Red Wings close in on NHL crown

Detroit are on the verge of their 11th Stanley Cup victory, leading their NHL finals series against Pittburgh 3-1.

Game five in the best-of-seven series is in Michigan on Monday, with the Red Wings expected to wrap things up in front of their own fans.

"We know we haven't won anything yet," said defenceman Nicklas Lidstrom, the Red Wings' Swedish captain.

"We have to win four games to win the Stanley Cup, but we're excited this is where you want to be."

Detroit have a 9-1 win-loss home mark in this season's play-offs, with their only defeat coming against Dallas when leading the Western Conference finals 3-1.

Pittsburgh suffered back-to-back shut-outs in the first two games of the Stanley Cup series, and skipper Sydney Crosby knows extending it will be a tall order.

"It's pretty clear and simple, we've got to win to stay alive," he said.

"We have to make sure we empty the tank and play desperate and see where that takes us."