--The Devils opened last season with nine straight road games before opening their new Prudential Center. They opened the new season at home Friday night and go to Pittsburgh Saturday for the first road game.

--The club needed a temporary certificate of occupancy from the city of Newark to be able to play the opener as they try to finish off negotiations on a construction code dispute that actually closed Prudential Center at one time over the summer.

--The Devils have scored two goals or fewer in 11 of their last 12 regular season games.

--The opener drew 16,834, 791 shy of a sellout.

--The Devils were 1-6-1 against the Islanders last season. "We did really bad against these guys," said Martin Brodeur. "That really hits home... This is a new year."

--New Jersey was 1-for-5 on the power play Friday night, 5-for-6 on the penalty kill.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"Marty is Marty. He's the best goalie of all time. He was awesome again tonight, and unfortunately, that is what everyone is expecting of him." --Devils center Brian Rolston, again a teammate of Brodeur's, after Brodeur led the Devils to their opening night win.

Copyright (C) 2008 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.