Brad Richards won the 2004 Conn Smythe Trophy as the Stanley Cup Playoffs MVP, playing a crucial role in leading the Tampa Bay Lightning to their first Stanley Cup championship. Richards excelled with 26 points in 23 games, leading all players in the postseason. Facing the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Richards netted the Game 3 overtime winner in Montreal to give Tampa Bay a commanding 3-0 series lead. After taking the initial shot, which was stopped, Richards collected the rebound behind the goal line and banked it in off the goalie. During the Eastern Conference Final against the Philadelphia Flyers, Richards scored two more game-winning goals including the decisive tally in Game 1. Positioned in front of the Flyers' net, Richards sniffed out the rebound and sent a backhander into the back of the net. In the Stanley Cup Final, down 2-1 in the series against the Calgary Flames, Richards scored the only goal of Game 4, his seventh and last game-winner of the 2004 postseason, setting a record for most game-winning goals in a single Stanley Cup Playoffs. On a power play, Dave Andreychuk passed the puck to Richards, who blasted a one-timer past the netminder. Tampa Bay went on to win the series in seven games.