Darren Helm scored 3:58 into overtime Wednesday, giving Detroit a 2-1 win over Chicago and putting the Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Finals. For the second straight year, Detroit will be taking on the Pittsburgh Penguins for the NHL title.

Daniel Cleary's slap shot found the net with 3 minutes to play Thursday, giving Detroit a 4-3 win over Anaheim and a berth in the Western Conference finals. The Game 7 victory kept alive the Red Wings' hopes of a second straight Stanley Cup and ended a thrilling series that saw five of the seven games decided by a single goal. Anaheim, which barely made the playoffs and then eliminated top-seeded San Jose in the first round, battled back from a two-goal deficit and tied the game 7:37 into the third period on a tip-in by Bobby Ryan. The contest appeared headed for the ultimate in thrilling hockey conclusions, a seventh-game overtime, before Cleary ripped a shot past Jonas Hiller. Jiri Hudler, Darren Helm and Mikael Samuelsson scored the other Detroit goals and Chris Osgood stopped 24 of 27 shots to get the victory. Detroit will now take on the Chicago Blackhawks for the Western Conference title and the right to play for the NHL championship.

Daniel Cleary scored the third of three Detroit goals in the first 6:08 of the third period Thursday and the Red Wings fought off Vancouver 6-5. Cleary's second goal of the game gave Detroit a 6-3 lead, but the Red Wings still had to sweat out a win. Chris Osgood allowed five goals on 25 shots, including late tallies by Henrik Sedin and Alexandre Burrows that brought the Canucks within one. Burrows scored with 1:25 to play, but Osgood finally shut the door to bring the Red Wings their third win in four games.