Breaking his boss-induced three-month silence, Martin Brodeur yesterday said he wants to “play a lot,” rather than alternate games, once he returns to the Devils’ net in some 2-3 weeks.
Devils coach Brent Sutter has said breaking Brodeur back into the lineup will be tricky because the team needs to win, and cannot afford on-the-job rehab.
“I don’t know what their plan is. But I never expected to play one game and sit one game. I’m going to want to play a lot, just to get back,” said Brodeur, who sat out his 44th straight game last night when the Rangers lost 3-0 in Newark.
“The playoffs are coming, they’re going to be really soon when I get back. So I have to get in the position where I’m able to play as well as I can,” Brodeur said. “It’s no different than in training camp and I start the season, with 10 games in a row.”
Brodeur, 36, underwent surgery Nov. 6 to reattach his left biceps tendon to his forearm, after leaving play Nov. 1. The Devils went 1-5 in his first six games out, but are 27-10-2 in their last 39, led by Scott Clemmensen’s 23 victories.
Only seven victories behind Patrick Roy’s NHL record of 551, Brodeur says he expects to join the team shortly for full practice.
“Soon. Soon. I don’t think it’s going to be that long. I don’t think it’s going to be tomorrow, but it’s not going to be that far, now,” Brodeur said. The Post reported he’s expected to begin full practice before the Devils’ current homestand ends Sunday.