Martin Brodeur is ready to drop the puck. 

After closing out training camp on Friday, the Devils boarded the bus to Long Island, where they'll open the season Saturday against the Islanders.

As short as camp was, it was enough for Brodeur, who's anxious to get the 48-game schedule started.

"We're used to these long training camps, but that five days was pretty long to me, too," Brodeur said. "I'm happy that we're starting.

Brodeur will get the call in net, extending his NHL record by starting his 18th straight season opener with the same team.

"This is where you start your journey," he said. "It's going to start (Saturday) night. The journey is to try to get ourselves into the playoffs first, and after that, challenging for a Stanley Cup. It's always special to start the season, regardless of it's a shortened season or any kind of season. We're under way now, so it's great."

A quick start to the year will be key.

"It's important," said Brodeur. "I think you want to feel good right away about yourself, about your team, about what you think you're able to accomplish. We have kind of a slow start in a cramped season. We don't play as many games early as other teams (do). We play one game, then two days off, another game, two days off. We're looking forward to getting ourselves going. It starts (Saturday) with a big effort in Long Island."

Head coach Pete DeBoer is ready, too. After the long wait, his club is eager to defend its Eastern Conference title.

"Our guys are ready to go," DeBoer said. "They're hungry. They got a good taste of it last year, and I think when you get a taste of it, you want to get back and get the whole thing."

• 2012 first-round pick Stefan Matteau is on the roster and was assigned No. 15.

• DeBoer explained that this year's power play will feature "a significantly different philosophy" under the guidance of assistant coach Matt Shaw.

"In the simplest form, this is a shooting power play," he said. "It's about generating shots more than clean looks at the net."

• Jacob Josefson (rest) did not practice Friday, but is expected to play Saturday.

"He's going to travel with us. I believe he'll play, but we're going to see how he feels in the morning," DeBoer said.

Josefson is nursing a foot injury that, while sore, likely won't keep him out of game action. DeBoer was comfortable with resting him Thursday and Friday.

"A guy that's played 30 games in the American League up to this point, I'm not worried about seeing him in practice for an extra hour," DeBoer said. "I want to have him ready to go for (Saturday)."

• Bobby Butler was placed on waivers and did not travel to Long Island.

• Harri Pesonen, Tim Sestito and Mattias Tedenby were assigned to Albany (AHL).