Garden State of Hockey- Episode 46: April 5, 2007

What better day to post this episode than the GOAT’s birthday?

With Bernie Parent in the building, Martin Brodeur earns his 48th victory of the 2006-07 regular season against Parent’s Philadelphia Flyers in Philadelphia. This game started poorly for the Devils but Brodeur willed them to a victory as Jersey’s own Jim Dowd scored the eventual shorthanded game winner in the third period. Given the context of these two teams at the time, this was a surprisingly close-fought game and Brodeur had to fight to earn his record but he did and it has only been matched one time since by Braden Holtby. This team had some nice pieces but would eventually fall to the conference champion Ottawa Senators in five games in the second round. Sad but par for the course at the time, it seems.

Our next game is a bit off the beaten path but we’re here to talk hockey in New Jersey so the Isobel Cup Championship played at the RWJ Barnabas Hockey House in 2018 seems more than appropriate:

The formerly Devils-affiliated Metropolitan Riveters parlayed an absolute tear of a regular season into their first championship and we’re going to watch through that final that took place in Newark. This should be quite a different experience but even if it’s different, it’s still hockey. We hope you join us for this one, it’s been a while since we broke down a championship clincher.

As always, thanks for listening and keep an ear to the ground for any news regarding the resumption of the NHL season.

Go Devils and Happy Birthday Martin Brodeur!