2002–03 New Jersey Devils season

The 2002–03 New Jersey Devils season was the team's 21st season in the National Hockey League since the franchise relocated to New Jersey. After claiming Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference titles, the Devils won their third Stanley Cup championship in a seven game series against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.
==Regular season==
* January 17, 2003: Joe Nieuwendyk scored his 500th career goal against the Carolina Hurricanes in a 2–1 Devils victory. He then recorded his 1,000th career point on February 23 in a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
===Season standings===
===Game log===
No.	R	Date 	Score 	Opponent 	Record
1 	W	October 10, 2002 	2–1 	@ Ottawa Senators (2002–03) 	1–0–0–0
2 	W	October 12, 2002 	3–2 	Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–03) 	2–0–0–0
3 	W	October 18, 2002 	3–2 OT	Nashville Predators (2002–03) 	3–0–0–0
4 	L	October 19, 2002 	1–3 	@ Carolina Hurricanes (2002–03) 	3–1–0–0
5 	W	October 23, 2002 	2–1 	@ Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03) 	4–1–0–0
6 	W	October 25, 2002 	2–1 	@ Buffalo Sabres (2002–03) 	5–1–0–0
7 	W	October 26, 2002 	5–1 	Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03) 	6–1–0–0
8 	L	October 29, 2002 	1–2 	Carolina Hurricanes (2002–03) 	6–2–0–0
9 	W	November 2, 2002 	5–1 	Chicago Blackhawks (2002–03) 	7–2–0–0
10 	L	November 5, 2002 	2–3 	Calgary Flames (2002–03) 	7–3–0–0
11 	W	November 7, 2002 	1–0 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (2002–03) 	8–3–0–0
12 	L	November 9, 2002 	3–6 	Edmonton Oilers (2002–03) 	8–4–0–0
13 	W	November 12, 2002	3–2 OT	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2002–03) 	9–4–0–0
14 	W	November 15, 2002	5–1 	Montreal Canadiens (2002–03) 	10–4–0–0
15 	L	November 16, 2002	1–3 	@ Montreal Canadiens (2002–03) 	10–5–0–0
16 	W	November 19, 2002	4–3 OT	Buffalo Sabres (2002–03) 	11–5–0–0
17 	T	November 21, 2002	4–4 OT	New York Rangers (2002–03) 	11–5–1–0
18 	L	November 23, 2002	1–3 	Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03) 	11–6–1–0
19 	L	November 27, 2002	2–3 OT	@ Detroit Red Wings (2002–03) 	11–6–1–1
20 	W	November 29, 2002	2–1 	@ Nashville Predators (2002–03) 	12–6–1–1
21 	W	November 30, 2002	5–4 OT	@ St. Louis Blues (2002–03) 	13–6–1–1
22 	W	December 2, 2002 	1–0 OT	@ Philadelphia Flyers (2002–03) 	14–6–1–1
23 	L	December 4, 2002 	2–3 OT	Vancouver Canucks (2002–03) 	14–6–1–2
24 	W	December 6, 2002 	3–1 	Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03) 	15–6–1–2
25 	L	December 7, 2002 	0–1 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03) 	15–7–1–2
26 	W	December 10, 2002	2–0 	St. Louis Blues (2002–03) 	16–7–1–2
27 	L	December 12, 2002	2–4 	@ Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–03) 	16–8–1–2
28 	L	December 14, 2002	3–4 OT	@ Ottawa Senators (2002–03) 	16–8–1–3
29 	L	December 18, 2002	0–3 	Ottawa Senators (2002–03) 	16–9–1–3
30 	W	December 19, 2002	3–1 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03) 	17–9–1–3
31 	W	December 21, 2002	5–3 	Dallas Stars (2002–03) 	18–9–1–3
32 	T	December 23, 2002	2–2 OT	@ New York Rangers (2002–03) 	18–9–2–3
33 	L	December 27, 2002	2–3 	@ Washington Capitals (2002–03) 	18–10–2–3
34 	W	December 28, 2002	2–1 OT	Washington Capitals (2002–03) 	19–10–2–3
35 	W	December 30, 2002	1–0 	@ Boston Bruins (2002–03) 	20–10–2–3
36 	L	January 1, 2003 	1–2 	Florida Panthers (2002–03) 	20–11–2–3
37 	W	January 3, 2003 	2–0 	Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03) 	21–11–2–3
