Well, well, well. The Masters odds loom and the New Jersey Devils are playing like they’d rather be at home watching golf than playing playoff hockey. Luckily for them, they built a big enough division lead that they’ll still be very active in the Stanley Cup odds. But you have to wonder if Scott Clemmensen is smiling in his AHL prison right now.

Martin Brodeur returned about a month ago with flair and NHL betting fans were rejoicing. But some people — myself included — wondered what the shakeup, not to mention Scott Clemmensen’s unceremonious demotion, would do to the Devils’ chemistry.

Now, they’ve lost six in a row — included an embarrassing 6-1 drubbing against Pittsburgh last night — and there’s no sign that the bleeding will stop. It’s only natural to wonder if Brodeur’s return made the team sit back a bit to admire the work they did in his absence.

In the end, I say New Jersey bounces back. Brent Sutter is a great coach and Marty will find a way to recover. But Devils fans’ have to worry about their Stanley Cup betting hopes right now. A lot will depend on whom they face in the first round.

Apparently, March Madness odds don’t always have to mean basketball. They can just mean crazy stuff happening all over the online sports betting universe, and hockey is no exception.

Who could’ve predicted at the offshore sportsbook that Martin Brodeur would have a chance to tie Patrick Roy’s all-time career wins record in Montreal? That’s what’s going down this Saturday in the Devils vs Canadiens line. Pretty awesome. Well, it would be pretty awesome if Brodeur was actually one win behind Roy.

They must put something funny in the water in Montreal. First, the franchise is calling 2008-2009 its “centennial season” even though it’s the 99th, probably because it stands to lose so many free agents this summer and wanted to win the Stanley Cup odds in its magical “100th” season. Now, we have Brodeur supposedly tying Pat Roy’s wins record under phony conditions.

Why does no one acknowledge the shootout era when discussing wins records in NHL betting? It’s garbage. Patrick Roy never played in the shootout era and thus had far fewer chances to win. Some online betting fans will claim that “Martin Brodeur earned all those wins by stoning people in shootouts,” but to say that is to completely miss the point. Yes, every Brodeur shootout win is impressive compared to the records of other goalies who played during the shootout era. But Patrick Roy never even got the chance to earn extra wins in the shootout. Instead, games ended in ties after 65 minutes. Who knows how many more he could’ve won had he played in shootouts?

In my mind, Roy is still the record holder until we confirm that Brodeur passes him in non-shootout wins. That day will come too, but it won’t be as soon as most NHL betting fans think.

Forget his great numbers for just a second.  NHL betting fans should know, based solely on the fact that this is my third post about him in the last two months, that Scott Clemmensen has been a revelation for the Devils this season — and for online betting fans who stuck with New Jersey sans Martin Brodeur.

OK, back to the numbers:

- 39 starts

- 25-13-1 record

- 2.39 GAA

- .917 save percentage

- two shutouts

Those aren’t just stopgap numbers; those are viable starting netminder numbers. That makes it all the more painful to see that the Devils just demoted Clemmensen to the AHL upon Brodeur’s return from injury. I knew Brodeur would get his job back, but who would’ve predicted this shabby treatment at the sportsbook?

I understand Lou Lamoriello’s logic from a franchise standpoint; (a) Marty is your all-time greatest player, so he naturally gets the reins back as soon as he’s ready and (b) You risk losing Kevin Weekes since he has to clear waivers to be sent down, so Clemmensen has to go.

Long-term, though, is this the right move? Now you piss off Clemmensen, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and virtually assure he won’t be back as insurance to Marty. Maybe the Devils already know that or maybe they plan to deal one of their backup goalies very soon, but it’s still a risky move considering that Marty isn’t guaranteed to stay healthy the rest of the year. Wouldn’t you rather lose Kevin Weekes than Scott Clemmensen at this point? Those who bet on hockey should watch Brodeur closely, as his play could really affect the Devils’ nightly online betting prospects if he gets the lion’s share of starts going forward.

How badly do you think Dana White is sweating about his job security heading into the UFC 95 odds?

Sorry - WAY off topic. Thinking ahead to the weekend. Let me rephrase that question:

How badly to you think the New Jersey Devils wish the playoffs started today? Some hockey betting fans think they’re the top Stanley Cup odds contender now. Can you argue against them considering the Devils dethroned San Jose on the weekend?

I can’t believe I’m about to utter these words, online betting fans…

Martin. Brodeur’s. Return. Could. Be. The. Worst. Thing. To. Happen. To. The. Devils. This. Season.

We’ve all heard it before…if you read Bill Simmons, you know about the “Patrick Ewing theory” — when a team overcompensates and plays better without its star and mentally “relaxes” once he returns. I can’t help but think Martin Brodeur’s return will put the Devils in more serious Ewing-theory jeopardy than any sports team in recent memory.

Scott Clemmensen is still playing quite well, the offense is rolling, with two effective scoring lines…I’d bet at the sportsbook that Brodeur’s return will at least screw things up temporarily. If New Jersey can readjust to Marty, though…they’ll win the Eastern final and qualify for Stanley Cup betting.

Enough serious talk. If you’re a hockey fan, this video, upon which I just stumbled (don’t ask), has to make you nostalgic for the NHL’s early 1990s heyday.

Put the Super Bowl XLIII betting chatter on the back burner for just a moment. Something crazy is happening in NHL betting.

Let’s a play a trivia game.

The Devils are 29-15-3. They’re first in the Atlantic division. Patrick Elias is averaging well over a point per game. Their stalwart netminder is 19-9-1 with a 2.29 GAA and .922 save percentage.

…OK, NHL betting players. What year is it?

If you said any year from 1994-2008, you’re WRONG. Those are the Devils’ current season stats. The superb goalie numbers belong to the immortal Scott Clemmensen.

That’s right — the Devils are doin’ it all without Martin Brodeur.

What the hell? Weren’t they supposed to tank without him? Wasn’t Marty on the fast track to becoming the best goalie of all time?

Sheesh…maybe it was the defense after all. I’ve always had just a tiny inkling that Brodeur was a bit overrated, and this only fuels the fire. Those who bet on hockey must be worried too, though we won’t really know the truth unless the Devils have to play without Marty in the playoffs…