Page "Detroit Red Wings" Paragraph 48

On July 2, 2008, the Detroit Red Wings announced the signing of Marian Hossa.

From the beginning of the 2008 – 09 season to New Year's Day, the Wings enjoyed success.

Although they finished second in the conference to the San Jose Sharks, the Wings became the first team in NHL history to top 100 points in nine straight seasons.

On January 1, 2009, the Red Wings played the Chicago Blackhawks in the third NHL Winter Classic at Chicago's Wrigley Field, beating them 6-4.

The Wings entered the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the second overall seed in the Western Conference.

The Red Wings handily swept the Columbus Blue Jackets, then beat the 8th-seeded Anaheim Ducks in a hard fought seven-game series.

They took on the vastly improved Chicago Blackhawks in the Conference Finals, winning in five games.

The Red Wings would face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Finals for a second consecutive year, but this series would feature a different outcome.

Pittsburgh defeated the Red Wings in seven games, Detroit becoming only the second NHL team to lose the Cup at home in Game 7.