Brodeur will start Thursday

Martin Brodeur’s last start came on February 21st versus the Washington Capitals. Brodeur made 17 saves on 19 shots that night in a 3-2 win. Brodeur was scheduled to start on the 24th, but he left warmups early because he tweaked his back and has been out ever since.

To illustrate how important Brodeur is to the Devils success, just take a look at their record when he was in the lineup and how they did without him. When he was healthy at the start of the season New Jersey was 10-3-4 and sitting a top the Atlantic Division. Since he has been hurt and Johan Hedberg has taken over they are 3-7-2 and sit in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, one point out of a playoff spot.

Brodeur was out with a pinched nerve in his upper back/neck. Brodeur said that he could have opted to have surgery, but it would have kept him out for 8-9 weeks. He decided to wait it out and according to Rich Chere, Brodeur will make his long awaited return to the Devils crease tonight vs. the Hurricanes.

Brodeur is 8-2-3 with a 2.27 GAA and .911 SV% and holds the record for the most wins and shutouts in the NHL, so he is a good fantasy option. He has a good matchup tonight vs. a Hurricanes team who have lost four straight and have been outscored 13-5 in that span.