1984 Lewis Cup Finals

There was much anticipation heading into the 1984 Lewis Cup Finals. The red-hot St. Louis Spirits prepared to face the Cinderella Long Island Concordes in an aviation-themed showdown. Game one in St. Louis was fairly lopsided as the well-rested Spirits  jumped to an early 4-0 lead. Long Island managed to score one in the third but it was too late as St. Louis took game one and a 1-0 lead. David Appleby scored a hat-trick in game two as the Spirits broke a 2-2 tie late in the third period to win game two 4-2. Heading home for the next two games, Long Island remained confident. “We just need to try to force them to play our game” said Stuart Burns. It was easier said than done. Appleby and the Spirits won game three 3-1, taking a commanding 3-0 series lead.  Just one win away from their second Lewis Cup, St. Louis came roaring out of the gate with Appleby and Grant Millen each scoring as the Spirits jumped to a 2-0 lead. After Bobby Sorel stopped a barrage of St. Louis shots, Brian Reese scored for Long Island to bring the game to 2-1. About six minutes later, Craig Davidson tied the game. With only three minutes remaining in the game, Doug Macintyre scored to put the Concordes ahead 3-2. Sorel stopped twelve shots in the dying minutes but failed to stop everything as Jay Cross amazingly tied it for St. Louis with just 1.4 seconds to go. Overtime did not last long, Niklas Ekberg beat Sorel just 39 seconds into the extra frame to give the Spirits their second Lewis Cup in three seasons. David Appleby was named playoff MVP once again, his 18 points in only twelve playoff games solidifying his status as one of the greatest playoff performers of all time as the Spirits completed one of the most impressive feats in PHL history, winning 14 straight playoff games and losing only one to take home the Lewis Cup.