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 30: May 15, 1997
The backstory: Three hundred and 51 days after Claude Lemieux rearranged Kris Draper’s face with a cheap shot into the boards and the Colorado Avalanche ended the Red Wings’ 62-victory season in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals, the bitter enemies embarked on another series to determine who would play for the Stanley Cup.