Brent Sutter put family ahead of passion and while some in New Jersey were angered, the Devils understood and now just into the 3 quarter mark of the season the Flame bench boss faces his former team for the first time.

   After two seasons where he skippered the Devils to 106pt last season and 99pt in ’08-09, Sutter finally gets to coach again his former team.

   …And he’s in no mood to show his gratitude to Lou Lamoriello for letting him out of the final year of his contract.

   Sutter’s Flames needs points as they set to meet the #3 team in the East on Friday night.

   With one win in 5 games, the Flames were 9th in the West in what is becoming an increasingly crowded scramble for the final playoff spots.

    The Flames are one point behind Detroit for 8th place.  While its unwise to look behind, the fact is St. Louis has tied the Flames with 69pt.  Dallas is one point behind and Anaheim just 2 in arrears and Minnesota is 3pt back. That’s 4pt separating 6 teams with just one playoff spot presently available.  Nashville, which plays in Detroit tonight, is in 7th place with 5 more points that the Red Wings

    Having been shutout 4 times since Jan. 15 — all of them at home — Sutter has made it clear his troops must work hard in order to put the puck in the net.  It may not be easy tonight since they’ll face the NHL’s all-time goalie leader in wins, shutouts and games played, Martin Brodeur.

   Brodeur won his first game back with the Devils on Wednesday since relinguishing the Team Canada #1 goalie position to Roberto Luongo at the Olympics last week.

   Flames hit the road for 2 after their date with the Devils. 

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