Lightning inferno burns the Flames

The 2004 Stanley Cup Finals have an eerie similarity to the 1994 finals. The 2004 finals featured the Tampa Lightning, the favoured heavyweight and the underdog Calgary Flames with emerging superstar Jerome Iginla. The 1994 finals featured the New York Rangers, the favoured heavyweight and the underdog Vancouver Canucks with emerging superstar Pavel Bure. Like 1994, this year the NHL is on a high with record high TV ratings and an exciting series that got people talking about hockey. Then the NHL strike occurred, followed by overzealous NHL expansion that watered down the game and allowed the trap to become the necessary strategy to win games. Let us pray that the NHL learns from its mistakes and does not repeat them again.

Sure, it is going to be difficult negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement but after this year’s success of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Canadian teams; fans have a desire they have not had in years, to watch this great game. John Tortorella brought excitement back on the ice with his team’s wide open style of play that gave forwards the opportunity to be the recipients of cross-ice passes and a defence that eagerly joins offensive rushes. What a relief from a trapping style that created 1-0 wins and the suffocation of any enthusiasm! The Calgary Flames were a surprisingly suitable opponent. Not just because they were Canada’s team, but also because they are probably one of the hardest working hockey teams ever assembled. The Calgary Flames hit everything that moved, and tried to beat the lightning with their size and grit. Except for game seven the series was an exciting series to watch as the NHL’s most skilled team battled the NHL’s toughest team.

I hope that the Stanley Cup Final is a sign of things to come. Canadian teams able to be competitive in high-intensity hockey and most important playing next year.

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