Devils edge Toronto, Brodeur closes in on record
TORONTO (Reuters) - John Oduya scored with 12 seconds left in overtime to lift the New Jersey Devils to a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, allowing netminder Martin Brodeur to edge closer to the NHL's wins record.
With the game heading toward a shootout, Oduya stabbed home a loose puck after Toronto netminder Vesa Toskala was unable to control Brian Gionta's blast.
It was the fourth consecutive win for the Devils and Brodeur, who missed nearly three months and 50 games with an elbow injury.
The victory was also the 548th of Brodeur's career leaving him just three short of Patrick Roy's record.
"It was a good one, we made it pretty close but we came back and it was a nice win for us," Brodeur told reporters. "We let them back in the game; they got some bounces and gained some momentum off that but we were able to come back and get the win.
"We have a lot of fire power and we're not afraid of going for it when it's time."
It has been a remarkable return for Brodeur, who has had two shutouts among his four wins to give him 100 in his career and inch him closer to Terry Sawchuk's record of 103.
Brodeur looked ready to notch shutout number 101 as the Devils took a 1-0 lead on David Clarkson's 15th of the season into the third period.
But Toronto rookie John Mitchell finally beat Brodeur early in the third to spoil the New Jersey netminder's bid for a third shutout in four games.
The Devils were quickly back in front, Patrik Elias converting a power play chance for his 25th goal of the season but Mitchell again answered for the Leafs sending Toronto into overtime for an NHL record-tying seventh consecutive game.
Brodeur faced 32 shots to earn the win but Toskala was just as solid in the Toronto net stopping 49 of 52 shots.
"We needed great goaltending and we got it but defensively we gave up to much and as a result Vesa had to face a lot of rubber," said Toronto coach Ron Wilson.
"It says more about our team and how hard they've competed."
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
