Devils getting ready to host Blue Jackets tonight

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The Devils are holding a full morning skate today in preparation for tonight?s home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Devils trail Pittsburgh by two points for first place in the Atlantic Division, but have two games in hand.

Andrew Peters, Jay Pandolfo, Vladimir Zharkov., Anssi Salmela and Mark Fraser are in white jerseys, which seems to indicate that they won?t play tonight?though that?s not official. The other 12 forwards are wearing red jerseys and the six other defensemen are in black jerseys.

The top three lines are the same as Monday?s practice. Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond is skating on the fourth line with Dean McAmmond at center and Rod Pelley at right wing.

Forwards: Zach Parise-Patrik Elias-Jamie Langenbrunner; Ilya Kovlachuk-Travis Zajac-Brian Rolston; Dainius Zubrus-Rob Niedermayer-David Clarkson; PLL Leblond-Dean McAmmond-Rod Pelley; Andrew Peters-Jay Pandolfo-Vladimir Zharkov.

Defensemen: Bryce Salvador-Andy Greene; Colin White-Mike Mottau; Martin Skoula-Paul Martin: Anssi Salmela-Mark Fraser.

Goaltenders: Martin Brodeur, Yann Danis.

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After they couldn?t convert on one on Saturday, the Devils are working a little on the 4-on-3 power play this morning. It?s not something you see teams practice that often.

The Devils are using four forwards with Ilya Kovalchuk and Travis Zajac on the points and Zach Parise and Patrik Elias up front.

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Blue Jackets' Mason gets chance to face idol Brodeur


- The boyhood bedroom of Steve Mason served as a shrine to goaltending.

Coated in New Jersey Devils red, the walls were festooned with photos of the game's greats. One goaltender's image, however, dominated the shelves and dresser tops the way it now does the NHL record books.

There were Martin Brodeur figurines. Martin Brodeur trading cards. Martin Brodeur pictures. Nobody had trouble Christmas shopping for Mason, a then-budding goaltender prospect in Oakville, Ontario. He liked to think even the family's miniature schnauzer, Brodie, was named for the Devils' super stopper.

"We are slowly trying to take that stuff out because I don't spend a lot of time at home anymore," the 21-year-old Blue Jackets goaltender said. "But there is still some stuff hanging."

Mason's fascination with all things Brodeur enters another dimension tonight in the Prudential Center when the second-year pro is expected to play opposite the 37-year-old legend for the first time.

"Any time you get a chance to play against an idol, whether it's a Joe Sakic or a Mario Lemieux, it's a special moment," Mason said. "For me, it would be more of a cool thing to talk about with my buddies. (Brodeur) was one of our favorite players."

Most multimillionaire athletes, regardless of the sport, share a common trait: They grew up huge fans of the games they play. The opportunity to measure their skills against a bedroom poster come to life is another sign of career success.

The trick, hockey players say, is not to appear too much in awe.

The first time former Jackets player Jody Shelley asked enforcer Bob Probert to fight, he addressed him as "Mr. Probert." By night's end, they had fought three times.

"You can't be out there playing against them and saying to yourself, 'Oh my god, that's Scott Stevens,' or they will light you up," said Jackets defenseman Mike Commodore, an admirer of the former Devils defenseman. "You've got to get to the point where you feel you belong out there with them."

Jackets assistant coach Gord Murphy recalls sitting on the visitors' bench in old Maple Leaf Gardens watching every move made by Toronto's Borje Salming. They met years later, but Murphy never found the words to tell the Swedish defenseman what an inspiration he had been.

"You work so hard to make the NHL, and when you get a chance to meet or play against an idol, it really is a surreal feeling," Murphy said.

Brodeur is Eddie Van Halen with a goalie stick instead of a Fender guitar. Many have professed learning to play the game while trying to imitate his brilliance. Cam Ward, Roberto Luongo and Marc-Andre Fleury are among his disciples.

Mason was 3 when the NHL's all-time winningest goaltender broke into the league in 1991.

Brodeur said he knows the butterflies a goalie like Mason will experience tonight. He recalls his first game against his hockey hero, Patrick Roy.

"You're kind of mesmerized, looking at him from the other side of the ice," Brodeur said. "When I played Patrick, I was kind of amazed. It's fun. It's a big challenge playing a guy that you looked up to all of your life."

Mason won NHL rookie of the year honors last season, but one of his few disappointments was not facing Brodeur. The Devils goalie was unable to play because of injury in the teams' only meeting.

Mason goes into No.1 fan mode when it's suggested Brodeur had a rough outing for Canada against Team USA during pool play of last month's Olympics.

"Everybody jumps on every little thing," Mason said. "It's impossible to bash Marty in any way. He's going to hold every record by the time he's done playing. At the end of the day, he still has three Stanley Cups and two gold medals."

Tonight, Mason will try to deny Brodeur his 40th win of the season. It has been a difficult second season for the Jackets goaltender, but his play has improved in recent weeks.

Mason finally met Brodeur last August at the Team Canada Olympic orientation camp. He trained alongside him for several days before nervously asking Brodeur to sign a stick.

"When he saw me, he asked me for a stick and was really into meeting me," Brodeur said. "Likewise, for me it's kind of nice to see that a bit and have an impact on young players - especially when they get successful."

Mason sent the stick home to Oakville, where it occupies a special place in a room he has yet to outgrow.