Detroit Free Press

ST. LOUIS -- Steve Yzerman sat on the bed in his hotel room and looked at his watch. The bus would not leave for 20 minutes, but he already was dressed in his blue sport coat and tie. His shirt collar was tight and stuck out. His hair was mussed. He folded his hands uncomfortably across his lap. With his boyish face, he looked like a school kid waiting for the car pool."Last year at this time, we weren't even in the playoffs," he said, staring at the TV. "I was skating down at Joe Louis Arena when the playoffs began for everybody else."