NEWARK, N.J. — For some of the Devils, Game 7 tonight will be a first.
Not goaltender Martin Brodeur. He'll be starting his ninth as the Devils and Canes decide the first-round playoff series at the Prudential Center.
One would expect Brodeur to be the calmest guy in the building, given his long career and his experience, and he did have that appearance after the morning skate. But he said a Game 7 can be both nerve-racking and fun.
"Oh, it's a little of both," Brodeur said. "They are fun because you know whatever happens tonight you'll have an answer about this series. So that makes it fun.
"And nervous because there's a lot at stake. It's move on or go home. It's definitely nerve-racking to be in that situation.
"This is a big deal. It's something that players are made of. If you feel you can perform under the gun, then this is the time to do it."
Brodeur, with a smile, said being in the Devils' home arena — The Rock — should be a factor.
"And not being in their building is a factor," he said, referring to the RBC Center.
"In the playoffs, you draw that line every game," he said. "You have to.
"Sometimes, you can try to draw on some of the good ones. But it's a different ball game tonight and a lot more at stake."
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
