NHL Betting: Brodeur Shuts Out Flyers, 3-0

Martin Brodeur made 36 saves for the Devils. (AP Images)

Remember when the Philadelphia Flyers were supposed to contend for the Stanley Cup this year?

Remember when Martin Brodeur was supposed to be finished?

It may seem like forever, although it was only three and a half months ago.

On Friday night we saw how wrong those two preseason suppositions were as Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils dominated their Atlantic Division rivals once again. Brodeur stopped 36 shots in a 3-0 shutout of Philadelphia in Newark, N.J.

It was the 11th straight home win for the Devils over the Flyers and paid New Jersey backers at -165 on the puckline (meaning a winning hockey bet of $165 would net $100).

Paul Martin’s goal 9:41 into the game stood up as the winner, and Travis Zajac and Patrik Elias also tallied. Brodeur, meanwhile, notched career shutout No. 96, leaving him seven short of tying Terry Sawchuk’s regular-season mark.

Although the Flyers are in last place in the Atlantic, they are in ninth spot in the Eastern Conference and only one point out of a playoff position. Plus, they expect to have Simon Gagne, a two-time 40-goal scorer, back from injury within the next week.

In other NHL games on Friday:

Ottawa 5, Buffalo 3: Ray Emery kept his mouth quiet and did his job, which delighted the Senators. The controversial goalie stopped 36 shots to earn the win despite blowing a 3-0 lead. Daniel Alfredsson and Dany Heatley salvaged the win in Buffalo with third-period goals. Ottawa was a -130 favorite.

Carolina 4, Atlanta 3: Cory Stillman’s power-play goal with 3:23 to play in the third period lifted the Hurricanes to an upset victory. The Hurricanes paid +110 on the road.

Anaheim 2, Chicago 1: Corey Perry had a goal and an assist to lead the Ducks at home, where they were hefty -290 favorites.

For NHL odds for the weekend, faceoff with the Bodog Sportsbook.