Red Wings raise 11th Stanley Cup banner in rafters

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings hoisted an 11th Stanley Cup banner to the rafters Thursday night at Joe Louis Arena before their opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Gordie Howe and other former Red Wings passed the white banner with red stitching to current standouts such as Nicklas Lidstrom on the ice in a pregame ceremony.

The Stanley Cup was on display, atop a puck-shaped pedestal, along with six other trophies Detroit won last season.

A sold-out crowd cheered the loudest for vice president Steve Yzerman -- who helped the Red Wings win three Cups -- general manager Ken Holland, coach Mike Babcock, goaltender Chris Osgood and Lidstrom.

Detroit is on a quest to be the first to repeat as Stanley Cup champions since doing it in 1998.