1998 Stanley Cup Finals

The 1998 Stanley Cup Finals were played in the 105th year of the Stanley Cup. The series was played between the Western Conference champion Detroit Red Wings and the Eastern Conference champion Washington Capitals. The Red Wings won the series for the second year in a row, 4-0.
==Background==
==The Series==
The Red Wings were led by Captain Steve Yzerman, Coach Scotty Bowman, and Goalie Chris Osgood. The Capitals were led by Captain Dale Hunter, Coach Ron Wilson, and Goalie Olaf Kolzig.
{| cellpadding="3" border="1" 	Washington vs. Detroit 	Washington vs. Detroit 	Washington vs. Detroit 	Washington vs. Detroit
Date 	Away 	Home 	 	
June 9 	Washington 1 	2 Detroit 	 	
June 11 	Washington 4 	5 Detroit 	OT 	
June 13 	Detroit 2 	1 Washington 	 	
June 16 	Detroit 4 	1 Washington 	 	
Detroit wins series 4–0and Stanley Cup 	Detroit wins series 4–0and Stanley Cup 	Detroit wins series 4–0and Stanley Cup 	Detroit wins series 4–0and Stanley Cup 	
Steve Yzerman (Detroit)wins Conn Smythe Trophy	Steve Yzerman (Detroit)wins Conn Smythe Trophy	Steve Yzerman (Detroit)wins Conn Smythe Trophy	Steve Yzerman (Detroit)wins Conn Smythe Trophy	
== Detroit Red Wings - 1998 Stanley Cup Champions ==
=== Stanley Cup engravings ===
* Wally Crossman was oldest person engraved on the Stanley Cup at age 87.
* Detroit wanted to included a record 55 names on the Stanley Cup in 1997–98. Following that request NHL decided to limit the number of names to 52 to make sure all names fit on the Cup. Players who play in Stanley Cup Finals, or play at least 41 regular season games for the winning team, must be included on the Cup each year. Other players who do not officially qualify may also be included if requested by the team. There are no rules for which non-players must be included on the Stanley Cup, only a limit on total number of names going on the cup. No player who officially qualifies may be left off to include more non-players.
== Aftermath ==
The following season, the Red Wings would reach the Western Conference Semifinals, only to be ousted by the Colorado Avalanche in six games. The Red Wings would not return to the Stanley Cup Finals until four years later , when they defeated the Carolina Hurricanes in five games. The Washington Capitals, however, missed the playoffs the following year. The Capitals would not return to the Stanley Cup Finals until 20 years later, when they would win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history after defeating the expansion Vegas Golden Knights.
==See Also==
* 1997-98 NHL season
Category:1998 in hockey
Category:Stanley Cup Playoffs