ON THE ROAD WITH RYAN LESLIE

Hockey and hoops.
They go together like the Calgary Flames and the Harlem Globetrotters, both clubs in Tampa Bay currently for their respective games.
But with the hardwood down for the basketball game at Amalie Arena, the Flames took to the court post-workout for a makeshift game of "bump."
Some rapid-fire free throws followed up with some "respect the game" trash talk and even a diving save attempt by Matthew Tkachuk, where he cleared an entire row, yes, an entire row of courtside seats.
The game featured a little bit of everything. Everything but basketball talent.
That was until the world- famous Globetrotters stepped onto the court and sports worlds collided. A few "stick to hockey" shots were fired and there was some showtime as you might expect. But in the end, it would come down to one of the 'Trotters taking on Brian Elliott in the final of a challenge.
Now Elliott, whose basketball career started and ended in his childhood driveway, had had some earlier success against his own teammates but to represent the hockey world against someone who quite literally trots around the globe playing hoops? It was arguably one of the greatest challenges of the goalie's career.
Now I'm not saying it was pretty but the seas outside that arena were stormy on this day and, fittingly, lightning must have struck. Because if I wasn't there to witness it myself, I wouldn't believe this tale either - but Elliott, ELLIOTT, ladies and gentlemen, walked off that court a champion.
The Calgary Flames and the Harlem Globetrotters. Forever rivals.