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Greatest Saddledome Games: The Flames return to the Cup Final against Tampa Bay (May 29, 2004)

Photo credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

By Ryan Pike

Aug 17, 2026, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 14, 2026, 20:07 EDT

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As we enter the final season of hockey at the historic Saddledome, we thought we would spend some time celebrating the history of the iconic building. So, throughout August, we’re taking a look back at key games and key moments in Saddledome history. Next up: after a 15 year absence, the Stanley Cup Final returns to the Saddledome.

Way, way back in the 1980s, the Calgary Flames were a ton of fun. Their team boasted a pretty stacked roster, including a slew of future Hall of Famers, and appeared in the 1986 and 1989 Stanley Cup Finals, hoisting the Cup in 1989.

But the 1990s were not good to the Flames, as their performance on the ice lagged, economics charged dramatically and attendance dwindled.

On May 29, 2004, the Flames hosted a Stanley Cup Final game on home ice for the first time in 15 years.

The lead up

The Flames had made the playoffs as the sixth seed in the Western Conference. They went on to defeat a trio of division winners from the Western Conference – Vancouver (Northwest), Detroit (Central) and San Jose (Pacific) to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

The 2004 Stanley Cup Final pit the Flames against the Tampa Bay Lightning, with the first two games being hosted in Tampa Bay. The two clubs split the games in Tampa Bay – each game had a 4-1 final score – and headed back to Calgary for Game 3 with the series tied at 1-1.

The box score

Gelinas Cgy (elbowing) – 0:21, first period
Lukowich TB (cross-checking) – 3:50, first period
Iginla Cgy, Lecavalier TB (fighting) – 6:17, first period
Clark Cgy (tripping) – 7:10, first period
Boyle TB (hooking) – 9:36, first period
Gelinas Cgy (holding the stick) – 17:03, first period

Lukowich TB (slashing) – 13:03, second period
Calgary (1-0) – Chris Simon (5) (Jarome Iginla, Jordan Leopold) PP – 13:53, second period
Calgary (2-0) – Shean Donovan (5) – 17:09, second period

Donovan Cgy (holding) – 4:05, third period
Sarich TB (slashing) – 17:23, third period
Calgary (3-0) – Jarome Iginla (12) (Robyn Regehr, Chris Simon) PP – 18:28, third period
Sarich TB (misconduct) – 19:16, third period

Final Score: Calgary 3, Tampa Bay 0

W: Miikka Kiprusoff (0 goals against on 21 shots); L: Nikolai Khabibulin (3 goals against on 18 shots)

The aftermath

Tampa Bay won three of the next four games, including a double-overtime clash at the Saddledome in Game 6 (it was in) en route to a seven game series victory to capture Stanley Cup.

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