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Road to Stanleytown: Ducks scary matchup for 1997 Wings, but hockey isn't played on paper

Special to Detroit Free Press

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 the Motor City After 41 Frustrating Seasons.”

Day 16: May 1, 1997

The backstory: The Mighty Ducks looked, on paper, like an even bigger challenge for the Red Wings in the Western Conference semifinals than the St.