NEWARK, N.J. - Martin Brodeur tied Patrick Roy's NHL record for regular-season appearances by a goalie, and Patrik Elias scored the winner with 2:36 left in the New Jersey Devils' 2-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.
Brodeur played his 1,029th game, all with New Jersey in his 16-year career. Roy played for Montreal and Colorado in his 18-year career.
It marked the second time in two seasons that Brodeur equalled one of Roy's records against Montreal. Brodeur tied Roy for career wins last March, getting his 551st in the Bell Centre. Brodeur has pushed that total to 578.
Illka Pikkarainen also scored to help the Devils beat Montreal for the fifth straight time. Travis Moen scored for Montreal. The Canadiens have lost four straight, all by one goal.
On the winning goal, Brian Rolston fired a shot that Elias deflected toward Carey Price. Elias continued to the net and knocked in the rebound.
Power-play advantage
The Devils had four power plays to none for the Canadiens in the first period. Despite the disadvantage, Montreal came out of the period with a 1-0 lead thanks to Moen's short-handed goal.
Devils defenceman Andy Greene, manning the right point, sent a cross-ice pass to Jamie Langenbrunner who attempted a return feed. Langenbrunner flubbed the puck and Moen pounced, skating three zones to deposit a backhander behind Brodeur for an unassisted goal at 12:23.
The Devils' fourth line came up with the equalizer when Pikkarainen scored at 16:25 of the second.
Pikkarainen, a 28-year-old from Finland playing his first NHL season, got his first goal on a rising shot that Price tried to snare with his glove. Price lost sight of the puck after it ticked off his mitt and landed in the crease. Price actually knocked it into the cage with a skate as he back into net.
There were few chances through two periods in the tight-checking contest with the Devils holding a 17-15 edge in shots.
