The blood had already soaked into Kris Draper's reddish-orange beard, a reminder of what the Detroit Red Wings needed to win Game 6 of the Western Conference finals.

Draper was among the Red Wings blazing a path to the Stars' net in the first period of a 4-1 win. Draper had the first score in a three-goal period, when a puck bounced off his face.

"It went off my chin and went in," Draper said. "Who cares? It crossed the line."

And the Red Wings returned to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since winning it in 2002. They'll face the Pittsburgh Penguins, a team that can match their skill and firepower with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

While this Detroit team was a top seed – the first No. 1 seed in the West to reach the Stanley Cup Finals since that 2002 team – it is far different. The goal never changes.

"The expectations are always high within the organization," forward Kirk Maltby said.

The 2002 group resembled a future Hall of Fame wing, coached by Scotty Bowman with Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille, Brendan Shanahan and Igor Larionov among a who's who of players.

This year's group has gotten a makeover, although names such as Draper and Nicklas Lidstrom remain.

New skilled players have emerged such as Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk, who each scored in the clinching Game 6.

The 2002 team survived losing the first two games of the playoffs at home to Vancouver.

This year's group had to deal with the Stars' bouncing back from a 3-0 deficit with two wins.

"We've got a professional team, a good team," coach Mike Babcock said. "We just talked about doing what we do, just getting started on time, doing it harder, doing it for longer."

A few prodigal Red Wings played key roles.

Goaltender Chris Osgood, jettisoned after winning the 1998 Stanley Cup, made 28 saves, including 15 in the third period when the Stars threatened.

Dallas Drake, who was traded out of Detroit in 1994 after falling into Bowman's doghouse, returned this season. He had a goal, an assist, two hits and two blocked shots while reaching a Stanley Cup Finals for the first time.

"You try to reiterate how hard it is," said Drake, who is considering retirement. "These guys have been very fortunate to play as long as they have, to be to a few Stanley Cups. It's very difficult."