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So, with home advantage and plenty of momentum after winning twice in Carolina, the Wings look set to lift the Cup on Thursday.

However, in the Western Conference finals and first four games of the Cup series, they are 4-1 on the road and just 3-3 at home.

In the Eastern Conference finals and first four Cup games, meanwhile, the Hurricanes are 4-1 on the road and 1-4 in Raleigh.

But Detroit coach Scotty Bowman thinks home advantage - or even disadvantage - is not important at this point.

Pressure

"When you get to this stage in your Stanley Cup run, the crowd is not going to have an influence for the most part," he said.

"Home ice is not as big (an advantage) as some people think."

Carolina won all three away games against Toronto in the Eastern finals, so they have not given up hope just yet.

Hurricanes defenceman Aaron Ward believes the pressure is actually on Detroit to win in front of their fans.

"The clinching game is the toughest, just because you have so many emotions and situations running through your mind," he said.

Brendan Shanahan celebrates scoring his team's third goal
Shanahan scored in game four
"It is a lot of pressure."

Wings goalie Dominik Hasek knows the Stanley Cup is almost within touching distance.

"We want to finish it here, but I don't want to be too excited because the final step is sometimes the most difficult."

However, the omens are good for a Detroit victory on Thursday.

Of the 26 teams who have had 3-1 series leads, 25 of them have won the Stanley Cup, 15 of them in game five.

But winger Brendan Shanahan says Detroit will take nothing for granted until their hands are on the trophy.

"This has been a great season," he said, "but we haven't accomplished our goal yet."


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