Devs rock the ’Canes & clinch

RALEIGH, N.C. — Missing the playoffs last season gave Martin Brodeur and the Devils a fresh appreciation for getting back in.

Brodeur posted his 119th career shutout and the Devils clinched a spot in the postseason with a 5-0 rout of the listless Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night.

“I didn’t think it was going to bother me that much (last year, but) ... I was like, ‘Wow, I’m really missing this atmosphere,”’ Brodeur said. “This year, it was an important thing for me to go out and try to get in the playoffs, to get back at it.”

Ilya Kovalchuk had a goal and two assists, Petr Sykora added a goal and an assist, David Clarkson, Ryan Carter and Zach Parise also scored, and Patrik Elias had two assists.

The Devs scored three goals in a 3:50 span and had no trouble after that .

Brodeur made 22 saves and moved one victory from having another NHL record all to himself. His next win will give him 14 seasons with at least 30 victories.

“Winning is what’s important, and if you get a shutout, most of the time, you’ve got a win,” Brodeur said. “It’s good to bring up that number (119), kind of push the envelope for the next guy coming trying to reach it. It doesn’t get old, regardless of how you get them.”

The Devils entered needing just one point in their final four games — or for Washington to miss out on a point — to sew up their 20th playoff berth in 22 seasons, and had an easy time earning it and improving to 9-4-1 in its last 13 games.

BRUINS 6, ISLES 3

Brad Marchand snapped a third-period tie with his teamleading 27th goal, and playoffbound Boston ended the host Islanders’ postseason chances.

T he defending Stanley Cup champions, who lead the Northeast Division, had plenty of support as a large throng of fans cheering “Let’s Go Bruins” while decked out in black and gold jerseys filled the Coliseum and made up about half of the sellout crowd. — AP