For the first time in his NHL career Martin Brodeur made a start for a team other than the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night.
The 42-year-old made 20 saves in a 4-3 loss to the Nashville Predators.
Brodeur had some interesting comments about his former organization while he assessed his new team.
“We have skilled players and they make plays. It’s a little different having played in an organization that we were pretty limited in skill so we’ve got the puck moving north all the time and didn’t really make plays,” he said. “These guys, they’re talented, they’re making plays. Sometimes its good and some times… we make mistakes, but was really happy with the way the boys played in front of me.”
“It was a different feeling for me today,” Brodeur said. “I haven’t played in a long time. Coming to a new organization, different players, different team, different coaching staff - not sure what to expect.
“I did it with the same people over and over, but glad that’s over, got it under my belt. We’re going to stop talking about it and just play hockey.”
Vladimir Tarasenko opened the scoring in the first, but Filip Forsberg and Eric Nystrom gave the Preds a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.
Brodeur made 14 saves in the opening frame.
“You never know how it’s going to start, but getting some work from the get-go... I was happy,” said Brodeur. “To feel the puck feel game and feel the pressure of the team coming at me.”
Mike Ribeiro made it 3-1 early in the second before Tarasenko’s second of the night pulled the Blues to within one.
Colin Wilson scored the eventual game-winner midway through the third.
Jaden Schwartz had the other St. Louis goal.