2012 NHL Playoffs: Martin Brodeur's 4th Cup Would Cement Him as All-Time Best

Martin Brodeur is arguably the best goaltender of all time. 

If he finishes off the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference Finals and then leads the New Jersey Devils to another Stanley Cup title over the Los Angeles Kings, there'll be no more arguing. 

Currently, the Devils legend has three Cups to his name. A fourth would tie him with goalie God Patrick Roy, who won two championships with the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche.

Though Brodeur has the most wins and games played in NHL history, there aren't many who'll unequivocally call him the best netminder of all time.

Roy gets plenty of nods for the "greatest of all time" title from hockey writers (as evidenced in this 2004 ESPN survey) due to his vast career accomplishments and the fact that he popularized the "butterfly" style of playing the position. 

Even Dominik Hasek, the most individually decorated goalie ever with six Vezinas and two Hart Trophies, gets some consideration as the top goalie in league history. 

His flailing style that yielded a variety of spectacular saves and reign as an elite NHL goaltender are what place the Dominator in that rarefied air. 

Brodeur's longevity, however, is unparalleled at his position. And though he's experienced some typical ups and downs, the 40-year-old has remained one of the steadiest goalies in the NHL throughout his 21-year career. 

No, he doesn't have a Hart Trophy like Hasek, but he already has more Vezinas (four) than Roy (three). 

We've been mesmerized by the recent spike in scoring in today's NHL and have cited stellar play from Henrik Lundqvist and Jonathan Quick as the main reasons why the New York Rangers and L.A. Kings would advance to the 2012 Stanley Cup Final. 

Through it all, the New Jersey Devils icon has kept quiet and, once again, simply done his job of keeping pucks out of the net when it matters most. 

Brodeur's 2.41 goals-against average ranked him 29th among goaltenders this season. His .908 save percentage ranked 58th. 

But, thanks to timely goals and clutch, momentum-shifting saves, his Devils club is a game away from dispatching the mighty Rangers and the Vezina-finalist Lundqvist. 

If he hoisted the Stanley Cup trophy over his head for a fourth time, how couldn't Martin Brodeur be known as the best ever?

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