Martin Brodeur's Nightmarish Last 80 Seconds

Martin Brodeur is arguably the best goalie in the history of the NHL. However this does not make him perfect. In Game 7 of the first round of the 2009 playoffs it appeared that the New Jersey Devils were going to close out the Carolina Hurricanes as the score was 3-2 with 2 minutes left in the game. Then everything went downhill as Jussi Jokinen lit up the lamp 18 minutes and 40 seconds into the third period to tie the game. What made this goal particularly frustrating is that Jokinen was camped by the side of the net with almost no opposition. Therefore a quick pass cross-ice to Jokinen would and did result in a easy goal. After this goal, although deflated, the Devils fans had a game 7 overtime to look forward too. Unfortunately 48 seconds later Brodeur gave up another goal, stick side under his arm, similar to another goal he gave up earlier in the game. Ultimately the Devils lost to the Hurricanes and have an offseason to think about those last 80 seconds. 

The Devils in this game seem to have been guilty of counting their chickens before they were hatched. Who could blame them. Leading the game with a one goal lead and Martin Brodeur between the pipes with only 2 minutes left in the series. Clearly the Devils lost this series. The two goals let up late in the third period were "soft" goals as they could have easily been prevented. Jokinen's quick shot off the cross-ice pass was a result of the defense breaking down around Martin Brodeur. However Martin Brodeur foots the bill for the second goal. Not only did he let up the second soft goal of the game but it was the exact same shot. Eric Staal drifted to the glove side of Martin Brodeur and shot across his body slipping the puck under the right arm of Brodeur. Earlier in the game Brodeur let up a goal in the same fashion. Now despite giving up these two soft goals, it is tough to say that Brodeur lost them the game. If the defense had kept face on the Jokinen goal the Hurricanes may not have been able to win that game. Therefore this game was not lost on the weight of Martin  Brodeur's performance but on the defense as a whole.