I know the guy doesn’t ever want to take a day off. I know the backup just got injured last night. Regardless, the coaching and management of the Devils should forceably sit Martin Brodeur down in one or two of their remaining games, because otherwise he is going to run himself into the ground -or worse- just in time for the playoffs.

Marty’s workload is astonishingly high right now, even for the iron man that he is. He’s played in a jaw-dropping 6 of 9 days, facing 42, 48, 37, 37, 10 (in relief) and 37 shots in those games. That’s 23 shots a day over that period. Not 23 shots per game, but 23 shots per day!

For the uninitiated, those are all high shot totals. When we eventually start putting metrics to Goalie Abuse Points, a la Baseball Prospectus’ Pitcher Abuse Points, shot totals of over 35 or 40 per night will be the levels to watch. Brodeur has just had 5 such games in 9 nights, and this is coming off an extended IR stint for a torn bicep. Let’s not forget that the future Hall of Famer got that injury following a season high 48 shot game on October 29th.

Are the slumping Devils worried that a third seed will force them to face the revitalized Penguins, as opposed to the mediocre Canadiens? Perhaps, but there is not much to do about it anymore. As the Caps have games at hand, it seems doubtful that the struggling Devils will pass Washington. At this point, even if they do, it may very well be a pyrrhic victory if Brodeur is injured or spent. Wouldn’t it be better to circle the wagons now and just get ready for the playoffs?