Devils G Martin Brodeur moves within 1 shutout of tying Sawchuk’s NHL career mark

Brodeur 26 saves, records career shutout No. 102

NEWARK, N.J. — Martin Brodeur made 26 saves and moved within one shutout of tying Terry Sawchuk’s NHL career record in leading the New Jersey Devils to a 2-0 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night.

Jamie Langenbrunner scored a flukey goal off his body in the opening seconds of the third period to break a scoreless tie, and Zach Parise scored into an empty net with 40 seconds to go as Brodeur picked up his 102nd shutout.

Brodeur made about four saves between Langenbrunner’s goal and Parise’s clincher to secure his first shutout of the season and the Devils’ first victory at home in four tries.

The NHL winningest goaltender stopped Chad LaRose in close early in the period and he seemed to get a piece of Eric Staal’s shot that might have hit the post with about 5 minutes to go in the matchup of first-round playoff opponents from last season. Brodeur also stopped a blast by Joe Corvo with about 3 minutes left and he grabbed a good wrist shot by Sergei Samsonov with 1:14 to play.

Langenbrunner’s goal seemed to go off his chest. Rob Niedermayer carried the puck deep into the Hurricanes’ zone and tried to center the puck in front from behind the net. Cam Ward deflected the puck with his stick and it bounced up and hit off Langenbrunner and went into the net.

The goal was the only blemish against Ward, who was spectacular in facing 29 shots.

Ward and Brodeur each had 16 saves in the relatively penalty-free opening two periods.

Ward’s two best stops denied Niclas Bergfors, who had about five chances to score his first goal of the season. The goaltender stacked his pads and slid across the crease to stop Bergfors in close on a nice setup by Travis Zajac midway through the first period, and he used his glove to fend off a second-period shot from inside the right circle.

Brodeur had his moments, too. He stopped Ray Whitney from the left circle on a play that Staal set up in the first period and he got a little lucky in the second when LaRose’s deflection of Joni Pitkanen’s shot hit the post.

The Hurricanes beat the Devils in Game 7 at New Jersey of last season’s opening round series, scoring twice in the final 1:20 to win.

NOTES: Carolina started a four-game road trip that will take the Hurricanes to Long Island, Colorado and Minnesota next week. … Devils D Colin White played in his 600th NHL game. … Hurricanes D Aaron Ward didn’t play in the final two periods.