If the Detroit Red Wings had lost Game 6 in Colorado on Wednesday night, we would have figured they just weren't good enough to beat the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche.

After all, Peter Forsberg has been beyond amazing, Joe Sakic is almost impossible to contain and Patrick Roy is ... well, Patrick Roy.

But the Red Wings did not lose Game 6. Instead, after suffering a heart-breaking overtime loss on home ice in Game 5, the Wings rebounded with an impressive 2-0 shutout win over the Avs at the Pepsi Center.

Now, the Red Wings return home to The Joe for a winner-take-all Game 7 on Friday night. And, while the stakes are high for both clubs, the pressure sits squarely on the shoulders of Steve Yzerman & Co.

The Wings have poured so much into this season, trading for goaltender Dominik Hasek and signing free agents Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille, they can't afford to let this chance slip away. These acquired veterans, who won't be around too much longer, were supposed to ensure another Cup in Hockeytown.

For the most part, these hired guns have done their jobs. The Red Wings, who've outshot the Avs 193-147 in the series, come into this final showdown against their archrival knowing that they've been the better team for most of this classic series. In fact, if it weren't for Forsberg and Roy, the Wings would be preparing for the Hurricanes.

But, because of those two legends -- and some guys named Rob Blake and Adam Foote -- the Wings face their first Game 7 since 1996.

Detroit skates into the decisive clash with two things in its favor.

First, while the Wings are battered and bruised, they're relatively healthy. The Avs, on the other hand, could be without up to five regulars. No, Colorado isn't missing Roy or Forsberg, but Avs coach Bob Hartley likely will work with an even shorter bench.

Second, the Wings are at home. In recent Game 7s, that's been a huge plus. Just ask the Avs, who've won four straight Game 7s on home ice. Last spring, Hartley couldn't emphasize enough just how important it was to have home ice in Game 7.

Ironically, though, Hasek and Avs defenseman Darius Kasparaitis were central figures in the last Game 7 lost by the home team. Last year, Kasparaitis beat Hasek in overtime to lift the Penguins past the Sabres.

That couldn't happen again, could it?

If it does, the Wings will be kicking themselves for a long while. This is supposed to be their season to win. And, after such a huge "must-win" performance in Game 6, it would seem a tremendous waste if they didn't.

E.J. Hradek writes hockey for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at ej.hradek@espnmag.com.