DETROIT – Detroit Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood quit trying to grow a playoff beard long ago, knowing a futile struggle when he saw one.

At age 35, he still resembles the NHL's version of Opie, more peach fuzz than whiskers.

Where it counts most, Osgood has changed dramatically from the goalie that beat the Stars 10 years ago in the Western Conference finals.

So much has happened since. He left Detroit, came back, changed his entire goaltending approach and waited for a chance that finally came.

When asked about his memories of 1998, he only mentioned the Dallas heat and Mike Modano.

Yes, there was Jamie Langenbrunner's overtime goal from center ice in Game 5, the one that Osgood steered into his own net.

"I don't like talking about the past," Osgood said. "I don't think it has any bearing on what I'm doing right now. ... It's 10 years ago."

But he still remembers the scores – 3-2 in Game 5, and his 2-0 shutout in Game 6 to clinch the series.

Detroit won the Stanley Cup that year, although Osgood was more afterthought than centerpiece. The perception was that he had been dragged to a championship by a tough-minded group who overcame bad goals in the first three series.

"When you mention us winning in '98, they talk about a lot of things except Ozzie," Detroit center Kris Draper said. "You're not going to win a Stanley Cup without great goaltending.

"Ozzie would be the first one to admit, he let in a few that he would like to have back. The next game is when he was at his best."

During and after the lockout in 2004-05, he rebuilt himself as a standup goaltender, refining his technique and positioning.

"It's called professionalism," Red Wings goaltending coach Jim Bedard said. "To be in the league this long. ... He may look like a kid, but he's a wise old owl."

For this regular season, Osgood shared time with 43-year-old icon Dominik Hasek.

Tied 2-2 with Nashville in the first round, coach Mike Babcock replaced Hasek with Osgood. He's gone 6-0 since, and has won 33 of his last 46 decisions.

He's no longer a backup.

"I never thought of myself as that – ever," Osgood said. "If you do that, you've given up."