Devils 4, Avalanche 0: After missing most of the season with an elbow injury, legendary goalie Martin Brodeur returned to the New Jersey lineup on Thursday and did not disappoint, posting the 99th shutout of his career in a 4-0 win over Colorado. Brodeur turned aside all 24 shots he faced, while Jamie Langenbrunner, Zach Parise, Patrick Elias and Travis Zajac all scored goals in the win. The Devils have been one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference all season, and adding one of the best goaltenders of all-time back into the lineup makes them a dangerous team going forward.
Panthers 2, Rangers 1: John Tortorella made his Madison Square Garden debut on Thursday, and for 59 minutes it went quite well. It was the one-minute stretch in the third period when David Booth and Nathan Horton scored a pair of goals to give the Panthers an important 2-1 win that hurt the Rangers. Craig Anderson stopped 40-of-41 shots in the win, as the Panthers are now tied with the Rangers in the Eastern Conference standings with 70 points.
Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference playoff race, Carolina picked up a 2-1 shootout win over Buffalo, as both teams are now tied with 69 points. As it stands now, the Canadiens, Panthers, Rangers, Hurricanes and Sabres are separated by only two points, while the Penguins occupy the No. 10 spot with 66 points.
Blue Jackets 1, Oilers 0: Columbus picked up a big win in its quest for its first ever playoff berth, as the Blue Jackets defeated Edmonton, 1-0. Raffi Torres scored the only goal of the contest at the 7:45 mark of the third period, while Steve Mason stopped all 19 shots he faced to pick up his eighth shutout of the season. The Blue Jackets are now tied with Vancouver with 65 points for the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference.
The rest of Thursday's action
Ryan Whitney logs 24 minutes in his debut with the Ducks, but Anaheim gets pounded, 6-0, in Boston.
Toronto beats the Islanders, who might be without Brendan Witt for a few games.
Alexander Semin and Mike Green each scored their 23rd goal of the season in Washington's 4-3 win over Atlanta.
Nashville beats Phoenix.
San Jose wins a low-scoring contest in Ottawa.
Dallas drops a 3-1 decision to St. Louis.
Daily rebounds
-- Montreal swings a minor deal with Dallas, sending Steve Begin to the Stars for Doug Janik.
-- Speaking of the Canadiens, there's a report that Mathieu Dandenault has requested a trade.
-- With the trade deadline quickly approaching, we must brace ourselves for rumors. Was the Ryan Whitney trade the start of a three-team deal with Toronto? Doubtful. Very, very doubtful.
-- More trade rumors, this time centered around the Philadelphia Flyers and Florida Panthers.
Friday's key games
-- Chris Kuntiz makes his debut for Pittsburgh as it travels to Chicago. The Penguins need a win to keep pace with Thursday's winners in the Eastern Conference.
-- Minnesota could use a win out west in Calgary, as the Wild enter play on Friday in the middle of the quagmire that is the Western Conference playoff race.
-- Vancouver has won eight of its past 10 games and hosts Tampa Bay on Friday.
