NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur is expected to miss up to four months after undergoing elbow surgery.
The 36-year-old Brodeur will undergo surgery Thursday to repair the distal bicep in the left elbow, the Devils said Tuesday.
"This is not a career-ending injury," Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello said. "This is a bump in the road. (He'll have) a total recovery, 100 per cent and with this type of surgery there is no doubt about (it) and I have total confidence that he will be back in a short period of time."
Brodeur was injured Saturday against Atlanta. He made five saves before leaving the game 6:38 into the second period and was relieved by Kevin Weekes, who posted 14 stops as Brodeur picked up career win No. 544.
Brodeur has won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender four times, including last season when he posted a 44-27-6 record and a 2.17 goals-against average.
Weekes replaced Brodeur on Monday night against Buffalo and lost 2-0 for New Jersey's fourth loss in five games.
Brodeur had started every Devils game since Jan. 3, including the final 41 regular season games last season, all five playoff games and the team's first 10 games this season.
His seven seasons with 40 or more wins are an NHL record, and his 2.20 career goals-against average is the lowest in the NHL's modern era.
The 15-year veteran has led the Devils to three Stanley Cups in a career that has him on the verge of surpassing Patrick Roy's NHL record for career wins. Brodeur is within seven wins of tying Roy's record of 551, and he is five shutouts away from tying Terry Sawchuk's NHL record of 103.
