The gruelling NHL playoff season came to a conclusion last night. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Calgary Flames by a 2-1 score in game seven of their Stanley Cup finals. The Lightning got two goals from Ruslan Fedotenko and solid goaltending from Nikolai Khabibulin to defeat a dejected Flames team. The game was tight from the very start with few shots on goal and a lot of tense, defensive play. The Flames did not really show much of an offensive spark until the last ten minutes and by then it was too late.

Lightning forward Brad Richards was awarded the Conn Smythe trophy as the most valuable player during the 2003-04 Stanley Cup playoffs. The win gives Tampa Bay its first Stanley Cup victory in its short 11 year life in the National Hockey League. This is the same franchise that suffered through playing in an awful facility, frequent ownership changes, and poor performances on the ice.

But things have certainly changed in Tampa with a talented young time that might have just hit its stride. They should continue to excel thanks to this new found confidence and continue to perform well in the seasons to come. Their open and offensive style of play is certainly much appreciated by the fans.