SUNRISE, Fla. -- John Madden kept in touch with former Devils teammate Martin Brodeur until soon after he signed with the Florida Panthers on Dec. 29.



Then the phone calls and texts stopped.



"I just kept looking at the standings, and the way it was playing out there was a good possibility we'd be playing each in the playoffs," Madden told The Star-Ledger. "Prior to that, I'd text him after he had a good game or just to say hello. But I figured I couldn't do that anymore."



Brodeur said: "Since he came back into the league I haven't talked to him much. When he was looking for a job I was talking to him a lot. When he got the job I think he got busy so he stopped calling.



"We get along real well. We're really good friend. He's always going to be a friend. Right now we're going through a series where we're playing against each other. He's definitely going to try to score on me and I'm going to try to stop him. I'm not in his face talking to him, hitting him or him hitting me. It's kind of fun to play against each other a little bit."



Madden, 38, will face his longtime friend when the Devils face the Panthers in Game 1 of their playoff series Friday night at BankAtlantic Center.



"I'm proud to be back in the playoffs. Anybody would be," Madden said. "I'm just trying to help this team out in any way. Anything I can give the guys, I'll pass it along. Like any tendencies the Devils have as a team.



"There's obviously a certain way they play. I know. I grew up in that system and I feel what I knew is style the basis of how they play. It goes without saying that I have inside information. If I have anything to share, I will. You can also look at Pete (DeBoer). There's not much more inside information than from a guy who coached a team for three years."



Inside info?



"I'm not worried about it," Brodeur said. "He hasn't played with me for a long time. I've changed a little bit since he's played with me."



After playing last season with the Wild but getting no contract offers in the offseason, Madden figured his career might be over. But Panthers GM Dale Tallon, who had signed him in Chicago, called again.



"I was in Minnesota wondering if my career was over," Madden said. "Now I'm in the playoffs again."



While he would say nothing less, Madden believes the Panthers can beat the Devils.



"We're good. We're real good," he said. "We don't really have any high end superstars like Ilya Kovalchuk or Zach Parise, or a Hall of Fame goalie like Marty, but we can win. I think we match up well with the Devils. We have to go out and prove it."



Winning is the goal, but Madden is happy for the chance to play in the postseason.



"Especially considering I didn't think I was going to play this year," he said. "And I'll be going against the organization that gave me my first opportunity. It's definitely a unique situation, but it's hockey as usual and I'm part of the Florida Panthers."



Since leaving the Devils, Madden won a Stanley Cup in Chicago. The Panthers don't compare on paper to the 2010 Blackhawks, but Madden has enjoyed playing in south Florida.



"The fans have been real solid all year long," he said. "You hear terrible things. I was actually surprised how many fans we do have. I think it's great."



He may have some inside information on the Devils, but Madden says Brodeur is still capable of carrying a team in the playoffs.



"Absolutely. I have no doubt in my mind," the center said. "He rises to these occasions. He's still Marty Brodeur."



Indeed, just one playoff victory away from 100 for his career.



"Yeah, it would be nice. It's durability," Brodeur said. "For me to able to start so many playoff games in a row is also what I take some pride in. Injury-wise, I was really blessed. Confidence-wise, for my team, I was blessed also to put me in there year and year out. Shutouts and that just comes with a lot of games and winning a lot of games."

Rich Chere: rchere@starledger.com; twitter.com/Ledger_NJDevils