Step aside Martin, there’s a new Brodeur in town. Distant relative Mike has made the NHL and is ready for action. Called up as an emergency replacement for injured teammate Pascal Leclaire, Brodeur has filled the backup role exceptionally, shutting out the Rangers on Jan. 14, then allowing just two goals to the Canadiens on Jan. 16. Brodeur’s only other NHL experience was his debut on Dec. 19 against the Minnesota Wild where he stopped 22 of 23 shots. He was credited with the “W” on all three occasions.

The native of Calgary, Alberta was born on Mar. 30, 1983. He grew up and played goalie for a number of teams in the ECHL and the AHL before being drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks 211th overall in the 2003 Entry Draft. He was called for a day in 2008 to the Hawks, but did not play. After the 2008-09 season, he signed a one-year contract with the Senators, where he joined their AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Senators.

The Senators’ better performance can be directly attributed to Brodeur’s arrival. The team hasn’t allowed two or less goals in consecutive games since Dec. 26 and Dec. 28 against Buffalo and Montreal. The last time they had consecutive wins was Dec. 31 and Jan. 3 against the Islanders and the Flyers. Brodeur’s successful first step into the NHL has not gone unnoticed by the rest of the league. He can expect to see regular action going forward until Leclaire returns from his concussion injury.

Brodeur’s cup of coffee in the NHL has been a pleasant one for Sens fans, but it’s too early to say whether or not this guy is the real deal, and it’s at least a decade too early to determine if this guy can be compared to his distant relative in New Jersey. For the time being, he’s only 583 wins and 106 shutouts behind the National Hockey League’s most successful goaltender. Let the comparisons begin.