Brodeur goes for milestone win in Devils-Blackhawks tilt

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03/17/2009 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Martin Brodeur got to tie Patrick Roy's all-time wins record in his hometown. Now, he will get a chance to set a new mark in front of the fans that have supported him for 16 seasons.

Brodeur gets his first shot at career win No. 552 tonight in the New Jersey Devils' home test against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Prudential Center.

A Montreal native, Brodeur took the ice on Saturday in front of a Canadiens crowd that included Roy and turned aside 22 shots in a 3-1 victory over the Habs. The 36-year-old was flooded by teammates after the final buzzer and was given a standing ovation by the Montreal faithful that witnessed the bulk of Roy's 551 career wins.

The victory was New Jersey's and Brodeur's seventh in eight games since he returned from elbow surgery that sidelined him for 50 contests from early November through late February. The four-time Vezina Trophy winner, who is also just three shutouts away from tying Terry Sawchuk's all-time record of 103, is 13-3-2 with a 2.06 goals against average in 18 starts this year.

A seven-time 40-win netminder, Brodeur had started at least 70 games in each of his previous nine seasons and is 551-293-22 with 105 ties and a 2.20 GAA in 986 career games. He began his career with the Devils in 1991-92 and has never worn another uniform, guiding New Jersey to three Stanley Cups.

Brodeur also sports a 7-2-0 career mark with four ties and a 1.88 GAA versus the Blackhawks. He is one of the main reasons that Chicago is winless in its last seven trips to New Jersey (0-5-1 with a tie) and hasn't won in the Garden State since December 30, 1997.

The Devils are also unbeaten (9-0 with two ties) in their last 11 overall matchups versus Chicago and notched a 2-1 shootout win at home when the clubs last met on November 9, 2006.

Lost in all the Brodeur focus is the fact that Patrik Elias will get his first chance at becoming New Jersey's all-time leading scorer tonight. Elias had a goal and an assist versus Montreal to give him 701 career points, tied with current Devils assistant coach John MacLean for first-place on the team's all- time list.

Brian Rolston notched his 300th career goal in the win over the Canadiens, while Jamie Langenbrunner had a goal to extend his point streak to eight games (5 goals, 5 assists).

New Jersey also brings a nine-game home winning streak into tonight's game. The Atlantic Division-leading club, which is one point up on Washington for the East's second seed, is 24-10-1 at home and hasn't lost at The Rock since February 7.

The Blackhawks don't seem like the ones who will end that run, as they went just 1-3-0 on a four-game homestand and have lost four of five overall with Sunday's 4-2 setback to the New York Islanders.

Chicago's recent slide has allowed Vancouver to pull within two points of the Blackhawks for the fourth seed in the West.

The Blackhawks' Kris Versteeg scored in his third straight game on Sunday, allowing the rookie to reach the 20-goal mark, while Patrick Kane also scored in the loss. Nikolai Khabibulin returned to the ice for the first time since suffering a groin injury on February 11 against Atlanta and allowed four goals on only 19 shots.

Chicago is 19-13-3 on the road this year and will visit Columbus on Wednesday.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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