It's also no surprise that Brodeur approaches the game the same way he did when he nearly stole the Eastern Conference Finals from the Rangers back in 1994.
Brodeur, who entered Tuesday night's action with 462 wins and 84 shutouts, turns 35 next May. But that doesn't have him thinking that it may be time to look at his game differently.
"Not yet ... I'm sure it's going to come up soon," Brodeur said. "You always hear when you get older, you have to take care of yourself a little better and that everything comes a little harder. You can feel it once in a while. I think it's important to stay in top shape and be well-rested for the games you need to play."
Brodeur has to be in top shape, considering he's on the bench about as often as a visit from Hailey's Comet. The best goaltender in franchise history, Brodeur has played in at least 70 games every season since the 1997-98 campaign. He fights to be in between the pipes every night, while young studs around the league like Atlanta's Kari Lehtonen and Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury are trying to steal the spotlight.
"They're the ones trying to get me out of the net," Brodeur said. "I think there's definitely some really, really good young goalies. You just look in Atlanta with Lehtonen. I think he's going to be the real deal. You look at Henrik Lundqvist in New York, a young guy that plays in a tough market.
"As far as me playing a lot of games, I grew up in this organization playing a lot of games. For me, I don't see it to be different. I always try to compare myself to a hockey player. I know Scott Stevens at 36-, 37-years-old, played 82 games every year and didn't ask for a day off. That's why I try, if I feel good, to be able to help my team out."
Brodeur's enthusiasm is part of the reason why the Devils have been one of the NHL's more-successful franchises for more than a decade. It certainly is nice that he has someone like Lou Lamoriello putting a solid roster in front of him on an annual basis.
"Every year I just kind of shake my head," Brodeur said. "I can't believe I'm still here having fun and having success with the Devils. I'm pretty fortunate that I do have an organization that's right behind me at all times. I think that's the way I go by my career so far."
