2008 NHL Playoffs: All Roads to the Stanley Cup Go Through Detroit

Talk about the envy of the league. The Detroit Red Wings, in each the last twelve playoffs, have been tied to the Cup in one way or another.

Since 1995, the Wings have taken four trips to the Finals, winning three times and losing once to the New Jersey Devils. Three teams that have upset the Wings went on to lose in the final. Twice they lost to the Avalanche, who went on to win the Cup on one of those occasions, and last year the Wings lost to the Anaheim Ducks in the Conference Finals, on their way to their first Stanley Cup. 

Here's how the last 12 playoffs have broken down. 

1995: A major upset as the trapping "Mickey Mouse organization" New Jersey Devils swept the Red Wings in four straight.

1996: The Red Wings made it to the Conference Finals only to be ousted by the Colorado Avalanche (formerly known as the Quebec Nordiques) in six games. The Avs would go on to win the cup.

1997: The Red Wings steamrolled through the competition on their way to a four-game sweep of the Philadelphia Flyers, ending a 42-year Stanley Cup drought.

1998: The Red Wings continued their dominance with a four-game sweep of the Washington Capitals to win their second straight Stanley Cup. This was the last time any NHL team has won back-to-back championships. 

1999: A second round loss to the Avs, who then lost to the eventual cup-winning Dallas Stars in round three.

2000: The Colorado Avalanche disposed of the Red Wings in five games in round two. The eventual winners were the New Jersey Devils.

2001: After going up two games against the Los Angeles Kings, the Wings fell apart losing four straight and the series in six games. The eventual winners were the Colorado Avalanche.

2002: After an early scare against the Vancouver Canucks, the Red Wings won their third cup in six years, beating the Carolina Hurricanes four games to one.

2003: The reigning champs were upset in the first round in a big way as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim roasted them in four straight on their way to the finals, which they lost to the Devils in seven.

2004: After disposing of the Nashville Predators in five games, the Wings looked poised for another run, until they ran into a smoking hot Calgary Flames goaltender and lost round two in six games. The Flames rode their goalie, Mikka Kiprussoff, all the way to the final, only to lose in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

2005: LOCKOUT

2006: Heavily favored against the Edmonton Oilers in the first round, the Red Wings again were stymied by another hot goaltender, and lost in six games. The Oilers had their Cinderella run ended in the finals, losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in a very entertaining seven-game series.

2007: After dispatching the Flames and San Jose Sharks in the first two rounds, respectively, the Red Wings were ready for another Conference Final. The Ducks proved to be too much, and clipped the Wings in six games on their way to their first Stanley Cup.

So there you have it. If they're not winning Stanley Cups, they seem to pave the way for others to get to the final. At this point, there are only two teams standing in the way of another championship for the Detroit Red Wings. Their biggest test thus far will be tonight against the Dallas Stars.

Get ready Hockeytown!