Terreri stepped in for Devils, stole 1994 playoff series against Bruins

Legendary hockey reporter Stan Fischler writes a weekly scrapbook for NHL.com. Fischler, known as "The Hockey Maven," shares his humor and insight with readers each Wednesday.
This week, Stan hails the New Jersey Devils' return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a tale about Chris Terreri, a heroic goalie from Providence, Rhode Island. The miniscule netminder -- nicknamed "Scary," -- upstaged Martin Brodeur and helped steal a 1994 series from the Boston Bruins.

During the New Jersey Devils' ascent to the NHL's elite level, their roster was sprinkled with stars -- and one lunch pail-carrying goalie generally overlooked by hockey scribes.
Martin Brodeur, Scott Stevens and Scott Niedermayer were en route to Hockey Hall of Fame careers while coach Jacques Lemaire would achieve his most notable victories behind the bench, including New Jersey's first Stanley Cup win in 1995. Not much was expected of Chris Terreri, Brodeur's backup goalie.
But of all who came up big in their championship crusade, it was the littlest Devil who saved a series in the most unlikely manner -- by relieving Brodeur during a playoff crisis.
In an era of behemoth puck-stoppers, Terreri was Lilliputian by comparison. He was listed at 5-foot-9 -- but in reality looked more like 5-6 -- and weighed in at a beanpole 155 pounds.
"But Chris was big in a lot of other ways," said former NHL goalie Jacques Caron, who became the Devils' netminding professor. "He had terrific reflexes, good side-to-side speed and a huge heart. He showed it all in that 1994 series with the Bruins."
But by that time young, gifted Martin Brodeur had become New Jersey's wunderkind between the pipes. He had bumped Terreri as top banana, and Brodeur started and finished the 1994 opening playoff round against the Buffalo Sabres. In the seven-game series, Brodeur bested the Sabres' Dominik Hasek, then regarded as the NHL's top-ranked goaltender, in the seventh game, 2-1
Not surprisingly, Lemaire picked Brodeur to start the second-round series against Boston, which opened with two games at Brendan Byrne Arena at the New Jersey Meadowlands. To one and all, it appeared as if Brodeur had a lock on the Devils crease for years to come.
But Brodeur lost the home opener, 2-1, and was beaten again in Game 2 after Boston's Don Sweeney scored at 9:08 of overtime. With the series reverting to Boston Garden for the next two games, some newsmen predicted the Bruins would sweep the series in four.
"It caused many to wonder if Marty had finally hit the rookie wall," wrote Associated Press executive hockey editor Tim Sullivan in his book "Battle of the Hudson." ... "Suddenly, the Devils and their breakout season of power, promise, and potential were on life support. Lemaire sensed that a change was needed."
Lemaire made the change and designated well-rested -- and well-rusted -- Terreri to start Game 3 in Boston. Just about every media type covering the tourney was stunned to the core.
New Jersey native and Emmy Award-winner George Falkowski, who then was producing the playoff series for the New England Sports Network, at first couldn't believe Brodeur got the hook.
"It was a shocking and gutsy move by Lemaire," Falkowski said. "I distinctly remember thinking that Jacques either will be skewered, or considered a genius if it works. There was something deliciously sinister about the move."
Undaunted, Terreri, who was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and attended Providence College, skated to his crease in one of the NHL's most intimidating rinks. He calmly rested his arm on the crossbar and awaited his moment of truth. My book, "Pain and Progress: The first 12 years of the New Jersey Devils," me and my wife Shirley, who covered the tournament, noted:
"It was a pressure situation the likes of which no New Jersey goalie ever had faced. Smiling Chris responded with a confidence and crispness that will never be forgotten."
Falkowski said, "What better than to put in a New England collegian who grew up rooting for the Bruins and would not be intimidated by Boston Garden. I remember Terreri skating to the crease and thinking, 'If this works, it's absolute genius!' It worked and it was genius."
