2008–09 New Jersey Devils season

The 2008–09 New Jersey Devils season was the 35th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 11, 1974, and 27th season since the franchise relocated from Colorado prior to the 1982–83 NHL season.^[1]

2008–09 New Jersey Devils
Atlantic Division champions
Division	1st Atlantic
Conference	3rd Eastern
2008–09 record	51–27–4
Home record	28–12–1
Road record	23–15–3
Goals for	244
Goals against	209
Team information
General manager	Lou Lamoriello
Coach	Brent Sutter
Captain	Jamie Langenbrunner
Alternate captains	Patrik Elias John Madden
Arena	Prudential Center
Average attendance	Average: 15,790 Capacity: 89.6% Total: 647,397
Team leaders
Goals	Zach Parise (45)
Assists	Zach Parise (49)
Points	Zach Parise (94)
Penalty minutes	David Clarkson (164)
Plus/minus	Travis Zajac (+33)
Wins	Scott Clemmensen (25)
Goals against average	Scott Clemmensen (2.39)
← 2007–08 2009–10 →

Pre-season

Date	Score	Opponent	Location
September 22	4 – 1	Philadelphia Flyers	Wachovia Center
September 24	3 – 2	New York Rangers	Prudential Center
September 27	4 – 2	New York Rangers	Madison Square Garden
September 29	3 – 2	Washington Capitals	Prudential Center
October 1	3 – 0	New York Islanders	Nassau Coliseum
October 3	3 – 2 (OT)	New York Islanders	Prudential Center
October 4	4 – 3	Philadelphia Flyers	Prudential Center

Regular season

The Devils finished the regular season with the fewest power-play opportunities, with just 307.^[2]

• March 17, 2009: In a victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, Martin Brodeur broke Patrick Roy's record for most career wins by a goaltender. Also, Patrik Elias became the Devils' all-time leading scorer, previously held by John MacLean, by recording his 702nd career NHL regular-season point.^[3]

Divisional standings

Atlantic Division

		GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	New Jersey Devils	82	51	27	4	244	209	106
2	Pittsburgh Penguins	82	45	28	9	264	239	99
3	Philadelphia Flyers	82	44	27	11	264	238	99
4	New York Rangers	82	43	30	9	210	218	95
5	New York Islanders	82	26	47	9	201	279	61

Conference standings

Eastern Conference

R		Div	GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	z – Boston Bruins	NE	82	53	19	10	274	196	116
2	y – Washington Capitals	SE	82	50	24	8	272	245	108
3	y – New Jersey Devils	AT	82	51	27	4	244	209	106
4	Pittsburgh Penguins	AT	82	45	28	9	264	239	99
5	Philadelphia Flyers	AT	82	44	27	11	264	238	99
6	Carolina Hurricanes	SE	82	45	30	7	239	226	97
7	New York Rangers	AT	82	43	30	9	210	218	95
8	Montreal Canadiens	NE	82	41	30	11	249	247	93
8.5
9	Florida Panthers	SE	82	41	30	11	234	231	93
10	Buffalo Sabres	NE	82	41	32	9	250	234	91
11	Ottawa Senators	NE	82	36	35	11	217	237	83
12	Toronto Maple Leafs	NE	82	34	35	13	250	293	81
13	Atlanta Thrashers	SE	82	35	41	6	257	280	76
14	Tampa Bay Lightning	SE	82	24	40	18	210	279	66
15	New York Islanders	AT	82	26	47	9	201	279	61

bold – qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, z – placed first in conference (and division)