38 	L	January 4, 2003 	1–2 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03) 	21–12–2–3
39 	W	January 7, 2003 	3–2 	Montreal Canadiens (2002–03) 	22–12–2–3
40 	W	January 10, 2003 	2–1 	@ Florida Panthers (2002–03) 	23–12–2–3
41 	T	January 11, 2003 	3–3 OT	@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03) 	23–12–3–3
42 	W	January 13, 2003 	6–2 	Florida Panthers (2002–03) 	24–12–3–3
43 	W	January 15, 2003 	5–0 	New York Islanders (2002–03) 	25–12–3–3
44 	W	January 17, 2003 	2–1 	@ Carolina Hurricanes (2002–03) 	26–12–3–3
45 	W	January 18, 2003 	5–2 	Carolina Hurricanes (2002–03) 	27–12–3–3
46 	W	January 22, 2003 	5–4 OT	@ San Jose Sharks (2002–03) 	28–12–3–3
47 	W	January 24, 2003 	3–1 	@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2002–03)	29–12–3–3
48 	L	January 25, 2003 	1–2 OT	@ Los Angeles Kings (2002–03) 	29–12–3–4
49 	W	January 28, 2003 	1–0 	Detroit Red Wings (2002–03) 	30–12–3–4
50 	W	January 30, 2003 	5–1 	Philadelphia Flyers (2002–03) 	31–12–3–4
51 	W	February 4, 2003 	4–1 	Buffalo Sabres (2002–03) 	32–12–3–4
52 	W	February 5, 2003 	4–1 	@ Washington Capitals (2002–03) 	33–12–3–4
53 	L	February 7, 2003 	2–4 	Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03) 	33–13–3–4
54 	W	February 9, 2003 	3–2 	Minnesota Wild (2002–03) 	34–13–3–4
55 	L	February 11, 2003	1–3 	@ Colorado Avalanche (2002–03) 	34–14–3–4
56 	W	February 12, 2003	3–0 	@ Phoenix Coyotes (2002–03) 	35–14–3–4
57 	L	February 15, 2003	1–4 	Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03) 	35–15–3–4
58 	T	February 18, 2003	2–2 OT	@ Philadelphia Flyers (2002–03) 	35–15–4–4
59 	L	February 19, 2003	3–5 	Ottawa Senators (2002–03) 	35–16–4–4
60 	W	February 21, 2003	3–2 	Boston Bruins (2002–03) 	36–16–4–4
61 	W	February 23, 2003	4–3 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03) 	37–16–4–4
62 	T	February 25, 2003	3–3 OT	New York Rangers (2002–03) 	37–16–5–4
63 	T	February 27, 2003	3–3 OT	@ New York Islanders (2002–03) 	37–16–6–4
64 	W	March 1, 2003 	2–1 OT	Washington Capitals (2002–03) 	38–16–6–4
65 	L	March 4, 2003 	2–3 	@ Minnesota Wild (2002–03) 	38–17–6–4
66 	L	March 5, 2003 	4–5 OT	@ Calgary Flames (2002–03) 	38–17–6–5
67 	W	March 8, 2003 	4–2 	@ New York Islanders (2002–03) 	39–17–6–5
68 	L	March 11, 2003 	2–3 	Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03) 	39–18–6–5
69 	L	March 13, 2003 	3–4 	@ Boston Bruins (2002–03) 	39–19–6–5
70 	W	March 15, 2003 	3–1 	New York Rangers (2002–03) 	40–19–6–5
71 	L	March 17, 2003 	2–4 	Philadelphia Flyers (2002–03) 	40–20–6–5
72 	W	March 18, 2003 	1–0 	@ Montreal Canadiens (2002–03) 	41–20–6–5
73 	W	March 21, 2003 	3–1 	Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03) 	42–20–6–5
74 	W	March 22, 2003 	4–2 	@ New York Islanders (2002–03) 	43–20–6–5
75 	W	March 24, 2003 	4–1 	@ Florida Panthers (2002–03) 	44–20–6–5
76 	T	March 27, 2003 	2–2 OT	@ Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03) 	44–20–7–5
77 	T	March 28, 2003 	1–1 OT	@ Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03) 	44–20–8–5
78 	W	March 30, 2003 	6–0 	New York Islanders (2002–03) 	45–20–8–5
79 	L	April 1, 2003 	2–3 OT	Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03) 	45–20–8–6
80 	T	April 3, 2003 	1–1 OT	Boston Bruins (2002–03) 	45–20–9–6
81 	W	April 4, 2003 	2–1 	@ New York Rangers (2002–03) 	46–20–9–6
82 	T	April 6, 2003 	2–2 OT	@ Buffalo Sabres (2002–03) 	46–20–10–6
==Playoffs==
==Player stats==
===Regular season===
;Scoring
Player	Pos	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	LW 	81	28	29	57 	22 	17 	6 	0 	4
