The night Devils coach Robbie Ftorek tossed a bench on the ice at Joe Louis Arena in January 2000 detonated a chain reaction of events that exploded right up to the front office.
In the end New Jersey's five-star general, Lou Lamoriello, would devise the strategy following Ftorek's one-game suspension and forward Jay Pandolfo's 82-stitch injury to his face and head.
Lamoriello remained tight-lipped in the aftermath of that 3-1 loss to Detroit although critics lambasted referee Steve Wolkom for never calling a penalty on the bludgeoning of Pando.
For starters, Lou meticulously examined his club's four months of hockey. Now, in February 2000, he had to blueprint a plan for the homestretch.
"There was a lot to like," Lamoriello asserted, "especially the work of the rookies. Every one of them has helped the club in some meaningful way."
The Near Fatal Homestretch of 1999-00 | SUNDAYS WITH STAN
Devils GM Lamoriello assembled a good squad, but near the end of the season, he decided a change was needed
No argument on that.
What Larrupin' Lou did was evenly spread his freshman at every position but goal. And with super-netminder Martin Brodeur and seasoned backup Christ Terreri, New Jersey boasted the best netminding in the league. So far, so good for each of the following:
SCOTT GOMEZ: A hat trick, against the hated Rangers at Madison Square Garden no less, was just one feather in the Alaskan's hat. His youthful fire and energy was the perfect spark for the team. Reporters invariably dropped over to Scotty's stall where pithy prose was guaranteed.
BRIAN RAFALSKI: Although, the Wisconsin U prodigy lacked the Gomez star quality, he "Ralphie" was a worthy Calder Trophy contender. A super skater, he had emerged as the perfect defense partner for captain Scott Stevens. Brian's shot from the point was low, straight and easily deflectable.
JOHN MADDEN: Having paid his dues in the minors - especially the Devs' AHL farm in Albany - Johnny had become a two-way threat as a second line center. Working with Jay Pandolfo, Madden became a crack penalty-killer who also could be counted upon for delivering big goals.
COLIN WHITE: Nobody was quite sure what this quiet hulk could do but Colin's game was NHL standard all the way. Some called him "The Poor Man's Scott Stevens," which was a high compliment. White's hits were hard and he thrived in pressure situations.
MSG Networks Graphics Producer for Devils telecasts, Leo Scaglione, Jr., charted the club's season from October through January and offered this scouting report:
"They started off the season with a bang, beating expansion Atlanta and remained on cruise control for the first half. But after that there was a steady unraveling and play became lackluster. Suddenly, losses began piling up."
Lamoriello was on the phone with several general managers. He was anxious to make a deal before the trade deadline. He finally found partners in Vancouver and Montreal.
Fleet Russian forward Alexander Mogilny was pried from the Canucks for disappointing Denis Pederson while another Russian - gangly defenseman Vladimir Malakhov - was obtained from the Canadiens for blueliner Sheldon Souray.
Placed on a line with Gomez at center, Mogilny fitted like a perfectly meshed gear.
"Mogilny was the perfect linemate for Gomez," Scaglione, Jr. recalled. "The way Gomer weaved and fed Mogilny - he had a superior wrist shot - was something to behold. It was art on ice."
Big on defense like Souray, Malakhov played a smarter game and helped turn the Devils defense into the NHL most formidable blue line corps. Still, Emmy-winning sportscaster and author George Falkowski noticed that Lou still was not happy.
"With all the player moves," Falkowski remembered, "there still was an uneasy feeling about the team. But the thing was, we never could guess what Lamoriello was thinking. More so because the season was nearly over and the trade deadline had passed."
Then, with only eight games remaining in the regular-season schedule, Lou dropped the bomb. He fired Robbie Ftorek and replaced him with assistant coach and Hall of Famer Larry Robinson.
Falkowski: "I credit Lou with making the coaching change. He might have been the only management type I've ever known in sports - or the TV business - to own up to a mistake and correct it even if it costs him some short-term embarrassment.
"But after missing the playoffs in 1996 - after the first Cup win - and then three straight playoff flops, Lou was going to go with his gut and like many other times, it was the right call."
Scaglione, Jr.: "The Devils first win with Larry Robinson behind the bench was on Long Island. I remember seeing a team full of energy, but was it sustainable?"
Robinson had a lot going for him. He's been a key to the Canadiens' four-Cup dynasty (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979) and rated one of the best defenseman in NHL annals. He played for - and learned under - the NHL's winningest coach.
"Larry was cool, calm and collected," said one reporter who covered Robinson as both player and coach. "And the Devils immediately responded to this kinder, gentler bench boss."
They finished the season with a victory over the Florida Panthers and that set the stage for an opening round showdown with the team based in a vacation paradise called Sunrise.
It also inspired tough questions from the media.
Can the Devils erase the "Choke" label once and for all?
Can Martin Brodeur become the "money" playoff goalie his supporters believe he can be?
And, of course, the bottom-line query of all queries: Is there a second Cup in this Devils' team's future.
The answer would filter in once the puck is dropped for the opening round.
This much was certain; nobody wanted Lord Stanley's mug more than Devils owner, Dr. John McMullen.
"His dream and wish," recalled Claude Lemieux, "was to win one more time before he sold the team.'