AT – Atlantic Division, NE – Northeast Division, SE – Southeast Division

Schedule and results

2008–09 Game Log
October (5-2-2), 12 points (Home 2-1-1; Road 3-1-1) Game Date Opponent Score Decision Location/Attendance Record 1 10 New York Islanders 1-2 Brodeur Prudential Center – 16,834 1–0–0 2 11 Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 (OT) Brodeur Mellon Arena – 17,132 2–0–0 3 13 New York Rangers 1-4 Brodeur Madison Square Garden – 18,200 2–1–0 4 16 Atlanta Thrashers 1-0 Brodeur Philips Arena – 11,293 3–1–0 5 18 Washington Capitals 4-3 (SO) Brodeur Verizon Center – 17,904 4–1–0 6 22 Dallas Stars 0-5 Brodeur Prudential Center – 12,101 5–1–0 7 24 Philadelphia Flyers 6-3 Brodeur Prudential Center – 15,529 5–2–0 8 25 Philadelphia Flyers 2-3 (OT) Brodeur Wachovia Center – 19,611 5–2–1 9 29 Toronto Maple Leafs 6-5 (SO) Brodeur Prudential Center – 14,119 5–2–2
November (7-6-0), 14 points (Home 5-3-0; Road 2-3-0) Game Date Opponent Score Decision Location/Attendance Record 10 1 Atlanta Thrashers 1-6 Brodeur Prudential Center – 14,958 6–2–2 11 3 Buffalo Sabres 2-0 Weekes Prudential Center – 10,567 6–3–2 12 5 Tampa Bay Lightning 3-4 (SO) Weekes Prudential Center – 11,619 7–3–2 13 8 Detroit Red Wings 1-3 Weekes Joe Louis Arena – 20,066 7–4–2 14 9 Edmonton Oilers 2-1 Clemmensen Prudential Center – 14,193 7–5–2 15 12 New York Rangers 5-2 Weekes Prudential Center – 17,625 7–6–2 16 14 Washington Capitals 1-3 Clemmensen Verizon Center – 18,277 7–7–2 17 15 Washington Capitals 5-6 Clemmensen Prudential Center – 17,051 8–7–2 18 20 Florida Panthers 1-3 Clemmensen Prudential Center – 14,291 9–7–2 19 21 New York Islanders 2-5 Weekes Prudential Center – 17,138 10–7–2 20 23 Tampa Bay Lightning 7-3 Clemmensen St. Pete Times Forum – 14,222 11–7–2 21 26 Florida Panthers 3-2 (SO) Clemmensen BankAtlantic Center – 14,932 12–7–2 22 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 1-4 Clemmensen Mellon Arena – 17,132 12–8–2
December (9-4-1), 19 points (Home 4-3-0; Road 5-1-1) Game Date Opponent Score Decision Location/Attendance Record 23 4 Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 (OT) Clemmensen Wachovia Center – 19,577 13–8–2 24 6 Montreal Canadiens 2-1 (OT) Clemmensen Bell Centre – 21,273 14–8–2 25 10 Pittsburgh Penguins 1-4 Clemmensen Prudential Center – 16,808 15–8–2 26 12 New York Rangers 5-8 Clemmensen Prudential Center – 17,625 16–8–2 27 13 Buffalo Sabres 4-2 Weekes Prudential Center – 15,713 16–9–2 28 16 Toronto Maple Leafs 2-3 (SO) Clemmensen Air Canada Centre – 19,315 16–9–3 29 17 Buffalo Sabres 5-3 Clemmensen HSBC Arena – 18,690 17–9–3 30 19 Ottawa Senators 1-5 Clemmensen Prudential Center – 16,400 18–9–3 31 21 Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 Clemmensen Prudential Center – 14,426 19–9–3 32 23 Boston Bruins 2-0 Clemmensen Prudential Center – 16,305 19–10–3 33 26 Pittsburgh Penguins 1-0 Clemmensen Prudential Center – 15,204 19–11–3 34 27 New York Rangers 4-2 Clemmensen Madison Square Garden – 18,200 20–11–3 35 30 St. Louis Blues 4-3 Clemmensen Scottrade Center – 19,150 21–11–3 36 31 Dallas Stars 2-4 Clemmensen American Airlines Center – 18,584 21–12–3
