Stanley Cup Finals 2012: Why Martin Brodeur Has the Edge over Jonathan Quick

After what seems like an eternity since the Stanley Cup finals teams were decided, the New Jersey Devils will square off against the Los Angeles Kings tonight for the start of a seven-game series that will decide the NHL's best team.

The most noteworthy thing to point out about this series is the showdown of great goaltenders that will take place.

For the Kings, Jonathan Quick is in the net and has been the best goalie in the NHL by far in the playoffs, which is a distinction he was close to holding during the regular season as well. During the playoffs, Quick was lights-out with a legendary 1.54 GAA, and his contribution has been crucial to Los Angeles advancing to where it is today.

On the flip side, the Devils have one of the greatest goalies in regular-season and playoff history in Martin Brodeur. He deserves such a title, and his worth to New Jersey has never been more evident than in these playoffs.

His 2.04 GAA is the best Brodeur has had in the playoffs in nearly a decade. But no game in these playoffs was more indicative of Brodeur's importance than Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.

The Devils jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the game against the New York Rangers, but went ice-cold during the next two periods. After two straight goals for the Rangers, it looked like the Devils had lost all momentum and would eventually lose the game.

However, that wasn't the case, as Brodeur's great goaltending kept the score tied until overtime when the Devils made quick work of the extra period and advanced to the Stanley Cup final.

So with two equally hot, equally talented goalies in this series, which one has the advantage?

That goes to Brodeur, of course.

New Jersey's man between the pipes has been here before. Brodeur has been a part of three Stanley Cup champion teams during his long, illustrious career.

But not only has he been a part of them, he's been the centerpiece to the Devils' success. You could go as far as to say Brodeur won New Jersey three Stanley Cups.

In the 2003 Stanley Cup finals, Brodeur blanked the Anaheim Ducks with three shutouts in the series, tying the all-time record, according to NHL.com. There's no doubt Brodeur comes to play when it's all on the line for the Devils.

Also, Brodeur already has 63 more Stanley Cup playoff victories than Quick in his career. Granted, Quick is much younger, but the championship pressure will be the kind that Quick has never seen in his career, never having been past the first round before 2012.

There's no certainty he'll flourish.

One must never mistake the importance of such an advantage. Luckily for the Devils, that advantage is in their net, and that gives them a huge edge in the Stanley Cup finals.