Associated Press article
May 3, 2006

The Detroit Red Wings have been one of the best NHL teams during the regular season in recent years, and among the worst when the games really matter.

Since winning back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 1997-98, Detroit has lost in the first or second round in six of seven postseasons.

The Red Wings’ latest flop in the playoffs was completed Monday night when the eighth-seeded Edmonton Oilers scored four goals in the third period to win 4-3, eliminating the team that accumulated 124 points — the fifth-highest total in league history.

“The only thing that was going to make this a successful season was winning the Stanley Cup,” defenseman Mathieu Schneider said. “We didn’t live up to our expectations.”

The stunning setback against the Oilers might have ended captain Steve Yzerman’s storied career, which started in Detroit in 1983 and included three Stanley Cup championships along with a ton of personal success.

Yzerman, who turns 41 on May 9, said he could announce by next week whether he will return for a 23rd NHL season.

“I can pretty much make a quick decision on what I want to do for the future,” said Yzerman, who has more points in the regular season and playoffs than any other active player.

Detroit has won the Presidents’ Trophy — which goes to the NHL team with the best regular-season record — five times since 1994-95, but it followed that up with a Stanley Cup only in 2002.

The Red Wings also had the top mark in 2003-04, the season before the lockout, only to be knocked out in the second round.

Yzerman was one of the few players who produced against the Oilers, and that’s a credit to him and an indictment of most Red Wings. He had four points in four games, missing two with a torn rib muscle, and trailed just three teammates in scoring.

Manny Legace allowed 18 goals — tied for the most with also-eliminated Marty Turco of Dallas.

“I feel like going home and hanging myself, that’s what I feel like,” Legace said.

Before the playoffs started, Legace said he wouldn’t be re-signed if he didn’t help Detroit make a long run in the postseason.

Legace was probably correct — unless he’s willing to return as a reserve for backup money, but he might shoulder too much of the blame for Detroit’s latest collapse.

Pavel Datsyuk, who led the team in scoring during the regular season, ended his third straight postseason without a goal. Brendan Shanahan had one goal against Edmonton after scoring a team-high 40 during the season.

It seemed as though many defensemen, including star Nicklas Lidstrom, were noticed only for being out of position or failing to be physical near the net or along the boards.

Coach Mike Babcock was hired because of his hard-nosed approach and attention to detail, and his style appeared to work in the regular season, but it didn’t look like his players had a sense of urgency in the playoffs.

The Red Wings will have a lot of salary-cap space to make moves in the offseason, and they’ll have to make decisions about goaltending and key free agents such as Lidstrom, Shanahan and Chris Chelios.

“If we have to make changes, we’ll make changes because we don’t want to be just about getting it done in the regular season,” Babcock said.

Like Detroit’s previous two early exits in the playoffs, a hot goalie and a team that seemed to play harder prevailed.

Edmonton’s Dwayne Roloson faced 238 shots — easily more than any other goalie in the first round — and benefited by the Oilers being willing to put their faces in front of slap shots.

“We’re going home, and like everybody, I am shocked we’re in this situation,” Babcock said. “They found a way to win.”