20,058 per game
20,058 per game
After falling in the 1st Round the Red Wings retooled adding future Hall of Famers, Luc Robitalle, Brett Hull, and Dominick Hasek to a team already laden with future Hall of Famers. The Red Wings would get off to a fast start and would never look back easily establishing the best record in the NHL by the Olympic Break. After the Olympics the Wings put it to cruise control allowing injured players to rest up as they won the President's Trophy with a 51-17-10-4 record. However, in the playoffs the Wings remained in cruise control as they lost their fist 2 games to the Vancouver Canucks. However, in Game 3 Nicklas Lidstrom slap shot from center ice gave the Wings a lead and turned the entire series around, as the Wings went on to win in 6 games. In the 2nd Round the Wings really got rolling beating the St. Louis Blues in 5 games. In the Conference Finals the Wings found themselves in trouble again trailing the Colorado Avalanche 3 games to 2. Facing elimination the Wings would rally to win Game 6 on the road. IN Game 7 the Red Wings buried Colorado in Avalanche of goals winning 7-0 to advance to their 3rd finals in 5 years. In the Finals the Wings would suffer a setback losing Game 1 to Carolina Hurricanes in overtime. However, the Wings would shake it off and would win the next 4 games to win the Stanley Cup. Nicklas Lidstrom whose goal got the Wings started was named Conn Smythe, as legendary Coach Scotty Bowman retired during the on ice celebration. Following the season Goalie Dominick Hasek would also retire, but the Red Wings would quickly sign Curtis Joseph to replace him keeping them as the team to beat for the Stanley Cup.