19 Years Ago Today: The Tampa Bay Lightning Lifted the Stanley Cup for the First Time

"To me, those were benchmarks that made us really believe in each other. We play our game. We stick to the system. We can beat anybody. It was the key to the season."

The journey to the Stanley Cup started on April 8, 2004 as the Bolts played their first playoff game against the New York Islanders. Posters and T-shirts proclaiming "STANLEY NEEDS A TAN" were everywhere in Tampa Bay that year. The Bolts won 16 playoff games, earning their right to lift the Stanley Cup at home on June 7, 2004. 

Dave Andreychuk, who was the captain at the time, said that for more than half the 2003-04 Stanley Cup season he was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"We were beating teams and playing very well, but you still had in the back of your mind that this was going to end and we really weren't that good."

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVEKeDVAzr0[/embed]

Hard fought victories at Toronto and Philadelphia in February and March shifted the momentum for the Bolts. "To me, those were benchmarks that made us really believe in each other. We play our game. We stick to the system. We can beat anybody. It was the key to the season," Andreychuk said.

Tampa Bay's season ended with a tense 2-1 win over the Calgary Flames in Game 7 at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Here’s a look back…