Tuesday June 16 8pm
With a victory tonight over the Washington Capitals, the Detroit Red Wings can complete the sweep and raise the Stanley Cup for the second straight season. Saturday's Game Three was another winnable game for the Capitals but the Red Wings got the big goal -- this time from Sergei Fedorov, who snapped a shot over Olaf Kolzig's left shoulder with 4:51 remaining to break a 1-1 tie.
Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood only had to make 17 saves, just one in the first period, as the Wings outshot the Caps, 34-18.
The Red Wings have won all three games of this series by one goal and can sweep away their Finals opponent for the second consecutive year.
The previous three Stanley Cup Finals have resulted in sweeps, with the Red Wings involved in two of them. The New Jersey Devils victimized Detroit in 1995, Colorado took care of Florida in 1996 and the Wings swept the Philadelphia Flyers last year for their first Stanley Cup since 1955.
The Red Wings last repeated as Cup champions in the 1953-54 and 1954-55 seasons. Detroit can become the first repeat champion since the 1991-92 Pittsburgh Penguins. Scotty Bowman was the Penguins' head coach for their repeat title in 1992 and is aiming for his eighth Stanley Cup championship overall.
Western Conference teams have won 11 straight games in the Stanley Cup Finals, including seven by the Red Wings. The other four wins were by Colorado in 1996.
The only team to rally from a three games to none deficit in the Stanley Cup Finals was the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, who victimized the Red Wings. But it's hard to imagine the Red Wings losing four straight to Washington, since they are 9-0-1 against the Capitals since January 30th, 1994.
Detroit captain Steve Yzerman, who is the leading candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy, leads all playoff scorers with 24 points. He is followed by teammates Nicklas Lidstrom, Fedorov and Tomas Holmstrom, before Washington's Joe Juneau places fifth with 16 points.
The Caps could be without defenseman Phil Housley tonight. Housley, who has no goals and four assists in 17 playoff games, has an inner ear infection and his status will be a gametime decision.
Should the Capitals prolong the series, Game Five would be Thursday in Detroit.
