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Martin Brodeur tied Patrick Roy for the most NHL career victories when he made 22 saves to help the New Jersey Devils to a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.

Patrik Elias scored a goal and made an assist to lead the Devils to their third successive win, and 551st in Brodeur's career.

"I feel great, I'm happy that it's over with," Brodeur said. "The last couple of days, especially coming into Montreal was hectic with press conferences and a lot of people and family around.

"I was happy to do it and not disappoint anybody."

Roy, who ended his Hall of Fame career in 2003 with the Colorado Avalanche after playing with the Canadiens for more than a decade, was in attendance and had met Brodeur earlier.

Brodeur missed nearly four months after elbow surgery earlier this season but since returning on February 26 has posted a 7-1-0 record and helped the Devils into second place in the Eastern Conference.

The 36-year-old Brodeur improved his record to 13-3-2 this season and can break Roy's record on Tuesday against Chicago.

"Hockey is all about winning," Brodeur said. "When you're the one with the most wins, right now I share it with Patrick, it says a lot about your career and says a lot about the organisation you're playing for."

Brodeur is also just three shut outs away from tying Terry Sawchuk's career shut out record of 103.

Elias and Brian Rolston scored first period goals for the Devils, while Jamie Langenbrunner added their final goal at 12:57 of the third period.

Montreal's Tomas Plekanec's scored the home side's goal midway through the first period.

The sold out crowd of 21,273 gave Brodeur a lengthy standing ovation and chanted his name while he pumped a fist and raised his stick at the final buzzer.

"Our relationship with the fans in Montreal always has been pretty good throughout the years even though I play on the other side," Brodeur said.

"Today I think they recognised what I did. To me growing up in Montreal, getting a standing ovation in Montreal, it's pretty cool."

More results:

Philadelphia 4-2 NY Rangers

Boston 2-1 NY Islanders

St Louis 2-5 Detroit

Pittsburgh 3-4 (SO) Ottawa

Buffalo 3-4 (SO) Atlanta

Washington 5-4 (SO) Carolina

Florida 3-4 (SO) Tampa Bay

Toronto 8-6 Calgary

Dallas 3-2 (OT) Minnesota

San Jose 2-1 (SO) Los Angeles

Phoenix 0-2 Nashville

Edmonton 2-3 (OT) Colorado

Reuters