Bowman's Legend Grows With Time

Reuters Photo

There has been one constant through the coaching career of Detroit Red Wings Coach Scotty Bowman (pictured, right). He always finds a way to make his teams play hard, which is a big reason behind he owns seven Stanley Cup rings as a coach. Even the stories involving Bowman often take on a mythical nature.

FROM THE DETROIT NEWS
Red Wings Provide Splendid Ending to a Sad Story

What's New With The Red Wings? Get the latest on the Red Wings from the Detroit News. You can jump into the Red Wings fan forum or take a online quiz on the Red Wings and Capitals.

Detroit fans now have a long summer to enjoy their second Stanley Cup in as many years. As talk of a dynasty begins to gather steam, the challenge for the Detroit management will be to keep the team together in the offseason. Follow the moves of the Red Wings by checking in with The Detroit News.

The Octopus Is a Detroit Mainstay

AP Photo

Many cities have objects that help determine a city's identity. The Statue of Liberty, the Sears Tower, the Liberty Bell are just a few. But in Detroit, it's an eight-tentacled creature that has all the town talking about the Red Wings.

Motor City Is Going Cup Crazy

Kocur Still Has Some Fight Left

Carlos Osorio/AP

Detroit Will Settle Only for Cup
When the Red Wings beat the Dallas Stars to clinch their third trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in four years, there was little celebration. Captain Steve Yzerman skated two-thirds of the rink to accept the award that goes to the Western Conference champion and quickly skated off. The only thought was to beat the Capitals and hold onto the Stanley Cup.

It's Old vs. New This Year in Stanley Cup Finals
While the Capitals are in their first Stanley Cup finals, Detroit has won the Stanley Cup eight times. Washington's franchise is 24 years old, while Detroit is an "original six" NHL team that plays in "Hockeytown U.S.A." For Detroit, nothing except winning the Cup will do.

Tom Pidgeon/AP

HEAD-TO-HEAD MATCHUPS
Kolzig Can't Save Capitals, 2-0
Washington goalie Olaf Kolzig stopped 37 Detroit shots on Jan. 11, but the Red Wings still managed a 2-0 victory at Joe Louis Arena. Igor Larionov batted a rebound out of the air and past Kolzig for the game-winner early in the third period. At right, the Capitals' Andrei Nikolishin checks the Red Wings' Brent Gilchrist.

Wings Break Out in Third Period, Beat Caps, 4-2
The Washington Capitals took a lead into the third period against Detroit on Feb. 1, but the Red Wings scored three quirky goals in four minutes 43 seconds in the third to beat the Capitals at MCI Center, 4-2.

HOW THEY GOT TO THE FINALS
Detroit Beats Dallas, 2-0, Returns to Cup Finals

Reuters Photo

Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood shut out Dallas, 2-0, in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals to eliminate the Stars and move on to the Stanley Cup finals for the second straight year. Larry Murphy (pictured, right) scored the game-winning goal for the Red Wings.

FLASHBACK: 1997 STANLEY CUP FINALS

File Photo

Detroit Captures Lord Stanley; Vernon Wins Conn Smythe
The Stanley Cup returned to Detroit on June 7, 1997, as the Red Wings ended a 42-year championship drought by beating the Philadelphia Flyers in Game Four of the Stanley Cup Finals, 2-1. Detroit goalie Mike Vernon (pictured) was awarded the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP. Get all the information in our '97 playoff review.