Brian Gionta

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Gionta's time with the Devils was marked by his role on the "EGG" line with Patrik Eliáš and Scott Gomez, a unit that drove the team's offense. On October 27, 2007, Gionta scored the first Devils' goal in the history of the Prudential Center in the second period of a 4–1 loss to Ottawa. (Chris Neil scored the first ever.) During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, he played for the Devils' American Hockey League affiliate, the Albany River Rats. In 2006, he was a member of the 2006 United States' men's team that competed in Turin, Italy. Gionta's 48-goal season in 2005–06 remains a Devils franchise record for most goals in a season. He also holds the franchise all-time power play goal-scoring record in one season, with 24, as of 2011.

In Their Own Story

The last game of the 2005–06 season. The Devils needed a win, and Gionta needed one more goal to break Pat Verbeek's franchise record. He found it, finishing with 48 goals on the season, a mark that still stands as the Devils' single-season record. That year he also posted his highest point total, 89, playing all 82 games. Earlier, on October 27, 2007, the Devils opened their new home, the Prudential Center. In the second period, Gionta scored the first Devils goal in the building's history, though the team fell 4–1 to Ottawa. Over 473 regular-season games and 67 playoff games with New Jersey, Gionta was a constant, reliable presence, culminating in a Stanley Cup win in 2003.

Reader's Guide

Brian Gionta joined the New Jersey Devils during the 2001–02 season and was a member of the 2003 Stanley Cup-winning team. He played 473 regular season games in total for New Jersey, in addition to 67 Stanley Cup Playoff games. As part of the Devils' prolific "EGG" line – along with Patrik Eliáš and Scott Gomez – Gionta was an offensive catalyst. In the last game of the 2005–06 season, Gionta broke Pat Verbeek's franchise record for goals in a season, finishing with 48. In that season, he also finished with his highest point total to date, with 89 in all 82 games of the regular season. On October 27, 2007, Gionta scored the first Devils' goal in the history of the Prudential Center. As of 2011, Gionta holds the franchise all-time power play goal-scoring record in one season, with 24.

Did You Know?

• Gionta broke Pat Verbeek's franchise record for goals in a season with 48 in 2005–06.
• He scored the first Devils goal in the history of the Prudential Center on October 27, 2007.
• As of 2011, Gionta holds the Devils' franchise all-time power play goal-scoring record in one season, with 24.
• Gionta played 473 regular season games and 67 playoff games for New Jersey.
• He was a member of the 2003 Stanley Cup-winning Devils team.