Playoffs 2000:Brule gets big chance at crucial time

Brule gets big chance at crucial time
Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- After more than five years in the minors waiting for his chance with the New Jersey Devils, Steve Brule apparently is going to get it in the unlikeliest of situations, Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Brule has been penciled in by coach Larry Robinson to make his NHL debut against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night, replacing the injured John Madden on the Devils' third line with Jay Pandolfo and Claude Lemieux.

"I'm just ready to go if they give me the call," the 25-year-old Brule said Wednesday after the Devils worked out at the Continental Airlines Arena.

"Obviously it's too bad `Mad Dog' got hurt. That's not the way you want to get into the lineup. You never want to see someone get hurt, especially someone as important as `Mad Dog.' But that's why I was here, in case someone got hurt."

Madden hurt his right knee in the third period of Game 2 on Tuesday night after being checked by Keith Primeau and falling awkwardly.

After an MRI exam Wednesday, the Devils said Madden will not need surgery. The Devils did not disclose the exact nature of the injury. They said it is similar to the one sustained by Sergei Brylin earlier in the playoffs. He was sidelined for three weeks and missed six games.

Brule has certainly paid his dues with the Devils. Since joining Albany (N.Y.) of the AHL late in the 1994-95 season, he has played a team-record 394 games. He holds the River Rats' career records for goals (155), assists (214) and points (369).

The Montreal native who was the Devils' sixth pick in the 1993 NHL draft had 30 goals and 46 assists in leading Albany in scoring this season. It was his fourth consecutive 30-goal season.

"It's been a long time," Brule said of his expected debut. "That's in the past, though. You don't think about that. You just think what is best for the team, and the team winning. You forget about everything else."

With Madden as its center, the third line was matched up against a lot of top lines in the playoffs.

Whether that changes with Brule is a question mark.

"I think when you get the puck you have to go on offense and when you don't have the puck you have to play well defensively," Brule said. "I think you just have to do your job defensively when you play against good guys. When you have the puck you want to be safe, but at the same time you want to go on offense."

Devils defenseman Brad Bombardir said that Brule can do that without any problem.

"The one thing he can do is put the puck in the back of the net," Bombardir said. "He's always had a knack for that."

If he does play, Brule knows what to expect in Game 3 _ a lot of hitting.

"That's great. That's a good way to get into the game," he added. "You get into the action. The emotions are there. It's a good atmosphere."

It's also a great way to make a debut.