January (11-3-0), 22 points (Home 3-1-0; Road 8-2-0) Game Date Opponent Score Decision Location/Attendance Record 37 2 Montreal Canadiens 4-1 Clemmensen Prudential Center – 17,625 22–12–3 38 4 Ottawa Senators 4-3 (OT) Clemmensen Prudential Center – 14,798 23–12–3 39 6 Carolina Hurricanes 2-3 Clemmensen RBC Center – 15,399 23–13–3 40 8 Atlanta Thrashers 4-0 Clemmensen Prudential Center – 16,489 23–14–3 41 10 Los Angeles Kings 5-1 Weekes Staples Center – 18,118 24–14–3 42 11 Anaheim Ducks 3-4 Clemmensen Honda Center – 17,331 24–15–3 43 13 Vancouver Canucks 5-3 Clemmensen GM Place – 18,630 25–15–3 44 16 Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 Weekes Nationwide Arena – 17,738 26–15–3 45 17 New York Islanders 3-1 Clemmensen Nassau Coliseum – 16,234 27–15–3 46 19 Nashville Predators 3-1 Clemmensen Sommet Center – 14,848 28–15–3 47 21 Montreal Canadiens 2-5 Clemmensen Prudential Center – 16,235 29–15–3 48 27 Ottawa Senators 4-1 Clemmensen Scotiabank Place – 18,786 30–15–3 49 29 Boston Bruins 4-3 (OT) Clemmensen TD Banknorth Garden – 17,565 31–15–3 50 30 Pittsburgh Penguins 3-4 (OT) Clemmensen Prudential Center – 17,625 32–15–3
February (8-4-0), 16 points (Home 6-2-0; Road 2-2-0) Game Date Opponent Score Decision Location/Attendance Record 51 3 Washington Capitals 5-2 Clemmensen Prudential Center – 14,018 32–16–3 52 6 Atlanta Thrashers 5-1 Weekes Philips Arena – 17,067 33–16–3 53 7 Los Angeles Kings 3-1 Clemmensen Prudential Center – 17,056 33–17–3 54 9 New York Rangers 0-3 Clemmensen Prudential Center – 17,625 34–17–3 55 11 New York Islanders 2-4 Weekes Prudential Center – 14,251 35–17–3 56 13 Boston Bruins 0-1 Clemmensen Prudential Center – 15,257 36–17–3 57 15 San Jose Sharks 5-6 Clemmensen Prudential Center – 17,625 37–17–3 58 17 Florida Panthers 0-4 Clemmensen BankAtlantic Center – 14,514 37–18–3 59 19 Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 (SO) Weekes St. Pete Times Forum – 14,408 38–18–3 60 21 New York Islanders 0-4 Clemmensen Nassau Coliseum – 15,511 38–19–3 61 26 Colorado Avalanche 0-4 Brodeur Prudential Center – 16,107 39–19–3 62 28 Florida Panthers 2-7 Brodeur Prudential Center – 16,256 40–19–3
March (7-6-1), 15 points (Home 5-1-0; Road 2-5-1) Game Date Opponent Score Decision Location/Attendance Record 63 1 Philadelphia Flyers 0-3 Brodeur Prudential Center – 17,625 41–19–3 64 3 Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 (OT) Brodeur Air Canada Centre – 19,389 42–19–3 65 7 New York Islanders 3-7 Brodeur Nassau Coliseum – 15,524 42–20–3 66 10 Calgary Flames 2-3 Brodeur Prudential Center – 14,598 43–20–3 67 12 Phoenix Coyotes 2-5 Brodeur Prudential Center – 14,578 44–20–3 68 14 Montreal Canadiens 3-1 Brodeur Bell Centre – 21,273 45–20–3 69 17 Chicago Blackhawks 2-3 Brodeur Prudential Center – 17,625 46–20–3 70 18 Carolina Hurricanes 2-4 Weekes RBC Center – 18,544 46–21–3 71 20 Minnesota Wild 0-4 Brodeur Prudential Center – 17,625 47–21–3 72 22 Boston Bruins 1-4 Brodeur TD Banknorth Garden – 17,565 47–22–3 73 23 Philadelphia Flyers 2-4 Brodeur Wachovia Center – 19,762 47–23–3 74 27 Chicago Blackhawks 2-3 (OT) Brodeur United Center – 21,617 47–23–4 75 28 Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 Brodeur Prudential Center – 17,018 47–24–4 76 30 New York Rangers 0-3 Brodeur Madison Square Garden – 18,200 47–25–4
April (4-2-0), 8 points (Home 2-1-0; Road 2-1-0) Game Date Opponent Score Decision Location/Attendance Record 77 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 1-6 Brodeur Mellon Arena – 17,132 47–26–4 78 3 Tampa Bay Lightning 4-5 (OT) Brodeur Prudential Center – 17,625 48–26–4 79 4 Buffalo Sabres 3-2 Brodeur HSBC Arena – 18,690 49–26–4 80 7 Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 Brodeur Prudential Center – 15,046 49–27–4 81 9 Ottawa Senators 3-2 (SO) Brodeur Scotiabank Place – 20,151 50–27–4 82 11 Carolina Hurricanes 2-3 Brodeur Prudential Center – 17,625 51–27–4
Schedule

