When the Devils play host to the Hurricanes tonight in Newark, Martin Brodeur will be in net. It’s his third consecutive start. The 41-year old legend has turned back the clock accounting for seven of the team’s nine wins. In 14 starts, Brodeur has posted a 2.06 GAA, .916 save percentage and two shutouts. Outstanding numbers for a player who basically admitted a month earlier that he probably wasn’t going to play much.

During the offseason, Lou Lamoriello’s biggest move was acquiring Cory Schneider from the Canucks in exchange for a first round pick (Bo Horvat). The trade stunned the home crowd at last year’s Draft- sending shock waves across the hockey world.  At the time, he indicated that the 27-year old Schneider was the goalie of the future. Something Brodeur reiterated while vowing to come into camp ready to compete for the number one spot.

Everyone knew at some point, there’d be a goalie controversy. Something Schneider is quite familiar with having backed up Roberto Luongo. There were moments where he replaced Luongo leading to speculation Vancouver would keep him while moving the embattled number one goalie with the big contract. Instead, they reversed course stunning both. Schneider came to New Jersey hoping to be the man most nights. Early on when Brodeur struggled, it looked like it was his job. But an injury allowed Marty to get more starts and turn it around. Despite a brilliant performance in a win over the Kings, Schneider sat out the last two including Monday’s 3-1 loss to Winnipeg. A point not lost on Devil blogger Hasan.

The move was confusing. Why overplay Brodeur when you have a great second option? For the season, Schneider has two wins in 10 starts. That’s mostly due to a lack of support. Despite a 2-5-3 record, he’s posted a miniscule 1.87 GAA, .926 save percentage and one shutout. Perhaps that explains his puzzlement after learning Brodeur would again man the Devil net tonight.

“It’s Groundhog Day for me. I can’t seem to escape it,” Schneider told The Star Ledger’s Rich Chere this morning. “I’m just trying to work hard and do what I can. I’d just like to see the ice a little but more, that’s all.”

“No. Again, Marty is playing really well. He’s got the net and he’s running with it,” he reiterated. “It’s part of the game. But I just feel at this point in my career it’s something where I’d just like to play more. I am frustrated.”

Picture Schneider as Bill Murray in Groundhog Day as the frustrated weatherman whose day repeats over and over again. Except the story is different with the goalie unable to escape a situation where he rides the pine too much. This is a former ’04 first round pick who’s only appeared in 108 career games. He’s 57-31-11 with a 2.17 GAA, .927 save percentage and 10 shutouts. Outstanding numbers befitting of a number one goalie. Unfortunately, he’s never started more than 30 games in a season establishing a career high last year with the Canucks. He won 17 games with a 2.11 GAA, .927 save percentage with a career best five shutouts. Yet wound up traded.

It’s understandable why he’s upset. For Schneider, it’s more of the same. But he knew that going in. The Devils goaltending has been strong with each netminder doing their part. It’s the offense that’s held them back. Even with Jaromir Jagr leading them in scoring, it’s not enough. Adam Henrique and Michael Ryder have five goals and Damien Brunner (4-3-7) expressed frustration after being a scratch again.

“We knew with two starting goaltenders that we were going to get in situations where we were going to have to make tough decisions and this is one of them,” Pete DeBoer said. “Having said that, there are going to be plenty of games for both. If you look at our schedule, we’re in the middle right now of seven in 11 nights and it doesn’t get any easier in December. So I’m comfortable they’re both going to get plenty of opportunity to play.”

Of course, DeBoer’s right. There are plenty of back-to-backs that’ll require Schneider to be ready. It’s still a good situation to be in. With arguably the best goalie tandem in the NHL, goaltending shouldn’t be cause for concern in Jersey.