Devils G Martin Brodeur credited with goal in return to lineup

New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur (30) and teammate Marek Zidlicky (2), of the Czech Republic, defend the goal against Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal (11) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, March 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

2013-03-21 20:15:00

RALEIGH, N.C. - New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur was credited with his third NHL goal when Carolina's Jordan Staal accidently put the puck in his own empty net.

Brodeur returned to the lineup on Thursday night. He had been out since Feb. 21 with a pinched nerve in his back and neck.

With a delayed penalty call pending against New Jersey's Marek Zidlicky, Staal passed the puck back to the point from behind the net.

The pass missed intended target Tim Gleason and bounced off the boards near centre ice. Carolina goalie Dan Ellis had already skated toward the bench because of the delayed penalty and couldn't get back in time to prevent the puck from sliding into the net.

Because he was the last Devils player to touch the puck, Brodeur got credit for a power-play goal.