After missing nearly four months following elbow surgery, New Jersey goaltender Martin Brodeur returned in fine style. The future Hall of Famer stopped 24 shots in a 4-0 win over Colorado Thursday night. He was sharp despite missing 50 games, as he was called on to make a few tough saves in each of the first two periods.

It was Brodeur’s third shutout in just 11 games this season, and it gave him 99 for his career. Hall of Famer Terry Sawchuk, with 103 shutouts, is the only goalie to reach triple digits, and Brodeur is one away.

All-Time Leaders in Shutouts

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Years. . . . . . GP. . . . . . . ShO
Terry Sawchuk. . . . . .(1949-70). . . . .971. . . . . . . .103
Martin Brodeur. . . . . (1991-08). . . . .979. . . . . . . . 99
George Hainsworth. . .(1926-37). . . . .465. . . . . . . . 94
Glenn Hall. . . . . . . . .(1952-71). . . . .906. . . . . . . . 84
Jacques Plante. . . . . (1952-73). . . . .837. . . . . . . . 82

The only goaltenders of Brodeur’s era to come close to his shutout total are Dominik Hasek and Ed Belfour, each with 81. Next is Patrick Roy with 66. Although Brodeur has played on a perennial contender that has been a defensive juggernaut for much of his career, his 99 shutouts are quite an accomplishment.

Speaking of Roy, with New Jersey’s win over the Avalanche, Brodeur reached 545 victories to close within six of tying Roy’s NHL record. He is a good bet to surpass Roy’s total before the season ends.