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Red Wings begin Stanley Cup quest vs. Predators

Apr 10, 2008 - 1:34 PM Nashville at Detroit 7:00 pm EDT Western Conference quarterfinals

DETROIT (Ticker) - The Detroit Red Wings, who claimed yet another Presidents' Trophy this season, have their sights set on a much larger prize - the Stanley Cup.

The Red Wings begin their quest for the championship on Thursday when they host the Nashville Predators in Game One of the Western Conference quarterfinals.

Detroit posted a 54-21-7 record this season, winning the Presidents' Trophy for the fourth time in the last six years.

However, since the Calgary Flames accomplished the feat in 1989, only four Presidents' Trophy winners have gone on the win the Stanley Cup. The Red Wings were the last team to accomplish that in 2002.

Detroit hasn't made it past the conference semifinals the last two times it led the league in points, but enters the postseason with a 7-1-1 record over its last nine regular-season games.

The Red Wings are dealing with some injuries as defenseman Brad Stuart and battle-tested forwards Kirk Maltby and Kris Draper are expected to miss Game One.

Despite the injuries, Detroit goaltender Dominik Hasek is confident in his team.

"To have success in the playoffs, you are going to need it all going - offense, defense and goaltending. You can't win with just one of them working," Hasek said. "I know that I like our chances. I know that I like our team."

The Predators also enter this series red hot, posting a 5-1-1 record in their last seven games to reach the 90-point plateau for the fourth consecutive season.

Dan Ellis has taken advantage of his first opportunity as a starting goalie this season, posting a 23-10-3 record with six shutouts and a league-leading .924 save percentage.

Predators Captain Jason Arnott believes goaltending will decide the series.

"If you don't have great goaltending, nothing is really going to happen for you, no matter how good your team plays," Arnott said. "I've played in series where we outshot and outchanced teams but couldn't beat their goalie. When you have a hot goalie, it gives your team confidence that, 'Hey, we've got a shot at this.'"

While Nashville went just 3-5-0 against its Central Division rivals this season, four of its losses to Detroit came by just a single goal.