Riding ol' Reliable

The Devils have chosen to start Martin Brodeur on back to back nights, a night after working overtime and then traveling back from Atlanta. Brodeur is 6 weeks shy of his 39th birthday and tonight will be settle once and for all whether he is fatigued as the season winds down. The Islanders are a swashbuckling offensive team playing with house money and would love nothing more than to steal the New York hockey limelight away from the Devils. Brodeur is a proud player who couldn't have enjoyed sitting on the bench for 4 games when Hedberg was on his streak, and said as much. There is no way he's giving up the starting spot without a fight, and Lemaire won his only Cup as a coach with Marty, albeit 16 years ago, and will defer to the wishes of the veteran. Whether or not that is prudent will be determined over the next couple of hours...There is no room for error as the Devils try to reach faux .500 for the second time this season since game 2 in October.