Behind the scenes with the Cup
DETROIT ? It took a while to get Thursday's Stanley Cup party started in the Detroit dressing room, but the Red Wings quickly made up for lost time.

Brendan Shanahan, who scored two goals in Thursday's 3-1 win in Game 5 against Carolina, was the first player off the ice, pressed into duty to do television interviews.

He entered a deserted room with all the makings of a great party. Crates of champagne, cases of beer and soda were arrayed around the dressing room, waiting for the players and their special quest, the Stanley Cup.

Before meeting his media obligations, Shanahan stripped out of his equipment, grabbed an electric razor and heading for the bathroom, intent to remove the accumulation of two months of facial hair, the traditional playoff beard.

"My wife will kiss me tonight," Shanahan said with a smile.

There was a lot of kissing going on Thursday night in the bowels of Joe Louis Arena. As the players streamed in one by one, they were met by family and friends, finding embraces everywhere they turned. more...