To some a catch phrase or a patch on a sweater. To the Detroit Red Wings, a philosophy with personal meaning to every player.

The Red Wings won their second straight Stanley Cup for each other Tuesday night. More importantly, they won it for two fallen comrades, for whom the players had dedicated the season.

Soon after the Red Wings beat the Washington Capitals in Game 4, captain Steve Yzerman handed the Stanley Cup to Vladimir Konstantinov. The defenseman, known as the Vladinator because of his bruising style of play, is bound to a wheelchair after a limousine accident last year left him and former team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov severely injured.

"It was about two minutes left in the game, (Brendan) Shanahan leaned over and said, 'I don't want to -- I've been waiting to ask you this, but who are you going to give the Cup to after you get it?" Yzerman said. "And my first response was I'm giving it to Ozzie.

"And he said, 'What about Vladie?'

"I said if he's on the ice, absolutely."

No therapy could have a bigger impact on Konstantinov's recovery than the scene at center ice Tuesday night. Konstantinov beamed a wide smile and took some puffs on a victory cigar while waiting for the Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy presentations to playoff MVP Yzerman.

"When we saw Vladie on the ice, I couldn't believe my eyes," Detroit center Sergei Fedorov said.

After Yzerman received the Cup from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, the Red Wings center skated over and placed the trophy across Konstantinov's lap. His wheelchair was suddenly swarmed by the rest of the Red Wings players, trainers and coaches in an overwhelming show of unity.

"Vladie was (the happiest) I've ever seen him in the last year or so. We did something right for him," said Detroit defenseman Slava Fetisov, who was also in the limo crash but escaped serious injuries. "He was surrounded by his family and friends. It was a great, great moment. I didn't expect him to go down to the ice."

The captain traditionally takes the first lap around the ice, but Yzerman proudly gave the honor to Konstantinov. Detroit players followed together as he was wheeled around the ice for a lap.

"If anything our team has just grown closer," Yzerman said. "Throughout the last year and probably the biggest reason why we're successful is because we're a very close team who when we come to the rink, truly enjoy being together every day. And that accident and the past year has just brought our team even closer.

"The only thing we really care about is winning and playing well together. (The) guys are incredibly unselfish."

With Konstantinov's and Mnatsakanov's inspiration, the Red Wings were not going to be denied another championship. Last year's celebration was cut short by the limo accident, which occurred just six days after the Red Wings won the Cup.

Shortly after the Red Wings went up 4-1 early in the third, fans at the MCI Center started chanting "Vladie, Vladie." With 16:48 left, Konstantinov was helped to his feet and waved back to the thousands of Red Wings fans who were nearly in equal numbers with Capitals fans.

Moments after the final seconds ticked down to zero, Konstantinov was wheeled onto the ice from the opposite corner where the Red Wings were celebrating. While waiting for the players to go through postgame handshakes, Capitals players offered their greetings and best wishes to Konstantinov.

"I'm happy for his family and everybody who has given him such support," Capitals defenseman Sergei Gonchar said. "Hopefully he's going to get better and better every year. And I'm really happy he was here. I'm really glad the fans gave him such support and haven't forgot about him.

Capitals coach Ron Wilson stood at his bench to watch the Cup presentation. He said watched as a hockey fan and didn't want to run and hide after losing.

"It's a very tight-knit group," Wilson said. "What the heck can you say? There's no speech you can come up with or story you can tell that equates anywhere near what that team has gone through.

"That's outstanding what they did."

It's outstanding what happens when you believe.