DETROIT -- When the NHL instituted a salary cap in 2005, the biggest casualty was supposed to be the Detroit Red Wings.

The only thing that has changed is the team's payroll, now $47 million, or about $20 million under its 2003 high. The approach that combines homegrown stars, veteran reclamation projects and savvy drafting remains intact.

The Red Wings are making their 17th consecutive playoff appearance, the longest active streak in major pro sports. They hope a win against the Stars in the Western Conference final leads to their fourth Stanley Cup since 1997. In nine of the past 12 seasons, the West representative in the finals has been either the Red Wings or the team that beat them.

As much as management has enjoyed owner Mike Ilitch's willingness to open his wallet, Detroit general manager Ken Holland said the Red Wings were never the NHL's version of the New York Yankees.

"There was a perception that we spent $50 million more than everybody else because of this," Holland said, holding up a printout of the NHL standings, "and the Stanley Cups."

As Holland noted, several other teams spent in the same range as the Red Wings before the cap.

"But they didn't win like we

did," Holland said.

He explained the Red Wings' success during an hour-long interview Tuesday in his Joe Louis Arena office.

The Red Wings' style was formed in 1996-97, when the team acquired center Igor Larionov. Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman put his five Russians together as a unit. The puck-possession game soon moved beyond one nationality and has continued with All-Star forwards Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk.

The Red Wings found Datsyuk in the sixth round of the 1998 draft. Zetterberg was taken in the seventh round a year later. Now they may be two of the 10 best forwards in the NHL.

"Yeah, we've been a little lucky getting players where we've gotten them," senior vice president Jimmy Devellano said. "How come we're lucky and how come other teams are never lucky in terms of late-round picks?"

Credit the scouting staff, led by assistant general manager Jim Nill, that has largely remained intact for more than 10 years.

The Red Wings have also found players such as Dan Cleary (20 goals) and Mikael Samuelsson, who struggled elsewhere.

Some say the Red Wings aren't big enough, tough enough and too European. In response, Holland listed the team's attributes.

"Most of our team has skill, most of our team can skate, most of our team can think," Holland said.

The players have bought into the salary-cap reality.

Captain Nicklas Lidstrom, a five-time winner of the Norris Trophy given to the league's top defenseman, likely could command $9 million on the market. He settled for $7.6 so Detroit could sign other top players.

"I think a lot of people thought we were going to drop off after the lockout when we couldn't go and sign players like we did in the past," Lidstrom said. "That shows this organization is not just built upon signing free agents but finding players within our own system."

Red Wings, 3-1.

Players to watch: Detroit RW Johan Franzen is known as "Mule," but he was a thoroughbred in Round 2 against Colorado, ringing up nine goals to set an NHL record for a four-game series. Brenden Morrow of Dallas has proven to be a captain from Central Casting, with tenacity, talent and toughness that have led the Stars to their first conference final since 2000.

In the net: Chris Osgood of the Red Wings is 6-0 after supplanting Dominik Hasek as Detroit's No. 1 goalie, but he could be the closest thing to a vulnerability Detroit has. Look past Marty Turco's miserable history against the Wings -- he's 2-10-5 all time, 0-7-2 at Joe Louis Arena -- and focus on what he has done this spring, and it's easy to understand why he is the key to Dallas' upset hopes.

How Red Wings can win: Overwhelm Dallas with their skill, speed and offensive depth.

How Stars can win: Turn the series into a low-scoring, grind-it-out marathon that neutralizes Detroit's superior talent and make the most of their power plays.

Who will win: Red Wings in six.