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Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Calgary Flames 2003-04

The Stanley Cup is one of the most-recognized symbols in North American sports. It is the championship trophy of the NHL, National Hockey League which is won by one of the teams that have qualified for the championship finals after playing a series of playoff matches. It is the only trophy in professional sports that has the name of the winning players, coaches, management, and club staff engraved upon it. The Cup winners keep it until the new champion is crowned.

This Stanley Cup championship hockey match was played between Tampa Bay Lightning and Calgary Flames in 2003-04 season. Tampa Bay succeeded 3-2 in double overtime to force a seventh and deciding game at the St. Petes Times Forum. But to hoist the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history, the Lightning had to extend one trend and end another. At the same time, the Lightning snapped a puzzling streak of 13 straight games alternating wins.

Fedotenko staked Tampa Bay to a 1-0 lead during a power play when he flipped in a rebound from the slot the first period. He upped it to 2-0 with in the second period, ripping Lecavalier's centring pass beyond Kiprusoff's reach. The Flames overcame several injuries to extend their season to the absolute limit, losing key forwards Dean McAmmond and Steve Reinprecht prior to the playoffs, defenceman Denis Gauthier five games into the opening round and forward Matthew Lombardi late in round 2.

Tampa Bay Lightning captured the Stanley Cup for the very first time, fending off the Calgary Flames 2-1 in Game 7 of the championship finals. Ruslan Fedotenko tallied both goals for the Lightning before Craig Conroy replied for the Flames in the third period. Receiving the Stanley Cup from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was a defining moment for Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk, who had played in a record 1,759 games before finally winning it all.

Vincent Lecavalier had a chance to clinch it outright for Tampa Bay, but Flames netminder Miikka Kiprusoff made an amazing toe save to deny him on a breakaway with three minutes left. The Flames continued to press until defenceman Andrew Ference was assessed a charging penalty to go in the contest.

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