We’d hoped this year it’d be our turn again. After such an incredible regular season, Tampa Bay Lightning fans were making plans for a Stanley Cup victory parade before the puck dropped in Round 1. It wasn’t meant to be. 15 years ago this week, it was our turn. The Tampa Bay Lightning won Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, beating the Calgary Flames.
The Tampa Bay Lightning Win The Stanley Cup
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ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 7: Andre Roy #36 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates with professional wrestler Hulk Hogan after defeating the Calgary Flames 2-1 to win the Stanley Cup in game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 7, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)
The Tampa Bay Lightning Win The Stanley Cup
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ShareThe Tampa Bay Lightning Win The Stanley Cup
Share2004 Stanely Cup Tampa Bay Lightning victory parade
ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 9: Tampa Bay Lightning's Chris Dingman signs autographs for fans during a victory parade June 9, 2004 in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning beat the Calgary Flames in Game 7 of the NHL Finals. (Photo by Chris Livingston/Getty Images)
The Tampa Bay Lightning Win The Stanley Cup
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ShareThe Tampa Bay Lightning Win The Stanley Cup
ShareLightning v Flames, Game 7
ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 7: Cory Sarich #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning drinks from the Stanley Cup in the locker room after the victory over the Calgary Flames in Game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 7, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Flames 2-1. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The Tampa Bay Lightning Win The Stanley Cup
Share2004 Stanely Cup Tampa Bay Lightning victory parade
ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 9: Tampa Bay Lightning's Martin Cibak (L) and Vincent Lecavalier wave to fans during a victory parade June 9, 2004 in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning beat the Calgary Flames in Game 7 in the NHL Finals. (Photo by Chris Livingston/Getty Images)
The Tampa Bay Lightning Win The Stanley Cup
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ShareThe Tampa Bay Lightning Win The Stanley Cup
ShareThe Tampa Bay Lightning Win The Stanley Cup
ShareThe Tampa Bay Lightning Win The Stanley Cup
ShareLightning v Flames, Game 7
ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 7: Martin Cibak #8 and John Grahame #47 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrate with cigars while Grahame readies to pop the cork on a bottle of chilled Totts champagne in the locker room after the victory over the Calgary Flames in Game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 7, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Flames 2-1. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The Tampa Bay Lightning Win The Stanley Cup
Share2004 Stanely Cup Tampa Bay Lightning victory parade
ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 9: Tampa Bay Lightning's Ruslan Fedotenko waves to fans during a victory parade June 9, 2004 in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning beat the Calgary Flames in Game 7 NHL Finals. (Photo by Chris Livingston/Getty Images)
2004 Stanely Cup Tampa Bay Lightning victory parade
ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 9: Tampa Bay Lightning's Nikolai Khabibulin (C) waves to fans during a victory parade June 9, 2004 in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning beat the Calgary Flames in Game 7 for the championship. (Photo by Chris Livingston/Getty Images)
The Tampa Bay Lightning Win The Stanley Cup
ShareStanley Cup Finals: Lightning v Flames
ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 7: Thousands of fans that couldn't get tickets, cheer as theTampa Bay Lightning score against the Calgary Flames from outside the St Pete Times Forum in game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 7, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)
2004 Stanely Cup Tampa Bay Lightning victory parade
ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 9: Tampa Bay Lightning Captain Dave Andreychuk holds up the NHL Stanley Cup trophy during a victory parade June 9, 2004 in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning beat the Calgary Flames in Game 7 of the NHL Finals. (Photo by Chris Livingston/Getty Images)
2004 Stanely Cup Tampa Bay Lightning victory parade
ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 9: Tampa Bay Lightning Captain Dave Andreychuk holds up the NHL Stanley Cup trophy during a victory parade June 9, 2004 in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning beat the Calgary Flames in Game 7 for the championship. (Photo by Chris Livingston/Getty Images)
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 7: Left wing Ruslan Fedotenko #17 of the Tampa Bay Lightning tips his hat to the fans after defeating the Calgary Flames in Game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals at the St. Pete Times Forum on June 7, 2004 in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Flames 2-1 and won the series. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 7: Left wing Dave Andreychuk #25 of the Tampa Bay Lightning holds the Stanley Cup after defeating the Calgary Flames in Game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals at the St. Pete Times Forum on June 7, 2004 in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Flames 2-1 and won the series. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 7: Associate coach Craig Ramsay of the Tampa Bay Lightning holds the Stanely Cup after defeating the Calgary Flames in Game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals at the St. Pete Times Forum on June 7, 2004 in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Flames 2-1 and won the series. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 7: (L-R) Nikolai Khabibulin #35 and Andre Roy #36 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrate after the victory over the Calgary Flames in Game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 7, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Flames 2-1. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 7: (L-R) Vincent Lecavalier #4 of the Tampa Bay Lightning poses for a photo with wrestler Hulk Hogan, son Nick Hogan and wrestler Brian "Nasty Boy" Knobbs after the victory over the Calgary Flames in Game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 7, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Flames 2-1. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 7: Andre Roy #36 of the Tampa Bay Lightning hangs from the runway cover after the victory over the Calgary Flames in Game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 7, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Flames 2-1. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 7: Brad Richards #19 of the Tampa Bay Lightning poses for a photo with the Stanley Cup and friends after the victory over the Calgary Flames in Game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 7, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Flames 2-1. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 7: Executive Vice President and General Manager Jay Feaster of the Tampa Bay Lightning holds the Stanley Cup above his head after the victory over the Calgary Flames in Game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 7, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Flames 2-1. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 7: Vincent Lecavalier #4 of the Tampa Bay Lightning gets a hug after the victory over the Calgary Flames in Game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 7, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Flames 2-1. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 7: Vincent Lecavalier #4 of the Tampa Bay Lightning raises the the Stanley Cup over his head in the locker room after the victory over the Calgary Flames in Game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 7, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Flames 2-1. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 7: Nolan Pratt #44 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates with the Stanley Cup above his head after the victory over the Calgary Flames in Game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 7, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Flames 2-1. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Stanley Cup Finals: Lightning v Flames
ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 7: Pavel Kubina #13 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates after winning the Stanley Cup and defeating the Calgary Flames 2-1 in game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 7, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Stanley Cup Finals: Lightning v Flames
ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 07: Darren Rumble #38 of the Tampa Bay Lightning hoists the Stanley Cup after defeating the Calgary Flames in game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Final on June 7, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)
The Tampa Bay Lightning Win The Stanley Cup
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ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 7: Stan Neckar #2 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates with the Stanley Cup trophy after defeating the Calgary Flames 2-1 to win game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 7, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)
Lightning v Flames, Game 7
ShareTAMPA, FL - JUNE 7: Martin Cibak #8 of the Tampa Bay Lightning drinks from the Stanley Cup in the locker room after the victory over the Calgary Flames in Game seven of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 7, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Flames 2-1. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
