Stanley Cup Finals 2012: Martin Brodeur's Best Career Playoff Moments

Martin Brodeur is one of the best goaltenders of all time. He has had success throughout his career as a member of the New Jersey Devils, as well as Team Canada. 

Brodeur has won the Calder trophy, four Vezina trophies, two Olympic gold medals, a World Cup and, most importantly, three Stanley Cups.

Year after year, Brodeur gives the Devils an opportunity to go all the way in the NHL playoffs.

This year was no different.

With a strong performance in Game 4 of the finals, Brodeur helped the Devils avoid being swept, which would have been the first time in franchise history.

With that being said, here are some of the best playoff moments of Brodeur's career.

First Playoff Win

On April 19, 1994, Martin Brodeur got his first playoff win.

The Devils defeated the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. The Devils would win the series in seven games, and go all the way to the conference final before being eliminated by the New York Rangers.

Brodeur currently sits second behind Patrick Roy in career playoff wins with 112.

A Heel of a Save

The 2012 Eastern Conference final was a rematch of the 1994 final, in which the Rangers defeated the Devils and went on to hoist the cup.

In Game 2 with the Devils leading 1-0 early in the second period, Brodeur, at age 40, provides fans with yet another highlight reel save. 

The Devils went on to win the game 3-2 to tie the series.

Shutting the Door on Draper

In Game 3 of the 1995 Stanley Cup Final, Brodeur made an unbelievable stick save on the Red Wings’ Kris Draper.

With the Devils leading the series 2-0, Draper had a chance to put the Red Wings up 1-0 in Game 3. Instead, Brodeur shut the door and the Devils went on to win the game and eventually the cup.

Robbing Larose

It may not have been a game-saver like some of his other stops, but it was still an amazing play. 

Game 1 of the 2006 Eastern Conference semifinal, Brodeur makes a remarkable glove save on the Hurricanes' Chad Larose.

As the puck is sent to the slot, Brodeur stacks the pads and then reaches back to glove Larose's quick wrist shot. Larose played in 21 playoff games that year and that was the closest he came to scoring. 

Playoff Shutout Record

In the first round of the 2012 playoffs, Brodeur passed Patrick Roy for the most career playoff shutouts with 24.

The Devils defeated the Florida Panthers 4-0 to even their Eastern Conference quarterfinals series at two games apiece. In the post-game media scrum, Brodeur briefly touches on the record. 

2000 Stanley Cup Championship

The hero of the Devils second Stanley Cup championship was Jason Arnott, who scored the cup-clinching goal in double-overtime of Game 6.

However, Brodeur was a significant factor, allowing only a single goal in each of Games 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Although Scott Stevens won the Conn Smythe trophy, Brodeur’s 1.61 goals-against average and .927 save percentage certainly made him a worthy candidate. 

Game 7 Shutout in the 2003 Stanley Cup Final

Brodeur helped the Devils win their third Stanley Cup in 2003, as they ended the Cinderella run of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

It was the Ducks’ J.S. Giguere taking home the Conn Smythe trophy, but Brodeur’s Game 7 shutout gave him another Stanley Cup ring.

It was Brodeur’s seventh shutout of the playoffs and third of the finals, both of which are NHL records.

"Brodeur Looking for the Goal, Down the Ice..."

On April 17, 1997, the sound of Chris Cuthbert's voice rang through the ears of hockey fans.

In the Devils first game of the playoffs versus the Canadiens, Martin Brodeur did something special, even by his standards. With the Devils up by two and the Habs’ net empty, Brodeur took the puck and fired it the length of the ice, scoring a goal to seal the win.

Brodeur is one of only two goalies to score in both the regular season and playoffs, and he’s the only goaltender to score a game-winning goal. 

1995 Stanley Cup Championship

The first one is always special.

Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils won their first Stanley Cup championship in 1995, sweeping the heavily-favoured Detroit Red Wings.  

Brodeur didn’t let in more than two goals in any of the four games and finished with a playoff best 1.66 goals-against average, .927 save percentage and three shutouts.