Terreri was totally nonplussed, making save after amazing save. The scene seemed surreal. In the end, that little Devil revived his seemingly dead sextet, making 25 saves in a 4-2 victory.
Lemaire could have returned Brodeur to the net for Game 4 on May 7, 1994, but he came back with Terreri. "Chris was on," Brodeur said. "I was off. It was a day-by-day operation. And it was fine."
Sure was, and even more melodramatic as the 4-4 deadlock segued into pulsating overtime. "It was hair-raising," Falkowski said. "The Bruins kept attacking, and Terreri kept making the saves while his mates gasped for a second wind."
The Devils hung in there and just before a face-off, New Jersey's assistant coach Larry Robinson told center Bobby Holik, "Move the puck forward." Then 'Robbie' ordered winger Stephane Richer to "skate hard" toward the rubber.
Robinton's blueprint worked. Richer outflanked the Boston defenders and then faked goalie Jon Casey before depositing the puck at 14:19 of overtime. Terreri finished with 38 saves and the series was tied 2-2, leaving Lemaire with a risky problem for Game 5 in New Jersey.
Logic dictated that Lemaire stick with his winner, Terreri. But Brodeur was rested and Marty got the nod. "But I'm coming back with Chris in Game 6 when we return to Boston," the coach added, sprinkling more surprise on the already unreal saga.
By now, Scary Terreri had become a totally unexpected hero beyond the Meadowlands, although some in the New England contingent had known him from Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello's days orchestrating the Providence College hockey program.
"I saw enough of Terreri in collegiate games to believe he'd go far," Lamoriello said.
Terreri was MVP of the 1985 Hockey East postseason tournament and MVP of the 1985 NCAA Men's Championship. His performance in a 2-1 double overtime victory over top-seeded Boston College still is regarded as one of the finest exhibitions of goaltending magic in collegiate hockey annals. But it wasn't until 1990 that Chris had become a full-time member of the Devils.
But in Game 5, he was back on the bench watching his sidekick toss a 2-0 shutout at the Bruins to lift New Jersey to just one win from securing the series. At this delicate point Lemaire could have designated Brodeur to wrap up the tourney.
"No, no," said Jacques, adamantly sticking to his original plan, "it's up to Chris and we'll see what happens."
The Devils staked their little, streamlined stopper to a 3-0 lead but the Bruins counterattacked and put three biscuits behind Terreri. After the third goal, the Garden reverberated with deafening cheers, accompanied by a torrent of celebratory debris tossed on the ice.
Ironically, the raucous reception was just the respite Chris needed. After the Garden ice crew completed its more than three-minute cleanup, the advancing Bruins had lost their momentum. Meanwhile, Terreri had caught his breath and that proved to be a series-saver for New Jersey.
The Devils hero of 1988, John MacLean, responded to Terreri's saves by scoring 2:29 after play resumed, and then it was Lil' Chris' job to seal the deal.
Falkowski: "Terreri made the lead stand up, finishing with 38 saves. So many of them were in his famous acrobatic, whirling-dervish fashion. A final minute goal by Tom Chorske iced the series but it was Scary Terreri who spooked the Bruins with his amazing play."
Post-triumph, the media flock surrounded Chris in the claustrophobic dressing room. "This is a dream come true for me," the hero of the series allowed. "For me to be able to come in here and help my team win in Boston Garden."
Lemaire simply explained why he jumped upon the Brodeur-Terreri merry-go-round. "The moves that I made -- when I made them -- made sense," he concluded, "and that's why I did it."
Chris looked across the crowded room at his mentor. "When it comes to Jacques," Terreri told the throng, "You can't question anything he's done all year. He's made the right decisions. It's been uncanny and a lot of fun"
Then, a pause, a twinkle of the eyes and a smile from here to East Rutherford: "He's the best coach I ever played for!"
(Postscript: Despite Terreri's heroics in Boston, it proved to be the last Devils playoff game not started by Martin Brodeur for the next 18 years.)