In the spring of 1997, a quarter-century ago, the Detroit Red Wings embarked on their quest to end a 42-year Stanley Cup drought.
The Free Press has commemorated that historic quest with a new book: “Stanleytown: The Inside Story of How the Stanley Cup Returned to Motor City After 41 Frustrating Seasons”.
WINDSOR:Who needs luck in the lottery? Steve Yzerman, Wings does his thing. Can the pistons?
RELATED:How the NHL lottery draw will affect Wings’ Steve Yzerman’s offseason plans
Day 25: May 10, 1997
The backstory: The Red Wings enjoyed half of their three-day ground leave granted by coach Scotty Bowman. Detroit had that luxury because the Mighty Ducks were in the rearview mirror and the Western Conference finals were at least five days away. Meanwhile, the Avalanche and Oilers traveled to Denver for Game 5, where a Colorado win would secure a rematch of the 1996 Wings-Avs conference finals. Hopes for a Game 6 weren’t high in Alberta.
Cam Cole wrote in the Edmonton Journal: “What are the chances? To say ‘thin’ would be to overstate the case. Slim would have to go on a diet. … The Oilers went 0-2 in Denver in the regular season, scoring two goals and allowing nine. The Oilers are 0-2 in Denver in the playoffs, with two goals for, nine against. Is there a pattern here? The Avalanche are 25-3 in goals for and against in five playoff dates at home against Chicago and Edmonton. …. As nonsensical stats go, 9-2 and 25-3 are pretty impressive.”
In Free Press: Keith Gave discussed a topic that Steve Yzerman didn’t want to touch on, but with the Wings halfway to possibly their first Stanley Cup since 1955, Yzerman finally had to, sort of. Gave wrote: “Just hours after his 32nd birthday, but only moments after another memorable Stanley Cup playoff win, captain Steve Yzerman hammered his way around a question he can’t help, even in his own mind of him. This team is different, isn’t it, from all the others?
“He takes a seat in front of his dressing room at the Pond. Shirtless, in dark slacks, he leans over to tie his shoes and smiles. ‘I really don’t want to talk about it,’ he said. ‘But, yeah, it’s different. Really different. … If hard lessons in the postseason matter, these Wings are Rhodes scholars. ‘Only time will tell,’ Yzerman said, trying not to answer the question again. ‘We’ve had two chances to get rid of opponents, and we’ve I’ve done it both times. That’s a nice feature to have. … A different team? You could say that. No wonder Yzerman is smiling. Happy birthday, captain. Your gift comes with eight more wins.” .
DAY 24:Red Wings’ bye for the West finals was interrupted by (who else?) Avs
DAY 23:Brendan Shanahan’s goal in his sleep gives Wings sweep of Ducks
DAY 22:Wings’ Russian Five debunk the playoff myth with their 1997 run
off the ice: Before the end of the Ducks’ series, Vladimir Konstantinov learned that he was a first-time finalist for the Norris Trophy, awarded to the best defensemen in the league. But he said that he did not deserve the honor.
“This was not my best season,” he said. “Last year was better than this year. This year was up and down. Last year, I played a stronger game. Last year, I played with the Russian Five and scored more goals. I give the Red Wings my best season last year. This year, I wasn’t one of the top three defensemen in the league. After last year, but not this year.” The other finalists were Brian Leetch of the Rangers and Sandis Ozolinsh of the Avalanche. In 1995-96, Konstantinov scored a career-high 14 goals and led the NHL with a 60-plus rating. In 1996-97, he recorded a career-high 38 points and finished third in the NHL with a plus-38.
“They give Brian Leech a trophy,” Konstantinov said. No other Wing was a finalist for an award.
[ Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman’s to-do list extends beyond hiring new coach ]
Famous Last Words: From Avalanche Coach Marc Crawford: “We’ve been successful when we can focus on one particular target – the one in front of us. We prefer to win this game and not wait for a possible Game 6 or 7.”
Relive the glory: The Free Press has crafted a 208-page full-color hardcover collector’s book with fresh insights and dynamic narratives about the 1996-1997 Wings. It’s called “Stanleytown 25 Years Later: The Inside Story on How the Stanley Cup Returned to the Motor City After 41 Frustrating Seasons.” It’s only $29.95 and available at RedWings.PictorialBook.com. (This would make a great Mother’s Day or Father’s Day gift for the Wings fan in your life!) Custom prints available via [email protected].
[ Access our most exclusive sports content by becoming a Free Press subscriber ]
More to read: Another new Wings book arrived in April from Keith Gave, a veteran hockey writer for the Free Press in the 1980s and 1990s: “Vlad The Impaler: More Epic Stories From Detroit’s ’97 Stanley Cup Conquest”. It is available through Amazon and other bookstores with a portion of the proceeds going to the Vladimir Konstantinov Special Needs Trust. (Much of Gave’s prose also appears in “Stanleytown 25 Years Later.”)
Even more to read: Red Wings beat reporter Helene St. James, who helped cover the 1997 Stanley Cup race, recently wrote “The Big 50: The Men and Moments That Made the Detroit Red Wings.” Featuring numerous stories about the key figures of 1997, “The Big 50” is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. (Much St. James prose also appears in “Stanleytown 25 Years Later.”)
Stay informed about what’s happening in Michigan: Subscribe to our news alert emails.
Follow the free press on Facebook Y Twitter for more news.
Your subscription makes work like this possible. Get exclusive content for subscribers and more here.
Reference-www.freep.com