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===
Rk	Team 	Pts	W 	OTW	OTL	L 	GF-GA
1 	Storhamar 	94 	29	2 	3 	8 	151-87
2 	Vålerenga Oslo 	92 	28	3 	2 	9 	183-89
3 	Trondheim IK 	83 	25	3 	2 	12	160-100
4 	Frisk-Asker IF 	74 	20	5 	4 	13	152-118
5 	Sparta Sarpsborg IHK	64 	19	2 	3 	18	124-126
6 	Stavanger IK 	63 	19	1 	4 	18	163-152
7 	Stjernen Fredrikstad	62 	16	6 	2 	19	152-137
8 	Bergen 	43 	11	3 	4 	24	105-173
9 	Lillehammer IK 	42 	12	2 	2 	26	101-154
10	Manglerud Star Oslo 	13 	4 	0 	1 	37	80-235
==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 (plus 5 if necessary), and the lower-seeded team at home for games 1 and 4 (if necessary).
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: hockey.no
Norwegian Champions2004
Storhamar Dragons5th title
==Qualifying for UPC-ligaen 2004–05==
===Final standings===
 	Team 	GP	W	OTW	SOW	OTL	SOL	L	GF	GA	Pts
1	Lillehammer (Q)	6 	4	0 	0 	1 	0 	1	22	14	13
2	Comet (Q) 	6 	2	2 	1 	0 	0 	1	24	15	12
3	Manglerud Star 	6 	3	0 	1 	1 	1 	4	26	19	11
4	Hasle/Løren 	6 	0	0 	0 	0 	0 	6	15	39	0
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 = QualifiedSource: speaker.no
===Game log===
Qualifying for UPC-ligaen 2004–05 Game Log	Qualifying for UPC-ligaen 2004–05 Game Log
Rounds 1–6
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6	
==References==
==External links==
*http://hockey.no
Category:GET-Ligaen season
Category:2003 in hockey
Category:2004 in hockey
Category:2004 in hockey
Category:GET-ligaen seasons