Something happened prior to today’s New Jersey- Washington game that you don’t see everyday.
Former Devil’s goalie Martin Brodeur took the opening face-off. Instead of the usual captains of both teams, it was the starting goalies who participated in the opening puck drop – Braden Holtby and Cory Schneider.
This is amazing. Brodeur, Schneider, Holtby in one of the coolest puck drops ever. pic.twitter.com/nLnDfAhh2P
— NHL (@NHL) February 6, 2016
Schneider spent is first season (2013) in New Jersey serving as the backup to Brodeur. Brodeur spoke with CSN Mid-Atlantic and had pleasant things to say about Schneider.
“He reminds me of me a lot,” Brodeur said. “Not the way he plays, but the way he puts himself out there.
“He’s not scared. He just wants to play. I’m sure he’s playing through tons of injuries. He’s a warrior out there. I don’t know him and I don’t know if he does or not, but he’s having a great year. Not just this year; last year he was coming on and he’s going to be good for a long time for them.”
This was the beginning of a special time for Brodeur, as the time will retire his No. 30 Tuesday night before hosting Edmonton. The 43-year-old future Hall of Famer won 688 games and recorded 124 shutouts with New Jersey between 1991 and 2014. In addition, he was a three-time Stanley Cup winner and four-time Vezina Award recipient.