur said. "It's hard to forget when it was the first time you got hurt in your career and you're facing them again almost in a similar fashion as far as (in the) season. It's funny because when it happened, it was November 1 and it was my twins' (Jeremy and William) birthday and they all brought their buddies (to the game). They wanted to do the same thing (today) and they were like, 'I don't know if we should bring all of our friends. It was bad luck last time' and I said, 'All right, maybe not then. We'll do something else. We'll go to Chuck E. Cheese.' "

Then again, maybe not.

"They're 12-years-old," Brodeur laughed, "maybe they won't like Chuck E. Cheese."

The injury occurred 6:38 into the second period while Brodeur was attempting to make a glove save on a shot from the point. At the time, Brodeur was eight wins shy of tying Patrick Roy's NHL record 551 career victories and had played every minute of New Jersey's 10 previous games to open the season. Brodeur did a split to make a sprawling stop, but got up holding his left arm. He eventually skated off the ice with his team holding a 3-0 advantage -- the Devils would win the game 6-1 with backup Kevin Weekes filling in. The injury, later diagnosed as a tear to the left biceps tendon, would sideline him 50 games in 2008-09.

"I just tried to make a save and my arm fell apart," Brodeur said. "The tendon flew off the bone. It's something that could have happened like you holding that (microphone). It was a wear-and-tear thing that happened. It was time for it to pop. It just happened in a hockey game. It was unfortunate. It's in the past now, hopefully."