NEWARK, N.J. — Temper tantrum or gamesmanship?
One of the lasting images from Game 4 will always be Devils goalie Martin Brodeur storming off the ice after the 4-3 loss. Brodeur normally shows little, if any emotion. But after Jussi Jokinen's last-second goal won it for the Canes, he went off, slamming his stick into the board and leaving it in pieces.
Canes coach Paul Maurice said he did not see Brodeur's stormy display after the game, nor had he seen a replay of it. He did have an opinion on it, though.
"I think he's a real good pro and I think most things that were done were set up for Game 5 and had little to do with Game 4," Maurice said today.
Brodeur claimed there was interference from the Canes' Ryan Bayda on Chad LaRose's goal in the second period. Then, in the final seconds of the game, Jokinen and Brodeur collided just outside the crease before Dennis Seidenberg's shot from the point that ended with the puck glancing off Jokinen's skate for the winner.
"It's unusual that you get a couple of guys in one game that result in two goals," Brodeur said today. "I mean, it happens. It happened last game.
"I can't lose track of what I do because of other people's decisions."
Meaning the referees and their decision whether or not to call a penalty. Brodeur, before destroying his stick, had skated over to referee Eric Furlatt for a few words.
Jokinen said he didn't intentionally try to hit Brodeur or knock him out of position.
"I didn't even know he was there," Jokinen said today. "There was a little contact but I had no idea he was there.
"I think we have to just keep doing that job. You need to keep in front of him. He's at his best when he can come out a lot and take all the angles off."
Brodeur said he readjust or alter his game, regardless of the calls — or lack of them.
"It's up to them to make calls," he said. "I'm not going to change the way I play because of one thing that happened, you know."
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
Turn it UP
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 18:37 — RipskinnyThere's a long history in the NHL of elite goalies absolutely not liking being crowded in andaround their crease. Brodeur is like that. Dominic Hasek was like that. Patrick Roy (Waaah!) was like that. Part of that is not liking not getting the close calls to go their way. It's a sign you are getting under their skin.
Ruutu, Stahl, Cullen, Walker, LaRose, Brind'Amour, all these guys need to crowd Brodeur every chance they get. It's completely worth the 1-2 interference penalties they may rack up. We can kill 'em off, just keep pressuring Brodeur. Screen him, bump him, chatter at him every minute. Shower him with ice dust every time he covers up a rebound.
Brodeur is cracking. 3-2 sounds great!
GO CANES !!!
We shall see
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 16:31 — esteban1949if it was a oscar winning proformance or a razzie award winner...and if the canes don't keep the pressure on...it could or might be a long night...And Jussie...Don't sweat the small stuff dude...if i had the monies, i'd give you a preformance bonus...you are and more than worth it...
Go Canes !!
I guess we'll see tonight
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 14:41 — Canes73if all of Marty's whining has paid off. It's funny, practically every hockey analyst I've seen the last couple of days has said the refs made the right non-call, but he keeps crying about it. I mean c'mon he had time to give Jussi a slap with his glove but claims he didn't have time to reset for the shot. I hope the refs aren't listening to him.