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.

Regular season

Final standings

Statistics

Scoring leaders

The following players led the league in points at the conclusion of the regular season.
PlayerTeamGPGAPts+/–PIM
Jari KestiStavanger Oilers40263763+3140
Tommy KiviahoFrisk Tigers41272754+2320
Ilya DubkovTrondheim Black Panthers42322153+2970
Tomi SuoniemiStavanger Oilers40202545+1720
Teemu KohvakkaStavanger Oilers41182745+580
Tom Erik OlsenStorhamar Dragons40281644+3218
Patric EnglundVålerenga40212344+2320
Lars Erik SpetsLillehammer40281543−1012
Morten BakkeneStavanger Oilers41232043+1918
Jan Morten DahlTrondheim Black Panthers40103141+20147
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

Leading goaltenders

The following goaltenders led the league in goals against average at the conclusion of the regular season.
PlayerTeamGPTOIWLGASOSv%GAA
Jonas Bertil NorgrenStorhamar Dragons221,285:41--34692.341.59
Tommy LundVålerenga291,736:29--61591.132.11
Henrik SmångsSparta Warriors291,807:55--84190.752.79
Halvor Hårstad-EvjenFrisk Tigers281,568:52--61290.722.33
Rolf Joakim WibergTrondheim Black Panthers412,428:22--89590.652.20
GP = Games Played; TOI = Time On Ice ; W = Wins; L = Losses; GA = Goals Against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save Percentage; GAA = Goals Against Average

Playoffs

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, and the lower-seeded team at home for games 1 and 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. 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.

Bracket

Source:
Norwegian Champions
2004
Storhamar Dragons
5th title

Qualifying for UPC-ligaen 2004–05

Final standings

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:

Game log