Game 5 loss speaks volumes

Last night the New Jersey Devils fell 3-0 to the Philadelphia Flyers in game 5 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinals series.

The loss, New Jersey's third straight in the series, gave the Flyers a four-games-to-one series victory and a spot in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, and, barring any unforeseen collapse, a date with the Washington Capitals.

However, last night's loss isn't about the Flyers and their dominance this season of the Devils. It's about how the Devils, and future hall of fame goalie Martin Brodeur have lost their aura.

With their season on the brink of being ended, and playing at home in front of their rowdy home fans, Brodeur and the Devils laid an egg. Brodeur, who has built his reputation and hall of fame resume on coming up big in these kinds of games was no where near the world class goaltender that we have come to adore.

Brodeur was very mediocre last night stopping just 18 of the 21 shots he faced. In fact, Brodeur was rather mediocre the entire series. Brodeur stopped just 12 of the 14 shots he faced in Game one and never once resembled his usual playoff self.

Even in Game 4 with the Devils still within striking distance in the series, Brodeur was again less then steller as he allowed four goals on 28 shots faced, and allowed two third period goals, one to Danny Carcillo on a wrap around shot from behind the net as the Devils fell 4-1.

Sure, the Devils failed to provide Brodeur with adequate scoring. New Jersey scored just nine goals in the fives games with five of those goals coming in Game 2. Despite having top of the line talent in forwards Patrik Elias, Travis Zajac, Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk the Devils managed just one goal in the last two games of the series; not exactly stellar scoring.

But, more glaring then any of that is Brodeur's save percentage for the series. Brodeur finished with a save percentage under .900 in four of the five games including a combined .857 save percentage the last two games of the series in which Brodeur allowed seven goals on 49 shots faced.

I can't say this is all that surprising. Brodeur, at the age of 37, appeared in 77 games this season with 76 starts. Though the amount of games he played is not at all surprising; Brodeur appeared in at least 70 games for 10 straight season's from 1997-2008 before appearing in just 31 last year due to injury, you can't expect a 37 year old to endure that heavy of a workload and not at some point have a let down. Unfortunately for Brodeur and the Devils the let down came at the most crucial point of the season.

Also, Brodeur was not particulary strong for Team Canada during the Olympics. Brodeur won just one of his two starts and allowed four goals on only 22 shots faced in a 5-3 loss to the United States in the preliminary round, despite Team Canada outshooting the United States 45-23.

Martin Brodeur is a sure fire Hall of Famer, his three Stanley Cup rings are proof of that on top of every other record he owns. But, Brodeur came up short in the big games this season and has been unable to get the Devils out of the first round the last three seasons.

Brodeur and the Devils have been one of hockey's most enjoyable success stories over the last two decades due to the classy manor in which they conduct themselves.

But, like everything else in life, and sports, all good things eventually come to an end.