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NHL
March 31, 2003
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- On a day when Patrik Elias scored four goals and Scott Gomez had five assists, the teammates yielded the spotlight to Martin Brodeur.
Brodeur became the first goaltender to post four 40-win seasons as the Devils beat the Islanders 6-0 Sunday.
"Consistency is something that when I started my career I wanted to do," said Brodeur, who this season became the first goaltender with eight consecutive 30-win seasons. " ... Winning so many games every year shows I was able to do that. I want to keep going and raise that bar for other goalies coming up."
Brodeur had 19 saves in recording a league-high ninth shutout this season and 64th of his career. He is 40-22-8 this season and surpassed Hall of Famers Jacques Plante and Terry Sawchuk in career 40-win seasons.
"Sometimes we kind of expect it, because he's so laid-back about it all," Gomez said of Brodeur. "But he's special. One of these days I'll be able to tell my grandkids that I played with Marty Brodeur and it will be a wonderful thing to look back on."
Elias' four goals were a career best, and his five points tied his high. Gomez tied a team record for assists.
OILERS 4, BLACKHAWKS 4: Radek Dvorak scored twice and Todd Marchant once in a span of 1:28 late in the third to rally visiting Edmonton to a point.
Rookie goalie Craig Andersson lost a bid for his first win in six NHL games. He was sent to AHL Norfolk afterward.
Dvorak deflected Cory Cross' shot for a power-play goal with 2:29 left in the third. Marchant cut in and beat Andersson 28 seconds later, and Dvorak tied it on a shot from the slot with 1:01 left.
Referee Kerry Fraser worked his 1,476th game, eclipsing Andy Van Hellemond's league record.
MIGHTY DUCKS 3, CANUCKS 1: Petr Sykora scored 41 seconds into the third and Martin Gerber made 41 saves for host Anaheim.
Steve Thomas and Adam Oates each scored first-period goals to give the Ducks an early 2-0 lead but in the second the Canucks outshot Anaheim 18-5 and Markus Naslund scored his league-leading 47th goal of the season during a power play.
SABRES: Defensemen Rhett Warrener and Brian Campbell, who did not travel with the team for its game Saturday at Carolina, worked out together at HSBC Arena, team spokesman Michael Gilbert said. The players, who might have been exposed to SARS, a mysterious and potentially deadly respiratory illness last week, aren't showing symptoms and might return before the end of the season. Health officials suggested they remain isolated for 10 days but the team listed the players as day-to-day.