On this day in 1997, a moment of pure magic unfolded on the ice as Slava Kozlov etched his name into Detroit Red Wings lore. A key member of the famed "Russian Five," Kozlov delivered a triple-overtime winner against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, sending the Joe Louis Arena crowd into a frenzy and keeping Detroit's Stanley Cup dream alive.

The Red Wings were riding an emotional high after ending a 42-year championship drought, but the road to glory was anything but easy. After dispatching the St. Louis Blues in six games in the opening round, Detroit faced a surprising Mighty Ducks squad making its first-ever playoff appearance. Anaheim had just knocked off the Phoenix Coyotes, but the Red Wings' depth and resilience proved too much to handle.

In a series that showcased the drama of playoff hockey, three of the four games needed overtime to find a winner. Game 1 was over in less than a minute, with Brendan Shanahan setting up Martin Lapointe for a two-on-one rush that ended in Lapointe's first overtime goal since his Pee Wee days. But Game 2 was a marathon, stretching into a third extra period. With goaltender Guy Hebert sidelined by injury, backup Mikhail Shtalenkov stood tall—until Kozlov fired a shot from the face-off circle that beat him at 1:38 of triple OT, lighting up the scoreboard and the hearts of Red Wings fans.

After a regulation win in Game 3, Detroit closed out the sweep in Anaheim with another double-overtime thriller, this time Shanahan playing hero. The victory set up a Western Conference Final showdown with the rival Colorado Avalanche, a series that would define an era.

For fans of the game, this series remains a testament to the grit and skill that makes playoff hockey unforgettable. Whether you're reliving the glory or discovering it for the first time, it's a reminder of why we love this sport—and why wearing the winged wheel never goes out of style.