Which team swept the 1998 Stanley Cup Final to win its second straight championship?

The Detroit Red Wings swept the 1998 Stanley Cup Final to win their second straight championship.

Detroit entered the series as the defending champion after beating the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1997 Final. The Red Wings then defeated the Washington Capitals in four games, with scores of 2–1, 5–4 in overtime, 2–1, and 4–1. The sweep gave Detroit its ninth Stanley Cup and its second consecutive title.

Steve Yzerman, Detroit’s captain, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. The championship was also notable because the Capitals were appearing in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in franchise history. Detroit’s coach was Scotty Bowman, who added another title to his record-setting coaching career.

A common mix-up is confusing the 1998 opponent with the Colorado Avalanche, whom Detroit defeated in the 1997 Western Conference Final. The Red Wings’ back-to-back championships were completed against Washington, not Colorado.