Playoffs

Main article: 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs

The New Jersey Devils ended the 2008–09 regular season as the Atlantic Division Champions and the Eastern Conference's third seed. The Devils have made the playoffs for the 12th straight season.

2009 Stanley Cup playoffs

Eastern Conference Quarter-finals: vs. (6) Carolina Hurricanes # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 15 Carolina Hurricanes 1 – 4 New Jersey Devils Brodeur 17,625 Devils lead 1-0 Recap 2 April 17 Carolina Hurricanes 2 – 1 New Jersey Devils OT Brodeur 17,625 Series is tied 1-1 Recap 3 April 19 New Jersey Devils 3 – 2 Carolina Hurricanes OT Brodeur 17,971 Devils lead 2-1 Recap 4 April 21 New Jersey Devils 3 – 4 Carolina Hurricanes Brodeur 17,465 Series is tied 2-2 Recap 5 April 23 Carolina Hurricanes 0 – 1 New Jersey Devils Brodeur 17,625 Devils lead 3-2 Recap 6 April 26 New Jersey Devils 0 – 4 Carolina Hurricanes Brodeur 18,680 Series tied 3-3 Recap 7 April 28 Carolina Hurricanes 4 – 3 New Jersey Devils Brodeur 17,625 Devils lose 4-3 Recap

  Win   Loss   Win Playoff Series   Eliminated from playoffs

Media

Television coverage was now on MSG Plus, still under the play-by-play of Mike Emrick and Chico Resch. Radio coverage was still on WFAN with Matt Loughlin and Sherry Ross.

Player statistics

Skaters

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals 

Regular season Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM Zach Parise 82 45 49 94 +30 24 Patrik Elias 77 31 47 78 +18 32 Jamie Langenbrunner 81 29 40 69 +25 56 Travis Zajac 82 20 42 62 +33 29 Brian Gionta 81 20 40 60 +12 32 Dainius Zubrus 82 15 25 40 +6 69 Paul Martin 73 5 28 33 +21 36 David Clarkson 82 17 15 32 -1 164 Brian Rolston 64 15 17 32 +2 30 Johnny Oduya 82 7 22 29 +21 30 John Madden 76 7 16 23 -7 26 Colin White 71 1 17 18 +18 46 Bryce Salvador 76 3 13 16 -1 78 Mike Mottau 80 1 14 15 +24 35 Brendan Shanahan 34 6 8 14 -2 29 Jay Pandolfo 61 5 5 10 -12 10 Bobby Holik 62 4 5 9 -2 66 Mike Rupp 72 3 6 9 -2 136 Andy Greene 49 2 7 9 +3 22 Niclas Havelid† 15 0 4 4 -2 6 Anssi Salmela‡ 17 0 3 3 +1 6 Petr Vrana 16 1 0 1 -4 2 Nicklas Bergfors 8 1 0 1 -1 0 Jay Leach 24 0 1 1 0 21 Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond 8 0 1 1 +3 22 Matt Halischuk 1 0 1 1 -1 0 Sheldon Brookbank‡ 15 0 0 0 +1 25 Barry Tallackson 4 0 0 0 -1 0 Patrick Davis 1 0 0 0 0 0

Playoffs Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM Zach Parise 7 3 3 6 +2 2 Brian Gionta 7 2 3 5 0 4 Paul Martin 7 0 4 4 0 4 Travis Zajac 7 1 3 4 0 6 Patrik Elias 7 1 2 3 -1 2 Jamie Langenbrunner 4 2 1 3 0 2 Brendan Shanahan 7 1 2 3 -1 2 Mike Mottau 7 1 1 2 -3 0 Brian Rolston 7 1 1 2 +2 4 David Clarkson 7 2 0 2 -1 19 Niclas Havelid 7 0 1 1 0 2 Bobby Holik 3 0 1 1 0 2 John Madden 7 0 1 1 -3 4 Jay Pandolfo 7 1 0 1 -2 0 Colin White 7 0 1 1 -3 6 Dainius Zubrus 7 0 1 1 -2 10 Andy Greene 3 0 1 1 -1 0 Bryce Salvador 4 0 0 0 -3 4 Mike Rupp 7 0 0 0 -2 14 Johnny Oduya 7 0 0 0 +3 2

Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime losses; GA = Goals against; GAA= Goals against average; SA= Shots against; SV= Saves; Sv% = Save percentage; SO= Shutouts

Regular season
Player GP Min W L OT GA GAA SA SV Sv% SO Scott Clemmensen 40 2356 25 13 1 94 2.39 1138 1044 .917 2 Martin Brodeur 31 1814 19 9 3 73 2.41 870 797 .916 5 Kevin Weekes 16 795 7 5 0 32 2.42 399 367 .920 0

Playoffs
Player GP Min W L GA GAA SA SV Sv% SO Martin Brodeur 7 427 3 4 17 2.39 239 222 .929 1

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Devils. Stats reflect time with Devils only.
^‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Devils only.

