Big parade celebrates Red Wings
DETROIT – Goaltender Chris Osgood stopped just about everything in the Stanley Cup playoffs. With thousands of jubilant fans celebrating the Red Wings’ title Friday, he couldn’t stop his emotions.
“I’ve had to wipe away a few tears,” he said. “This is why I play in Detroit.”
Two days after Detroit once again raised the hallowed trophy, spectators jammed downtown to join the party.
Enduring temperatures reaching as high as 92 degrees with sweltering humidity, they stayed put for the 2 1/2-hour-long procession and 45-minute rally in a jam-packed Hart Plaza.
Fans stood and sat four to six people deep, screaming when former Red Wings great Steve Yzerman, and current stars forward Dan Cleary, captain Nicklas Lidstrom and Osgood were driven by.
Dallas Drake, who waited 14 seasons to win the Stanley Cup, said he was ready to enjoy more of the spoils.
“It’s a special feeling,” Drake said. “I couldn’t be prouder right now. I’m a little bit taken aback by it.”
The team followed a familiar path – the 2002 Red Wings and the 2004 Pistons traveled the same parade route after winning titles.
These Red Wings clinched the Cup on Wednesday night in Pittsburgh, beating the Penguins 3-2 in Game 6. Forward Dan Cleary, the first man from Newfoundland to win the Cup, called the accomplishment a high honor.
“I think everybody back in Newfoundland is proud,” he said. “I’m proud. I can’t wait to bring the Cup home.”
Henrik Zetterberg hoisted the Conn Smythe Trophy above his head. The playoff MVP said he was happy to share the Cup win with fans.
“Time of my life right now,” Zetterberg said. “This is unbelievable.”
The last vehicle in the parade carried Lidstrom, who held the Cup aloft to the delight of the crowd.
The crowd was filled with Red Wings fans bedecked in jerseys and other red-and-white gear. Some wore plush octopi on their heads, a nod to the team’s mascot. One woman brought a real, albeit dead, octopus with her and swung it over her head.
These are good times for the Red Wings. The team set a record with 30 wins in the first half of the season, matching Montreal’s record with 100 points for the eighth straight year. The Red Wings also extended the longest active streak in sports with its 17th straight postseason appearance.
Detroit’s key players are under contract for at least next season, leaving only a handful of decisions during the off-season.