By Steve Farnham, Associate Editor, All Habs Hockey Magazine

GREENFIELD PARK, QC. — Exactly one month ago today, Martin Brodeur stopped 17 of 19 shots as the Devils faced the Capitals and helped his team pick up a 3-2 victory. He hasn’t played a game since, well, up until today.

Since Brodeur’s last game played on February 21, the Devils have gone 3-8-2, so it’s safe to say that they have dearly missed him. He wasted no time in making his presence felt tonight in his return, and not in the way you would expect.

After Carolina Hurricanes all-time funny name forward, Alexander Semin picked up a penalty just 3:33 into the first period, the following happened on the Carolina power play.

• The referee raised his arm for a delayed penalty against Devils’ forward Mared Zidlicky.
• Hurricanes goaltender Dan Ellis went to the bench for the extra attacker.
• Hurricanes forward Patrick Dwyer carried the puck into the Devils zone, rushed the net, and his somewhat failed shot attempt deflect into the corner after hitting Brodeur’s stick.
• Hurricanes forward Jordan Staal picks up the puck in the corner, launches it towards his defenceman, misses, the puck hits the boards and goes all the way back into his own net.
• The crowd roars. (Oh sorry, the game’s in Carolina)

With this, Brodeur becomes the only NHL goaltender to ever score three goals. He was previously tied with Ron Hextall, who is still the only goalie to have scored twice by shooting the puck at the opposing net.

In Brodeur’s case, two of his three goals have come by the way of the opposing team scoring in their own net.

Here is the full list of NHL goaltenders who scored:

• Martin Brodeur (3)
• Ron Hextall (2)
• Cam Ward
• Chris Mason
• Mika Noronen
• Evgeni Nabokov
• Jose Theodore
• Damian Rhodes
• Chris Osgood
• Billy Smith

Videos Posted by Michel Larcher, Photo: Getty