There’s Joy in Detroit

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Red Wings fans showing their hometown pride during the Stanley Cup finals against the Penguins. Game 7 is Friday night in Detroit.

DETROIT — The Motor City has been hit by pretty much every crisis imaginable this last year, save for famine and a plague of grasshoppers.

Its mayor resigned and went to jail. Two of its three car companies wound up in bankruptcy. Unemployment soared to the highest level for any metropolitan area in the nation, and the wrecking crews showed up to take apart Detroit’s beloved Tiger Stadium.

But this week, sports is providing a much-needed lift to this beaten-down city.

The Red Wings face the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals Friday night, and Detroit is hoping for a repeat of last year’s championship.

Red Wings players, many of whom have grown traditional playoff beards, know they bear a special burden in giving Detroit a reason to celebrate.

“This has been an unbelievable run for our city and for our state, just because of the economy here,” Red Wings Coach Mike Babcock said. “It’s been absolutely fantastic. Now we’ve got to finish it off.”