{"id":77508,"date":"2020-06-07T09:30:36","date_gmt":"2020-06-07T13:30:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=77508"},"modified":"2025-12-01T20:18:46","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T01:18:46","slug":"today-in-hockey-history-1996-97-detroit-red-wings-end-stanley-cup-drought","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2020\/06\/07\/today-in-hockey-history-1996-97-detroit-red-wings-end-stanley-cup-drought\/","title":{"rendered":"Today in Hockey History: 1996-97 Detroit Red Wings End Stanley Cup Drought"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>During the NHL\u2019s hiatus, we at the Last Word on Hockey are going to look back at each date\u2019s historical significance to the game. We\u2019ll remember the moments that shaped the sport of hockey that happened on this day. Here\u2019s our look at this date in hockey history for June 7th, featuring the 1996-97 <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/red-wings\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Detroit Red Wings<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Today in Hockey History<\/h2>\n<h3>1996-97 Detroit Red Wings End 42-Year Cup Drought<\/h3>\n<p><strong>1997: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/l\/lidstni01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nicklas Lidstrom<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/mccarda02.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Darren McCarty<\/a><\/strong> each score as the Wings complete a four-game sweep of the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/flyers\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Philadelphia Flyers<\/a>. Conn Smythe winner <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/v\/vernomi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mike Vernon<\/a><\/strong> makes 26 saves in the 2-1 Game 4 win over the Flyers. Only a late <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/l\/lindrer01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Eric Lindros<\/a><\/strong> goal would spoil Vernon&#8217;s shutout bid. Vernon finishes with a 16-4 record, a 1.76 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nhl.com\/redwings\/video\/embed\/1997-stanley-cup-final-game-4\/t-277437404\/c-5369647?autostart=false\" width=\"540\" height=\"360\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The win seals Detroit&#8217;s first Stanley Cup victory in 42 years. It&#8217;s the first title since the days of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/h\/howego01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gordie Howe<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/l\/lindste01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ted Lindsay<\/a><\/strong> and other Hall of Fame greats of that era. Detroit would repeat as champions next season with another four-game sweep over the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/capitals\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Washington Capitals<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Other Notable Events<\/h3>\n<p><strong>1976: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/p\/potvide01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Denis Potvin<\/a><\/strong> becomes the first Norris Trophy winner other than <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/o\/orrbo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bobby Orr<\/a><\/strong> for the first time since 1967-68. The<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/islanders\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> New York Islanders<\/a> also add the Calder Trophy in top rookie that&#8217;s won by <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/t\/trottbr01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bryan Trottier<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1989: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/g\/gretzwa01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Wayne Gretzky<\/a><\/strong> is named the Hart Trophy winner for the ninth time, which is the most anyone has won any NHL award. This time &#8216;The Great One&#8217; wins it with the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/kings\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Los Angeles Kings<\/a> after taking eight with the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/oilers\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Edmonton Oilers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1993: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/l\/leclajo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">John LeClair<\/a><\/strong> scores another OT-winner in the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/canadiens\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Montreal Canadiens<\/a> 3-2 Game 4 win over the Kings. LeClair is the first to get back-to-back overtime-winners since<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/r\/raleido01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Don Raleigh<\/a><\/strong> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/rangers\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">New York Rangers<\/a> in 1950.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1994:<\/strong> The Rangers are one win away from their first Stanley Cup since 1940 with a 4-2 Game 4 win over the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/canucks\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Vancouver Canucks<\/a>. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/l\/leetcbr01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brian Leetch<\/a><\/strong> gets a goal and three assists in the victory.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2001: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/r\/roypa01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Patrick Roy<\/a><\/strong> gets his record 19th playoff shutout in a 4-0 Game 6 win by the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/avalanche\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Colorado Avalanche<\/a>. Roy makes 24 saves and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/f\/footead01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Adam Foote<\/a><\/strong> gets a goal and two assists in the win over the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/devils\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">New Jersey Devils<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2004:<\/strong> The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/lightning\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a> win their first Stanley Cup with a 2-1 Game 7 win over the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/flames\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Calgary Flames.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>2006: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/w\/wardca01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cam Ward<\/a><\/strong> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/hurricanes\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Carolina Hurricanes<\/a>\u00a0is the first rookie to get a shutout in a final since Roy. The Canes beat the Oilers, 5-0, in Game 2.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2013:<\/strong> The<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/penguins\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> are swept in a series for the first time since 1979. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/r\/rasktu01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tuukka Rask<\/a><\/strong> makes 26 saves in the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/bruins\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Boston Bruins<\/a> 1-0 win.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2018:<\/strong> Washington wins its first Stanley Cup in team history with a 4-3 Game 5 victory over the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/nhl-teams\/knights\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Vegas Golden Knights<\/a>. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/o\/ovechal01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alex Ovechkin<\/a><\/strong> is named playoff MVP.<\/p>\n<h3>Happy Birthday to You<\/h3>\n<p><strong>1945: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/marotgi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gilles Marotte<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1951: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/o\/oreilte01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Terry O&#8217;Reilly<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1955: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/p\/plettwi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Willi Plett<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1966: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/r\/richest02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Stephane Richer<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1970: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/modanmi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mike Modano<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/k\/kovalan01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Andrei Kovalenko<\/a><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1988: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/l\/lucicmi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Milan Lucic<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1990: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/stonemi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Michael Stone<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1998: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/metevi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Victor Mete<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2019\/07\/season-red-wing-captain-steve-yzerman-leads-teammates-around-the-ice-picture-id53120694.jpg\" alt=\"Detroit Red Wings Biggest Game; 1996-97 Detroit Red Wings\" width=\"594\" height=\"413\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>During the NHL\u2019s hiatus, we at the Last Word on Hockey are going to look back at each date\u2019s historical significance to the game. We\u2019ll remember the moments that shaped the sport of hockey that happened on this day. Here\u2019s our look at this date in hockey history for June 7th, featuring the 1996-97 Detroit [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2352,"featured_media":52009,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,8245,4547,4548,6331],"tags":[2568,2179,3534,2114,4252,144,2161,2185,178,481,590],"class_list":["post-77508","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-redwings","category-history","category-hockey","category-nhl","category-today-in-hockey-history","tag-alex-ovechkin","tag-denis-potvin","tag-hockey-history","tag-mike-modano","tag-mike-vernon","tag-milan-lucic","tag-nicklas-lidstrom","tag-patrick-roy","tag-tuukka-rask","tag-victor-mete","tag-wayne-gretzky"],"modified_by":"Michael Kovacs, ADMIN","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77508","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2352"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77508"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77508\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":479008,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77508\/revisions\/479008"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52009"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77508"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77508"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77508"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}