Just making note...

It wasn't Brodeur as much as the team. (NJ beats TB 6 - 1...Brodeur faced two really good shots. One got in.) Here's the thing - NJ's team will buy in to the system it is being taught and if that system focuses on the d-zone, Brodeur's numbers will improve. This win against the Lightning doesn't mean a lot, but it could be a step toward them playing better and more solid...buying in.

Things to note on the "Teams make Goalies more than Goalies make teams" front:

• Pascal Leclaire - 4 shutouts already. hmmm, what kind of system is there? Hitchcock. other goalies that were SOLID under him? Turco, Cechmanek, Esche...others??
• Any Minnesota goalie since Lemaire. i do think Backstrom is a very good goalie...but team system is inflating his numbers.
• Gerber, Thomas, Osgood...i don't mean to totally knock these guys, but it is clear that when the defense in front of them is shakey, they are too. This season, all three have been behind darn consistent teams...and the numbers reflect that.

a bad goalie can destroy a team, but once a goalie is to a certain level - it is all about the team.

Detroit is the best run organization around...or is it the solid defensemen effect...or both? The blueline has had a more than solid core since Lidstrom and Chelios. Doesn't hurt when the others include Schneider and now Rafalski. If i am GM i build my team around a solid defenseman...even better, two of them.

Carolina. Good to see them playing well...they had flashes of it last season. This year, they are contenders again. Niklas Wallin, baby. That guy is solid and one of the more underrated dmen in the league.

My Rangers. Not much to say. They need to gel. If they don't, oh well. If they do, they could be FUN to watch and difficult to beat.

CBJ. I'm in. I like the way they play. IF Zherdev can become motivated for the NHL game...the guy is talented! Reminds me of Kovalev with a little less of everything.