Wings veterans savouring time together

DETROIT - It's not lost on Tomas Holmstrom, Nicklas Lidstrom, Darren McCarty, Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby just what a special accomplishment winning a fourth Stanley Cup together would be.

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In an era when player movement is the norm, the quintet has been together since the mid-1990s. Only McCarty departed for two seasons in Calgary following the 2004-05 lockout before returning to Detroit in February.

"You'll see some of the same faces from when we were successful," McCarty said Monday. "This is the sort of the structure this organization is made out of. We learned about winning and playing from guys like Steve Yzerman, who had a long, long tenure here.

"It's what the nucleus is all about. It hasn't changed. It's special that way because it means a lot because when I came back, it feels like home."

McCarty said having grown up together as players has created a bond and a sense of continuity that has made Detroit the NHL's most successful franchise the past 13 years. In that span Detroit has appeared in five Stanley Cup finals and is on the verge of winning the Cup for the fourth time.

"I think that carries over into relationships as a team in this dressing room and that carries over onto the ice," McCarty said. "It's one of our biggest assets, but it sort of goes unnoticed. This is our extended family. We've been through so much together on the ice and off the ice.

"That's the bond we've had - not only winning Cups, being successful and having great teams - but it's the extra thing you can't pinpoint. For the guys that have been through a lot of that together, it really means something."

Malkin missing in action

No one's reputation has taken a bigger beating in the Stanley Cup final than Evgeni Malkin.

The Hart Trophy nominee was pointless through the first four games entering Monday night's encounter and was wondering aloud why he can't score. In fact, Malkin's entire line, which includes Petr Sykora and Ryan Malone, had yet to register a point through four games.

"He's facing a tough time," Pittsburgh coach Michel Therrien said. "He's a good kid. He means well.

"Things are not going the way that he'd like to or we'd like to as well, but in the meantime, he's working hard. And sometimes it doesn't always go the way you'd like it to go, but the only thing he's got to do is keep focusing and working hard."

Thrashers in pursuit of McLellan?

Once the Stanley Cup final wraps up, there's expected to be a flood of moves to fill the numerous coaching vacancies around the league.

One new face that's expected to get serious consideration for his first NHL head coaching job is Detroit Red Wings assistant Todd McLellan.

The Atlanta Thrashers are reportedly very interested in talking to McLellan about their opening.

Growing appreciation

With three Stanley Cup rings, an Olympic gold medal and five Norris Trophies already in his possession, one would wonder where Nick Lidstrom finds the motivation to maintain his level of excellence.

As humble a superstar as you'll find in the NHL, Lidstrom's politeness masks a burning competitive streak that has left him addicted to winning.

"If you've been there before, you know what it takes and you know the reward at the end," Lidstrom said.

"It's so much more gratifying when you know what can happen after you win the Stanley Cup. That's what's driving me, to get that feeling back."

Lidstrom added he's found his drive to win Cups is even greater than when he was younger. Perhaps that's why he's mused about signing another contract to play into his 40s if he maintains his standards.

"As you get older, you enjoy it even more," Lidstrom said. "You don't know when you're going to get this chance again."

Wings losing little sleep

As close as they are to lifting the Stanley Cup, the Detroit Red Wings are doing their best not to taste it too soon.

That's easy for the 10 players who've been there before, but what about the guys who are experiencing it for the first time?

Surprisingly, they say it wasn't much of a challenge to sleep Sunday night, on the brink of their first chance to wrap up the Cup.

"I thought it was going to be a lot more difficult than it was, but it wasn't," Wings defenceman Brett Lebda said.

"I actually just tried to relax as much as I could and as hard as it was, I tried not to think about it too much. I just tried to play some video games and make myself tired. Played a little Guitar Hero, a little Rock Band. Just tried to take my mind off the game for a while, then get to sleep and get a good night's rest. I woke up this morning pretty refreshed.

" 5/8 slept very well and I'm looking forward to (Monday night)."

Winger Mikael Samuelsson, another player looking for his first Cup, was also surprised by how easily sleep came for him.

"Not bad at all," Samuelsson said. "I slept great. I didn't think too much about it. I had more nerves before the first game than I have right now at this point of the series.

"At the beginning of the series, you don't know what to expect, so you're a little more uncertain."

Chelios no fan of fly-fishing

On their off-day last Thursday in Pittsburgh, the Wings travelled to a local resort area and defenceman Chris Chelios opted to join a few teammates on a fly-fishing excursion.

In retrospect, he wishes he taken another route to relaxation.

"I got frustrated fishing," Chelios said. "It was too much work. Fishing should be relaxing. I had a couple on the line, but I didn't bring anything into the shore. I'd never fly-fished before.

"I didn't like it and I'll never do it again. It wasn't the best experience for me. I thought I'd try it, because I'd never done it before and now I know I never want to do it again."

Chelios fine with sitting

Detroit Red Wings defenceman Chris Chelios is philosophical about being a healthy scratch throughout the Stanley Cup final.

"Everybody wants to play," he said. "I don't have to convince anyone of that. The only thing that keeps you sane is when you're winning.

"I've been here for eight years. If I'm called upon, these guys know I'll be there for them. If I have to support them in the room and do what I'm doing now, then that's fine by me, too.

"There's all kinds of ways to try and justify it when you're out of the lineup. I can look at my age, I can look at the situation. I'm ready and if I get an opportunity, great and if I don't and we win, then that's just as good."

He's also hoping to remain a Wing next season, especially if the club does play an outdoor game against the Blackhawks in his home in Chicago, as has been speculated.

"The last thing I heard, we were playing in New York (at Yankee Stadium), then they squashed that one because we told you (media)," Chelios said. "I'm just waiting until they announce it, because I couldn't think of a better setting.

"I think they said Wrigley Field. Actually, you could fit more people into Soldier Field. Wrigley might be just a little warmer, not being right on the lake. If you're selling the game and you want more people there, then Soldier Field would be the ideal place. Either place is a great, historic building."

There's just one catch - don't call Chelios for tickets.

"If I'm playing, I'll make an announcement through the media that everyone can get their own tickets," he said. "Just like I pretty much have for the playoffs."