2003–04 Eliteserien season

The 2003–04 Eliteserien season ended with Storhamar Dragons claiming their fifth Norwegian title after defeating Vålerenga in double overtime in game 7. Michael Smithurst scored the game winner nearly two minutes into the second extra period in front of 7,405 spectators.^[1]

The following players led the league in points at the conclusion of the regular season.^[2]

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus–minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

The following goaltenders led the league in goals against average at the conclusion of the regular season.^[3]

GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

After the regular season, the new standard of eight teams qualified for the playoffs. In the first round, the two highest remaining seeds were drawn against the two lowest remaining seeds; in the second round, the highest remaining seed was drawn against one of the two lowest. In each round the higher-seeded team was awarded home ice advantage, giving them a possible maximum of three home games as opposed to the lower-seeded team's possible maximum of two. Each best-of-five series followed a 1–2–1–1 format: the higher-seeded team played at home for games 2 and 3 (plus 5 if necessary), and the lower-seeded team at home for games 1 and 4 (if necessary).^[4]

The final was contested between the Storhamar Dragons and Vålerenga for the second consecutive year. In 2003, the championship had been decided in four straight games when Vålerenga won 4–0 to claim their 22nd title and 18th "double". As in the previous season, the 2004 final was played as a best-of-seven series following a 1–1–1–2–1–1 format. Storhamar, as league champions, were seeded first and played at home for games 2, 4, 5 and 7.^[4] They took the lead after winning the first game 2–1 in overtime, but failed to capitalize, losing their first home game 0–4. The third and fourth games were both won by the home side. Game 5 saw Vålerenga achieve an away win in overtime to lead the series 3–2, but Storhamar came back to claim another overtime victory in Oslo and force a seventh, championship deciding game at Hamar OL-Amfi. A record 7,405 spectators turned out for the first game 7 in the history of the Norwegian Championship, in which Storhamar's Michael Smithurst scored the winning goal after 21 minutes and 54 seconds of overtime.^{[5] [6]}

Source: hockey.no

GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTW = Overtime Wins; OTL = Overtime losses; SOW = Shootout Wins; SOL = Shootout losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points; Q = Qualified
Source: speaker.no

1. ^ http://www.dragons.no/statistikk/content.asp?menuItem=11&docID=12480&elmID=9145 Archived 2007年09月05日 at the Wayback Machine Boxscore Game 7 03–04 Finals
2. ^ "Scoring Leaders - Eliteserien 03/04". Norwegian Ice Hockey Association. Archived from the original on 2011年07月24日. Retrieved 2011年02月20日.
3. ^ "Leading Goaltenders - Eliteserien 03/04". Norwegian Ice Hockey Association. Archived from the original on 2011年07月24日. Retrieved 2011年02月20日.
4. ^ ^{a b} "Sluttspill om Norgesmesterskapet menn 2003/2004". Norwegian Ice Hockey Association (in Norwegian). 2004年03月28日. Archived from the original on 2011年07月24日. Retrieved 2010年03月23日.
5. ^ "Smithurst fikset festen". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). 2004年03月28日. Archived from the original on 2011年06月29日. Retrieved 2010年03月23日.
6. ^ "Boxscore Game 7: Storhamar – Vålerenga". Norwegian Ice Hockey Association. Archived from the original on 2011年07月24日. Retrieved 2010年03月23日.