Brodeur Breaks Playoff Shutout Record in 4-0 Win

        Martin Brodeur isn't done rewriting the NHL record book just yet. Brodeur posted a 4-0 shutout over in the Florida Panthers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals, tying the series at two wins apiece. This shutout was his 24th postseason shutout, good enough to pass Patrick Roy, as the all-time leader in playoff shutouts. Brodeur came to play tonight, stopping all 26 shots he faced; but he wasn't the only Devil that played well tonight.
        Alexei Ponikarovsky had an extra jump in his stride. He was the Devils' best forechecker tonight. Ponikarovsky really showed his presence as a power forward. He drove the net, finished his checks, and got under the skin of the Florida Panthers. Other noticeable performances by the Devils tonight included Zach Parise and Stephen Gionta. Parise was a true leader tonight. What am I saying? He's a leader every night for the New Jersey Devils. Parise had a nice deflection on the power play, which turned out to be the game winning goal. He also showed a lot of grit tonight by winning the battles in the corners and along the boards. Stephen Gionta showed a lot of heart, taking some big hits, and dishing them right back at the Panthers. He really proved that he should be in the Devils lineup.
        One performance that wasn't so great in Game 4 was that of Ilya Kovalchuk. He was trying to hard, forcing passes that just wouldn't work, as well as holding on to the puck for too long, when he really should have just shot it. Kovalchuk also was the cause of several short-handed scoring chances that the Panthers had. Sure, he scored a goal, but that was because the Panthers' defense gave him all the time in the world to shoot the puck.
        All in all, this was a great game to be at for Devils fans. Prudential Center had a great playoff atmosphere. The place was rocking; but most importantly, the Devils were able to even this series, making it 2-2.