After being called up to the American Hockey League on April 1, 2000, by the Louisville Panthers, Godard was involved in his first professional fight taking on Todd Fedoruk of the Philadelphia Phantoms.

Godard never played for the NHL Panthers though and on June 22, 2002, was traded to the New York Islanders for a third-round selection (previously acquired – Gregory Campbell).

Godard played only occasionally for the rest of season, bouncing back and forth between the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL and the Islanders.

During the NHL lockout in 2004–05, Godard rejoined the Sound Tigers in the AHL playing 75 games, scoring 18 points, and adding 295 penalty minutes.

In the 2005–06 NHL season Godard set career highs in games with 57 and also reached 100 penalty minutes for the first time (finishing with 115).

Godard did not play a game in the NHL in the 2011–12 season, assigned to the Stars AHL affiliate in Texas for the duration of the year.