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Road to Stanleytown: Red Wings' Russian Five disproving playoffs myth with 1997 run

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 22: May 7, 1997

The backstory: After the Red Wings’ 5-3 victory in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals, the Mighty Ducks had one day to devise a strategy to send the series back to Detroit.