Live from N.J.: Torts decided on Biron before All-Star break

By Steve ZipayJanuary 31, 2012

Nice to be back from an all-too-brief break in the Caribbean. Insert saracasm here.

And it's always swell to be in Newark for a Devs-Rangers matchup, and tonight's will have a different look. No Henrik Lundqvist vs. Martin Brodeur!!

As we've reported on Twitter, it's Marty B. vs Marty B, as Rangers backup Martin Biron will be the first Rangers goaltender to start vs the Devils since Kevin Weekes back on Dec. 17, 2006 , a 6-1 Devils' win. The stretch covers 32 rergular-season games and five playoff games.

Rangers coach John Tortorella said the call was made before Lundqvist played in the NHL All-Star Game on Sunday.

"I made this decision even before the All-Star break," Tortorella said afetr the Blueshirts skated at The Rock this morning. "It's hard, especially for Hank. He's pulled 10 different ways. He's a goalie. I wanted to make sure he got two good practices under his belt. I thought he was just going to take one, because I didn't think he was going to skate yesterday. But he wanted to. It gives Ben (goaltender coach Benoit Allaire) a chance to get him in a good situation. I think it's helped him to practice at a high level all the time."

Biron, who missed the Winnipeg game at the Garden last Tuesday becasue of the flu, said he figured he was going to start one of the two games of this back-to-back (Newark tonight, Buffalo tomorrow), but didn't know and didn't care. He said facing 'a familiar foe" would add to the intensity and that would be a positive for both teams coming off the hiatus.

So it's Biron first go-round as a Ranger. He did start against the Devils as an Islander on April 10, 2010, a 7-1 loss against Brodeur.

Biron, who also has played with Buffalo and Philadelphia, has appeared in 30 games against the Devils and is 8-15-2-2 against the Devils.