2004 STANLEY CUP FINAL
Game 7 Images
I brought my camera to work hoping to capture some special images of the
Flames vs. Lightning 2004 Stanley Cup Final Game 7. A lot of the pictures
I took from my (Video Production Room) perch didn't turn out quite like I'd
hoped. My digital camera seemed to get confused by the glass in front of
me, the net behind the goal, and the lighting (no flash).
So here's a few pictures of my day as I arrived at the St. Petersburg
Times Forum, just after lunch.
Well, there was lots of activity around the Zamboni entrance. You can't
really see it here, but the Forum was getting wired up like crazy! The
ESPN guys, and various other TV crews had cables running everywhere.
On my way to the elevator that would take me to the fifth floor, I passed
the Press area. Later that night, the winners and losers would face the
glare of the camera lights, and questions from the media. I recalled
seeing Wayne Gretzky getting quizzed here during the 1999
Just before reporting for duty in the Control Room, I looked out of the
window at the south end of the Forum, and noticed the NHL had installed
a unique piece of equipment indeed! It's an air handler of sorts that
helped remove moisture from the interior of the facility, and aided the
environmental boys in keeping a grip on ice conditions. The device's
tentacles snaked around everywhere in the lower levels.
Here's a shot I took during our pre-game rehearsal. We actually projected
the video onto the ice rather than use the overhead scoreboard. All the
seats are draped with the soon-to-be-inflated "Thunder Stix." You can't
see it, but the laser show techs are fine tuning their gear as well.
The Bolts Win!! The team celebrated a few minutes around goal tender
Nikolai Khabibulin. Unbelievably, the Lightning would soon be hoisting
the Stanley Cup!
Final score, Lightning 2 - Flames 1
The Calgary Flames and Tampa Bay Lightning lined up for the traditional
post-game hand shake.
The war was over.
Tampa Bay Lightning Captain Dave Andreychuk is the first to hoist the
Stanley Cup.
Just down and to the right of my matrix terminal was the ESPN set. Here,
Chris Berman and Barry Melrose engage
in their post-game wrap up. During the series, the fans treated these
guys like rock stars!
Yours truly.
I finally had a chance to leave my finger prints on the
Stanley Cup.
All-Star Game.
