November 29, 1997
Coleman A. Young, Detroit's first African American mayor, as well as its longest serving mayor, died of respiratory failure.

January 1, 1998
The University of Michigan won the Rose Bowl, defeating Washington State University by a score of 21-16, but it only brought a share of the national title with Nebraska.

May 7, 1998
In the biggest industrial merger in history, German luxury carmaker Daimler-Benz announced it was buying Chrysler Corporation.



Most Goals - Brendan Shanahan: 28
Most Assists - Steve Yzerman: 45
Most Points - Steve Yzerman: 69
Most Penalty Minutes - Darren McCarty: 157
Most Wins, Goaltender - Chris Osgood: 33
Lowest Goals-Against Average - Chris Osgood: 2.21
Most Shutouts - Chris Osgood: 6
NHL Award Winners
Steve Yzerman - Conn Smythe Trophy
Nicklas Lidstrom - 1st Team All-Star

Central Division	W	L	T	PTS	GF	GA
Dallas	49	22	11	109	242	167
DETROIT	44	23	15	103	250	196
St. Louis	45	29	8	96	256	204
Phoenix	35	35	12	82	224	227
Chicago	30	39	13	73	192	199
Toronto	30	43	9	69	194	237

OTHER Division Winners:
Pacific Division - Colorado Avalanche
Northeast Division - Pittsburgh Penguins
Atlantic Division - New Jersey Devils

Playoff Results
Defeated the Phoenix Coyotes in Series "G" (4-2)
Defeated the St. Louis Blues in Series "L" (4-2)
Defeated the Dallas Stars in Series "N" (4-2)
Defeated the Washington Capitals in Series "O" (4-0)
Leading Playoff Scorers
Steve Yzerman (24PTS) - Sergei Fedorov (20PTS)
Stanley Cup Champion
Detroit Red Wings



The campaign commenced with heavy hearts and a specific goal in mind, a sentiment expressed on the shoulders of every Red Wings jersey.

"Believe," said the crest in Russian and English. While defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov and team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov fought the battle of their lives to overcome brain injuries suffered in an off-season limousine accident, the Wings set about on their mission to retain Lord Stanley's mug without their fallen comrades.

They'd also have to start the season without center Sergei Fedorov, holding out in a contract dispute with the team.

A 10-1-2 start to the season got the Wings rolling, but there would be periods of struggle - enough to allow Dallas to claim first place in the Central Division, three points ahead of Detroit, which finished 44-23-15.

Captain Steve Yzerman led the club with 69 points, the first time he'd been Detroit's leading scorer since 1992-93. Brendan Shanahan's 28 goals were the lowest total to top the team in 21 seasons. Winger Doug Brown tied two club marks December 19 with three goals and four points in one period of a 5-4 victory over New Jersey.

The return of Fedorov to the lineup came February 3, when he signed a six-year, $38-million deal, which included a $14-million signing bonus and a $12-million bonus if the Wings advanced to the final four.

The NHL went to the Winter Olympics for the first time and the Wings were well represented. Yzerman and Shanahan (Canada), Fedorov (Russia) and defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom (Sweden) all participated. Shanahan, Lidstrom, center Igor Larionov and defenseman Slava Fetisov performed in the NHL All-Star Game.

In the playoffs, winger Slava Kozlov scored a record-tying four game winners, while the club set records with 75 goals and six shorthanded markers. Fedorov's 10 goals during the playoffs and three points May 3 in the second period of a 5-2 series-clinching win over Phoenix tied team marks.

After rallying from a 2-1 series deficit to oust Phoenix in six games, St. Louis won the first game of the second round, but Detroit again came back to win in six. The Wings never trailed the Western Conference final against Dallas, taking another six-game verdict. Only Washington stood in the way of a repeat. The Capitals were swept aside in the minimum four games and Stanley stayed put in Hockeytown.



Wings win two Cups in a row

As emotional as Detroit's 1996-97 Stanley Cup victory was for long-suffering Wings fans, the 1997-98 triumph melted even the coldest of hearts.

When injured defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov was wheeled onto the ice after Detroit's 4-1 Cup-winning verdict at Washington's MCI Center, the sentiment of the moment took over. "This is so emotional, it's great," Igor Larionov said as he helped Konstantinov take a victory lap in his wheelchair with the Stanley Cup. "This is for Vladdy and Sergei (Mnatsakanov)."

Scotty Bowman won his eighth Cup as a coach, tying the record of Toe Blake, his mentor. Captain Steve Yzerman set a club record with 18 assists and 24 points and was presented the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

"We found a lot of ways to play," Bowman said. "We found a lot of ways to win. This team was totally focused on the mission." And they never stopped believing.



Lidstrom leads all defenseman in points

Performing effectively ever since he first joined the Red Wings to start the 1991-92 season, the 1997-98 campaign brought an element to Nicklas Lidstrom's game not seen before.

It was called recognition and it was long overdue.

Lidstrom led all NHL blueliners with 59 points, one shy of the career-high points total he assembled during his rookie season. Lidstrom also tallied a personal-best 17 goals. The result was selection to the NHL's First All-Star Team and runner-up status behind Rob Blake of Los Angeles in the voting for the Norris Trophy.

"It has been a long time coming," teammate Darren McCarty said. "He's always been the most underrated player in the league – our little secret."

In the playoffs, Lidstrom established new Wings standards for defensemen with 13 assists and 19 points, while tying Paul Coffey's club mark for goals with six.



Two months after he'd won the Conn Smythe Trophy as Stanley Cup MVP, Mike Vernon was dealt to San Jose with a 1999 fifth round draft pick for second round picks in 1998 and 1999. Left-winger Brent Gilchrist was signed as a free agent and Tim Taylor was lost to Boston in the NHL waiver draft. Jamie Pushor was dealt to Anaheim for defenseman Dmitri Mironov and a 1998 fourth round draft choice went to Toronto for defenseman Jamie Macoun. The NHL entry draft supplied center Darryl Laplante, defenseman Yan Golubovsky and goalie Norm Maracle.



Red Wings Selected First-overall in NHL Draft:
1964 - Claude Gauthier
1977 - Dale McCourt
1986 - Joe Murphy



Forwards Pavel Datsyuk (2001-02), Vyacheslav Kozlov (1991-2001) and Gizzy Hart (1926-27) are the only Wings players to wear No. 13 on their jersey.


1997-98 Final
With a four game sweep of the Washington Capitals, the Detroit Red Wings became the first team wince the Pittsburgh Penguins (1991 and 1992) to repeats as Stanley Cup champions. The Red Wings were led by Steve Yzerman, who became just the fifth player to receive the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoff while captain of his team. Scotty Bowman equaled Toe Blake’s NHL record of eight Stanley Cup coaching victories.
Despite the four game sweep in the Final, Detroit did not have a smooth road to the Cup, as they were forced to play six games in each of the three series leading to the Stanley Cup Final. Overall, the team had equal success at home and on the road, posting identical 8-3 records. A total of ten Red Wings players contributed the 16 game winning goals scored en route to the Stanley Cup.
The on-ice celebration produced one of the most emotional moments in NHL history, as injured teammate Vladimir Konstantinov participated in the post-game festivities from his wheelchair. Konstantinov has been a key part of Detroit’s Stanley Cup championship in 1997, but nearly lost his life in a car accident one week after the victory.

Conference Quarterfinals