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For being the best goaltender in the world, Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils has throughout his career let in goals that defy that reputation. We're not just talking about bad goals; we're talking about goaltending blunders on an epic scale. Remember that Sandis Ozolinsh shot from center ice that beat Brodeur in Game 3 of the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals against Anaheim? I'm pretty sure that fat kid who played goalie in "The Mighty Ducks" could have had that one.

When Brodeur lets in a bad goal, out come the critics who want to knock him off his pedestal. After he offers up a putrid performance, especially in the playoffs, out come the bashers who claim he's simply the product of a defensive system - a goalie who build his reputation playing behind two guys named Scott for a decade.

The four first-period goals he surrendered against Ottawa in Game 1 weren't all his fault, but Brodeur didn't exactly look all that sharp, either. All four pucks flew past him high to the glove side, which naturally leads to questions about Brodeur being tired, having just played his 85th game of the season. Like I said, it's all been heard before by Brodeur, whose happy-go-lucky demeanor usually produces quotes like this one, uttered after the Game 1 loss: "After a tough first period, we made it pretty good hockey game. It was tough. There were a lot of deflections and things like that. I'd like to have Corvo's back, that's for sure. There were some lucky bounces. Not much you can do."

There's an interesting passage in "Brodeur: Beyond the Crease," the autobiography co-authored by the goalie and Toronto Star columnist Damien Cox, that deals with how Marty bounces back from bad goals or performances:

My mindset has always been to take responsibility for my game and my teammates, but at the same time I have to put my part of the game in perspective. I've always found it interesting that fans will blame a goalie for a certain goal, but if a shooter fans on an open net, that's not viewed as a similarly serious error. That's how I overcome bad goals. I realize I can't put it all on my shoulders. If possible, I want to put myself in a position where I can make the save that makes the difference, because I'm not going to stop them all. The worst thing I can ever do is start doubting myself, or stop believing in what I'm doing. Even in the worst circumstances, I try not to do that.

I don't doubt that Brodeur is going to look like a Vezina winner again before this series is over. After all, in the same series he gave up that Ozolinsh goal from center ice, he also pitched a 3-0 shutout in Game 7 to win the Stanley Cup.