 	RW 	78	22	33	55 	65 	17 	5 	1 	5
 	C 	80	13	42	55 	48 	17 	2 	0 	4
 	LW 	81	23	28	51 	26 	23 	3 	0 	4
 	C 	80	17	28	45 	56 	10 	3 	0 	4
 	C 	80	19	22	41 	26 	13 	2 	2 	3
 	D 	79	3 	37	40 	14 	18 	2 	0 	0
 	D 	81	11	28	39 	62 	23 	3 	0 	3
 	RW 	58	12	13	25 	23 	5 	2 	0 	3
 	RW 	77	7 	13	20 	115	7 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	81	4 	16	20 	41 	18 	0 	0 	2
 	LW 	52	11	8 	19 	16 	-2 	3 	1 	1
 	LW 	68	6 	11	17 	23 	12 	0 	1 	4
 	D 	50	5 	8 	13 	22 	2 	2 	0 	1
 	D 	72	5 	8 	13 	98 	19 	0 	0 	1
 	LW 	76	4 	8 	12 	88 	3 	0 	0 	2
 	RW 	44	5 	6 	11 	25 	7 	1 	0 	1
 	LW 	38	4 	5 	9 	20 	3 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	69	2 	7 	9 	33 	6 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	26	5 	3 	8 	21 	0 	2 	0 	3
 	D 	37	1 	6 	7 	6 	10 	0 	1 	0
 	C 	21	4 	1 	5 	8 	3 	0 	1 	1
 	RW 	10	1 	3 	4 	7 	-3 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	17	2 	0 	2 	35 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	12	2 	0 	2 	2 	1 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	12	0 	2 	2 	0 	-1 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	3 	0 	1 	1 	0 	-1 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	11	0 	1 	1 	6 	-2 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	1 	0 	1 	1 	2 	-1 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	73	0 	0 	0 	10 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	11	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
;Goaltending
Player	MIN 	GP	W 	L 	T/OT	GA 	GAA 	SO	SA 	SV 	SV%
 	4374	73	41	23	9 	147	2.02	9 	1706	1559	.914
 	614 	11	5 	3 	1 	15 	1.47	1 	223 	208 	.933
Team: 	4988	82	46	26	10 	162	1.95	10	1929	1767	.916
===Playoffs===
;Scoring
Player	Pos	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	RW 	24	11	7 	18 	16 	1 	0 	4
 	D 	24	2 	16	18 	16 	1 	0 	0
 	C 	24	6 	10	16 	2 	2 	1 	1
 	LW 	24	10	4 	14 	6 	1 	0 	4
 	LW 	24	5 	8 	13 	26 	2 	0 	2
 	LW 	24	6 	6 	12 	2 	0 	0 	1
 	C 	24	3 	9 	12 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	23	2 	9 	11 	8 	2 	0 	0
 	C 	17	3 	6 	9 	4 	1 	0 	0
 	D 	24	3 	6 	9 	14 	1 	0 	1
 	RW 	24	1 	8 	9 	6 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	24	6 	2 	8 	8 	2 	0 	1
 	D 	24	0 	5 	5 	29 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	19	1 	3 	4 	8 	0 	0 	1
 	C 	4 	1 	3 	4 	0 	0 	0 	1
 	C 	24	1 	2 	3 	13 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	15	0 	3 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	14	1 	1 	2 	26 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	16	1 	0 	1 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	24	0 	1 	1 	6 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	5 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	13	0 	0 	0 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	13	0 	0 	0 	14 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	5 	0 	0 	0 	2 	0 	0 	0
;Goaltending
Player	MIN 	GP	W 	L	GA	GAA 	SO	SA 	SV 	SV%
 	1491	24	16	8	41	1.65	7 	622	581	.934
 	28 	2 	0 	0	0 	0.00	0 	8 	8 	1.000
Team: 	1519	24	16	8	41	1.62	7 	630	589	.935
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
      MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T/OT = Ties/overtime losses; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage; 
==Awards and records==
==Transactions==
==Draft picks==
The Devils' draft picks at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Rd #	Pick #	Player 	Nat 	Pos 	Team (League) 	Notes 	 	 	
