When you’re on the right end of a playoff rivalry win, it’s easy to inject some humor into the proceedings. New Jersey Devils goalie/future Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur was glad to get a few yucks about David Clarkson, who scored the game-winner in the Devils’ 4-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 2.
Tom Gulitti captured the quotes.
“It’s nice for him to go to the net and score one of his typical goals,” Brodeur said. “Just hard-nosed, jump on the crossbard, hold it for a second for pictures and move on.”
“I was happy for him. He works hard. He’s got the beard too ... he’s proud of that.”
In case you’re curious, here are a few shots of Clarkson’s celebration.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 01: David Clarkson #23 of the New Jersey Devils scores the game winning goal at 11:17 of the third period and lands on the top of the net against the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 1, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Devils defeated the Flyers 4-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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(Getty)
New Jersey Devils’ Zach Parise, right, and David Clarkson, laying on the net, who scored what would be the game-winning goal celebrate during the third period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series with the Philadelphia Flyers, Tuesday, May 1, 2012, in Philadelphia. Flyers, Nick Grossmann kneels down in the crease. The Devils won 4-1 tying the best of seven series at 1-1.(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)
AP
(The Associated Press)
New Jersey Devils’ Zach Parise, rear left, goes to David Clarkson, laying on the net, who scored what would be the game-winning goal during the third period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series with the Philadelphia Flyers, Tuesday, May 1, 2012, in Philadelphia. Moving away from the net are Flyers Max Talbot, front left,and Nick Grossmann The Devils won 4-1 tying the best of seven series at 1-1.(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)
AP
(AP)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 01: David Clarkson #23 of the New Jersey Devils (R) scores the game winning goal at 11:17 of the third period against the Philadelphia Flyers and is joined by Zach Parise #9 (L) in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on May 1, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Devils defeated the Flyers 4-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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(Getty)
And since you’ve been so patient with your scrolling, here’s a solid shot of that aforementioned beard.
NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 19: Tomas Fleischmann #14 of the Florida Panthers and David Clarkson #23 of the New Jersey Devils collide in the second period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Prudential Center on April 19, 2012 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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(Getty)
Well, it’s no Scott Niedermayer “lightning” beard, but it’s certainly better than anything I can grow. That brings me to a wildly subjective - and hairy - question: who gets your vote for the best beard of the 2012 playoffs so far?
(Unaccompanied goatees need not apply.)