Scott Clemmensen cautiously confirmed that he will start Game 4 against the Devils Thursday night at the Prudential Center.

After the morning skate, in which he was the first Panthers goalie off the ice, Clemmensen spoke about facing his former team.

"I'll be ready. Thirty-four years old and (making) my first start in the playoffs," Clemmensen said. "I've felt very much a part of this team all year long. I've played pretty much regularly all year long.

"As I told you before Game 1, I expected to play some and contribute regardless if it was getting thrown into a game or starting a game, and obviously that is what is happening here. For me it's just about going out there and playing my game. Obviously it's the playoffs and things are going to get amped up a little bit, but our team is going to do the same."

Clemmensen, who is 5-0 against the Devils (including Tuesday night's playoff win), said he will enjoy playing in The Rock.

"It's a building I like playing in," Clemmensen said. "I like these fans. They're a lot of fun. I don't care how loud they boo me, I love them."

Devils coach Pete DeBoer said he remembers Clemmensen getting pumped up for games against his former team when he coached him in Florida.

"Sure, you're playing your old team," DeBoer said. "I can remember him playing well against New Jersey. I think the stats bear that out. So I recall that."

Clemmensen offered his view.

"It does add a unique flavor when you play against your former team. Everyone is going to tell you that," Clemmensen said. "It doesn't make my try any harder to win. I don't want to win any more against these guys than I do against someone else. I'm not going to try harder against them.

"At the same time you want things to go well. I have so much respect for those guys over there and I want them to respect me back. How do you do that? You do it by playing well. At the same time, my record against them is a little bit of a coincidence. I have a similar record against Montreal. I never played for Montreal. You always want to win every game you play.

"I've played two games against (the Devils) this season. Once in the regular season and once in the playoffs. They both happened to go my way. I hope future games go that way, too, but I'm not going to put a lot of stock into what's happened in the past."

Clemmensen, of course, saved the Devils' 2008-09 season by winning 25 games after Martin Brodeur went down with a serious forearm injury. Does he feel he received enough credit from the Devils?

"It's a privilege to play in this league and to play professional hockey. They give you an opportunity to play. That's enough for me. To be a part of that team that year was a lot of fun. I have a lot of good friends still that play on that team or have moved on.

"It was very rewarding, a very memorable season for me. You don't need a special thanks from anyone. Just an opportunity to be there and be a part of it was great."

Zach Parise said Clemmensen's technique is better than when he played for the Devils.

"Absolutely," Clemmensen said. "I've worked on a number of different things since leaving the Devils and I think I've grown as a goalie since then. I think there is no question I'm a better goalie now than I was three years ago when I played for these guys.

"There are some things, but I don't really want to get into it because I don't want to tell them what my strengths are. If they want to analyze it they can do that. I think my overall game, every part of it, is better. But there were holes that needed to be plugged and needed to be improved since I joined the Panthers. I've worked very hard and I feel very comfortable in those areas now as opposed to when I played here."

Clemmensen was asked if he ever wondered if, at this time in their careers, he is a better goalie than Brodeur.

"No, not really. This league is so hard to win (in). Everyone is so good. I don't care if you are in your prime, you are entering your prime or you're past your prime. I respect everyone in the league.

"I know most of the goalies in this league, when everything is said and done, I can't even come close to their career numbers. Marty's career and resume speaks for itself. I can't compete with that. But on any given night I believe I can beat Marty. I believe I can beat anyone.

"If I'm playing against him tonight, I feel I can beat him tonight. That's all I care about. Obviously our career are not going to match up. I'm not worried about that."

He was, at one point, stereotyped as a career backup.

"Turning pro I played in the minors against pretty much every goalie in the (NHL). I thought I was just as good, if not better, than them at that time and they have moved on and gotten different opportunities," Clemmensen reflected. "I believe I've done very well with the hand I was dealt. I wasn't dealt the same kind of hand. I haven't gotten the same opportunities that they have been given. I'm not a guy that's going to complain and be bitter about it.

"You play the hand you're dealt and do the best you can with that. I believe I've basically maximized my hand value. Call it what you will, if it's being pigeonholed or stuck behind a future Hall of Famer for a number of years. There is truth to that and there is nothing wrong with me saying that was the situation. But at the same time I'm not a guy who complains about things like that. You get an opportunity, do the best you can, you get in where you fit in and I'm going to try to play in this league as long as I possibly can."

Brodeur spoke of his former backup.

"He's a great guy. He worked real hard," Brodeur said. "He's a real good goalie. When I got hurt he was able to get in the net there. He didn't start the season with us. He was in the minors and he worked pretty hard and got himself back here. He went through Weeksie (Kevin Weekes) to get the No. 1 job and did really well.

"That got him a nice little contract in Florida that he's taking advantage of right now. It's kind of nice when you see guys who are taking a back seat working hard and getting a chance to have success."

Clemmensen knows the Devils well.

"It helps a little bit but I don't think it's the deciding factor of the series or the reason that we win, because I know some tendencies," he said. "If I do know something I'm not going to keep it a secret. I'm going to tell Jose (Theodore) or the guys, too. Obviously you do know certain tendencies but, for the most part, I don't think that's a huge factor."

Clemmensen has won some big games down the stretch for Florida.

"I believe I'm playing my best hockey right now," he said.

On the fact that it will be his first career playoff start, Clemmensen said: "To passively say, 'It's the playoffs, who care?' That's just not right because the NHL playoffs is something special to be part of. Obviously I experienced it a little bit with the Devils (one relief appearance for Brodeur on May 6, 2006), but not as a major contributing factor as I can be with this team. It's a privilege to play in this league and to play in the playoffs in particular."

He said he doesn't change his preparation but expects to be nervous. He also expects to reflect on his time in New Jersey during the anthem.

"Yes. I think there is always a little bit of nerves regardless of what the situation is," he said. "I believe tonight the crowd is going to be rocking.

"We want to win tonight's game and go home 3-1 back in Florida. If you can paint a perfect picture, that's obviously what it would bed for us tonight. How it goes is up to us and up to fate a little bit. Things don't always work out as you plan it.

"I think both teams have learned in this series the momentum swings can be dramatic. If you have a three-goal lead or you're down by three goals you have to keep playing. I think both teams realize the importance of that. We happened to come out on top in two of the three games but it's still anyone's series."

In Game 3, Clemmensen replaced Theodore. Brodeur was pulled for Johan Hedberg.

"I don't believe it will effect him too much," Clemmensen said of Brodeur, "with his mentality and his personality and obviously the experience he has. He's a guy that has weathered more than a few storms and knows how to bounce back. I don't have to speak for him."

Brodeur said: "It's a new day. That's playoff hockey."

Are they friends?

"Yes. We're friends," Clemmensen said. "I don't have his number and we don't talk on the phone a lot, but when I see him we say hi and we chat. He treated me very well when I was here, as did everyone."

For more Devils coverage, follow Rich Chere on Twitter at twitter.com/Ledger_NJDevils

Rich Chere: rchere@starledger.com