1 	20 	No first-round pickThe Devils traded their 2001 first-round pick (later transferred to Buffalo and used on Daniel Paille), along with Randy McKay and Jason Arnott for Joe Nieuwendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner on March 19, 2002.	No first-round pickThe Devils traded their 2001 first-round pick (later transferred to Buffalo and used on Daniel Paille), along with Randy McKay and Jason Arnott for Joe Nieuwendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner on March 19, 2002.	No first-round pickThe Devils traded their 2001 first-round pick (later transferred to Buffalo and used on Daniel Paille), along with Randy McKay and Jason Arnott for Joe Nieuwendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner on March 19, 2002.	No first-round pickThe Devils traded their 2001 first-round pick (later transferred to Buffalo and used on Daniel Paille), along with Randy McKay and Jason Arnott for Joe Nieuwendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner on March 19, 2002.	No first-round pickThe Devils traded their 2001 first-round pick (later transferred to Buffalo and used on Daniel Paille), along with Randy McKay and Jason Arnott for Joe Nieuwendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner on March 19, 2002. 	No first-round pickThe Devils traded their 2001 first-round pick (later transferred to Buffalo and used on Daniel Paille), along with Randy McKay and Jason Arnott for Joe Nieuwendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner on March 19, 2002.	No first-round pickThe Devils traded their 2001 first-round pick (later transferred to Buffalo and used on Daniel Paille), along with Randy McKay and Jason Arnott for Joe Nieuwendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner on March 19, 2002.	No first-round pickThe Devils traded their 2001 first-round pick (later transferred to Buffalo and used on Daniel Paille), along with Randy McKay and Jason Arnott for Joe Nieuwendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner on March 19, 2002.
2 	51 	Anton Kadeykin 	 	D 	Elemash Elektrostal (Vysshaya Liga) 	 	 	 	
2 	53 	Barry Tallackson 	 	RW 	University of Minnesota (WCHA) 	No source exists to indicate why the Devils drafted twice in the second round of 2002. 	 	 	
3 	64 	Jason Ryznar 	 	LW 	University of Michigan (CCHA) 	The Devils acquired the 2002 third-round pick from Atlanta for Phoenix's 2001 fourth-round pick (used on Milan Gajic) and the Devils' 2002 seventh-round pick (later transferred to San Jose and used on Tim Conboy) on June 24, 2001.	 	 	
3 	84 	Marek Chvatal 	 	D 	HC Oceláři Třinec (Czech Extraliga) 	The Devils had traded their original 2001 third-round pick (used on Beat Schiess-Forster) to Phoenix for the Coyotes' 2002 third-round pick (Chvatal) on June 23, 2001. 	 	 	
3 	85 	Ahren Nittel 	 	LW 	Windsor Spitfires (OHL) 	 	 	 	
4 	117 	Cam Janssen 	 	RW 	Windsor Spitfires (OHL) 	 	 	 	
5 	154 	Krisjanis Redlihs 	 	D 	HK Liepajas Metalurgs (Latvian Hockey League) 	 	 	 	
6 	187 	Eric Johansson 	 	C 	Tri-City Americans (WHL) 	 	 	 	
7 	218 	Ilkka Pikkarainen 	 	RW 	HIFK Helsinki (SM-liiga) 	No source exists to indicate where the Devils acquired the pick to draft Pikkarainen. 	 	 	
8 	250 	Dan Glover 	 	D 	Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL) 	 	 	 	
9 	281 	Bill Kinkel 	 	LW 	Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 	 	 	 	
==See also==
*2002–03 NHL season
==References==
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Category:Stanley Cup championship seasons
Category:New Jersey Devils seasons
Category:2002 in hockey
Category:2003 in hockey