Awards and records

Awards

Regular Season

Player	Award	Awarded
Zach Parise	NHL Second All-Star Team – Left Wing	End of regular season
Martin Brodeur	NHL Third Star of the Week	October 12, 2008
Patrik Elias	NHL Third Star of the Week	December 21, 2008
Jamie Langenbrunner	NHL First Star of the Month	January 2009
Jamie Langenbrunner	NHL First Star of the Week	February 1, 2009
Zach Parise	NHL First Star of the Week	February 15, 2009
Martin Brodeur	NHL First Star of the Week	March 1, 2009
Martin Brodeur	NHL First Star of the Week	March 15, 2009

Nominations

Regular Season

Player	Award	Place
Zach Parise	Lady Byng Memorial Trophy	Finalist

Records

Player	Record (Amount)	Achieved
Martin Brodeur	Most consecutive opening nights with a single team (14)	October 10, 2008
Martin Brodeur	Most career wins by a goaltender (552)	March 17, 2009

Milestones

Regular Season

Player	Milestone	Reached
Anssi Salmela	1st NHL Game	October 10, 2008
Petr Vrana	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point	October 18, 2008
Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point	October 22, 2008
Dainius Zubrus	400th NHL Point	October 24, 2008
Brian Gionta	400th NHL Game	October 25, 2008
Matt Halischuk	1st NHL Game	October 29, 2008
Nicklas Bergfors	1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point	November 1, 2008
David Clarkson	100th NHL Game	November 5, 2008
Patrick Davis	1st NHL Game	November 9, 2008
Anssi Salmela	1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point	November 12, 2008
Zach Parise	100th NHL Assist	December 19, 2008
Zach Parise	200th NHL Point	December 27, 2008

Transactions

Trades

June 20, 2008	To New Jersey Devils 1st-round pick (23rd overall) in 2008 2nd-round pick (54th overall) in 2008	To Washington Capitals 1st-round pick (21st overall) in 2008
June 20, 2008	To New Jersey Devils 1st-round pick (24th overall) in 2008 3rd-round pick in 2009	To Minnesota Wild 1st-round pick (23rd overall) in 2008
February 3, 2009	To New Jersey Devils David McIntyre	To Anaheim Ducks Sheldon Brookbank
March 2, 2009	To New Jersey Devils Niclas Havelid Myles Stoesz	To Atlanta Thrashers Anssi Salmela

Free agents

Player Former team Contract Terms Brian Rolston Minnesota Wild 4 years, $20 million Bobby Holík Atlanta Thrashers 1 year, $2.5 million Scott Clemmensen Toronto Maple Leafs 1 year Brendan Shanahan New York Rangers 1 year, $800,000

Player New team Sergei Brylin SKA Saint Petersburg Arron Asham Philadelphia Flyers Vitaly Vishnevskiy Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Karel Rachunek Dynamo Moscow

Draft picks

New Jersey's picks at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft in Ottawa, Ontario.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	Club Team
1	24	Mattias Tedenby	Left Wing	Sweden	HV71 Jr. (J20 SuperElit)
2	52	Brandon Burlon	Defence	Canada	St. Michael's Buzzers (OPJHL)
2	54	Patrice Cormier	Center	Canada	Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL)
3	82	Adam Henrique	Center	Canada	Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
4	112	Matt Delahey	Defence	Canada	Regina Pats (WHL)
5	142	Kory Nagy	Center	Canada	Oshawa Generals (OHL)
6	172	David Wohlberg	Center	United States	U.S. National Team Development Program (NAHL)
7	202	Harry Young	Defence	Canada	Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
7	205	Jean-Sebastien Berube	Left Wing	Canada	Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)

See also

• 2008–09 NHL season

Farm teams

The Lowell Devils of the American Hockey League and the Trenton Devils of the ECHL remain the New Jersey Devils' minor league affiliates for the 2008–09 season.