2002–03 NHL season

The 2002–03 NHL season was the 86th regular season of the National Hockey League. Thirty teams each played 82 games. The Stanley Cup winners were the New Jersey Devils, who won the best of seven series 4–3 against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. This was the last season before the NHL switched home and away jerseys.

Regular season

Final standings
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points

Eastern Conference
 Atlantic Division W L T OTL GF  GA PTSNew Jersey Devils(2)  46  20  10  6  216  166  108Philadelphia Flyers(4)  45  20  13  4  211  166  107New York Islanders (8)  35  34  11  2  224  231  83New York Rangers  32  36  10  4  210  231  78Pittsburgh Penguins  27  44  6  5  189  255  65

 Northeast Division W L T OTL GF  GA PTSOttawa Senators(1)  52  21  8  1  263  182  113Toronto Maple Leafs(5)  44  28  7  3  236  208  98Boston Bruins(7)  36  31  11  4  245  237  87Montreal Canadiens  30  35  8  9  206  234  77Buffalo Sabres  27  37  10  8  190  219  72

 Southeast Division W L T OTL GF  GA PTSTampa Bay Lightning(3)  36  25  16  5  219  210  93Washington Capitals(6)  39  29  8  6  224  220  92Atlanta Thrashers  31  39  7  5  226  284  74Florida Panthers  24  36  13  9  176  237  70Carolina Hurricanes  22  43  11  6  171  240  61

Western Conference
 Central Division W L T OTL GF  GA PTSDetroit Red Wings(2)  48  20  10  4  269  203  110St. Louis Blues(5)  41  24  11  6  253  222  99Chicago Blackhawks  30  33  13  6  207  226  79Nashville Predators  27  35  13  7  183  206  74Columbus Blue Jackets  29  42  8  3  213  263  69

 Northwest Division W L T OTL GF  GA PTSColorado Avalanche(3)  42  19  13  8  251  194  105Vancouver Canucks(4)  45  23  13  1  264  208  104Minnesota Wild (6) 42  29  10  1  198  178  95Edmonton Oilers(8)  36  26  11  9  231  230  92Calgary Flames  29  36  13  4  186  228  75

 Pacific Division W L T OTL GF  GA PTSDallas Stars(1)  46  17  15  4  245  169  111Mighty Ducks of Anaheim(7)  40  27  9  6  203  193  95Los Angeles Kings  33  37  6  6  203  221  78Phoenix Coyotes  31  35  11  5  204  230  78San Jose Sharks  28  37  9  8  214  239  73

Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points
 Player Team GP G A Pts Peter Forsberg  Colorado  75  29  77  106  Markus Naslund  Vancouver  82  48  56  104 Joe Thornton  Boston  77  36  65  101 Milan Hejduk  Colorado  82  50  48  98 Todd Bertuzzi  Vancouver  82  46  51  97 Pavol Demitra  St. Louis  78  36  57  93 Glen Murray  Boston  82  44  48  92 Mario Lemieux  Pittsburgh  67  28  63  91 Dany Heatley  Atlanta  77  41  48  89 Zigmund Palffy  Los Angeles  76  37  48  85

Stanley Cup Playoffs
Note: All dates in 2003.
Playoff bracket

Conference Quarterfinals
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
 Ottawa vs. NY Islanders Date  Away  Home  April 9  NY Islanders 3  0 Ottawa April 12  NY Islanders 0  3 Ottawa April 14  Ottawa 3  2 NY Islanders  2OT April 16  Ottawa 3  NY Islanders 1 April 17  NY Islanders 1  3 Ottawa Ottawa wins series 4–1 New Jersey vs. Boston Date  Away  Home April 9  Boston 1  2 New Jersey April 11  Boston 2  4 New Jersey April 13  New Jersey 3  0 Boston April 15  New Jersey 1  5 Boston  April 17  Boston 0  3 New Jersey New Jersey wins series 4–1 Tampa Bay vs. Washington Date  Away  Home  April 10  Washington 3  0 Tampa Bay April 12  Washington 6  3 Tampa Bay April 15  Tampa Bay 4  3 Washington  OT April 16  Tampa Bay 3  1 Washington April 18  Washington 1  2 Tampa Bay April 20  Tampa Bay 2  1 Washington  3OT Tampa Bay wins series 4–2 Philadelphia vs. Toronto Date  Away  Home  April 9  Toronto 5  3 Philadelphia April 11  Toronto 1  4 Philadelphia April 14  Philadelphia 3  4 Toronto  2OT April 16  Philadelphia 3  2 Toronto  3OT1 April 19  Toronto 1  4 Philadelphia April 21  Philadelphia 1  2 Toronto  2OT April 22  Toronto 1  6 Philadelphia Philadelphia wins series 4–3
1As of 2008, this playoff game is the 19th longest NHL overtime game ever. 53 minutes and 34 seconds of overtime were played before Mark Recchi scored the game-winning goal.

Western Conference Quarterfinals
 Dallas vs. Edmonton Date  Away  Home April 9  Edmonton 2  1 Dallas April 12  Edmonton 1  6 Dallas April 13  Dallas 2  3 Edmonton April 15  Dallas 3  1 Edmonton April 17  Edmonton 2  5 Dallas April 19  Dallas 3  2 Edmonton Dallas wins series 4–2 Detroit vs. Anaheim Date  Away  Home  April 10  Anaheim 2  1 Detroit  3OT April 12  Anaheim 3  2 Detroit April 14  Detroit 1  2 Anaheim April 16  Detroit 2  3 Anaheim  OT Anaheim wins series 4–0 Colorado vs. Minnesota Date  Away  Home  April 10  Minnesota 4  2 Colorado April 12  Minnesota 2  3 Colorado April 14  Colorado 3  0 Minnesota April 16  Colorado 3  1 Minnesota April 19  Minnesota 3  2 Colorado April 21  Colorado 2  3 Minnesota  OT April 22  Minnesota 3  2 Colorado  OT Minnesota wins series 4–3 Vancouver vs. St. Louis Date  Away  Home April 10  St. Louis 6  0 Vancouver April 12  St. Louis 1  2 Vancouver April 14  Vancouver 1  3 St. Louis April 16  Vancouver 1  4 St. Louis April 18  St. Louis 3  5 Vancouver April 20  Vancouver 4  3 St. Louis April 22  St. Louis 1  4 Vancouver Vancouver wins series 4–3

Conference Semifinals
Eastern Conference Semifinals
 Ottawa vs. Philadelphia Date  Away  Home  April 25  Philadelphia 2  4 Ottawa April 27  Philadelphia 2  0 Ottawa April 29  Ottawa 3  2 Philadelphia  OT May 1  Ottawa 0  1 Philadelphia May 3  Philadelphia 2  5 Ottawa May 5  Ottawa 5  1 Philadelphia Ottawa wins series 4–2 New Jersey vs. Tampa Bay Date  Away  Home  April 24  Tampa Bay 0  3 New Jersey April 26  Tampa Bay 2  3 New Jersey  OT April 28  New Jersey 3  4 Tampa Bay April 30  New Jersey 3  1 Tampa Bay May 2  Tampa Bay 1  2 New Jersey  3OT New Jersey wins series 4–1

Western Conference Semifinals
 Dallas vs. Anaheim Date  Away  Home  April 24  Anaheim 4  3 Dallas  5OT2 April 26  Anaheim 3  2 Dallas  OT April 28  Dallas 2  1 Anaheim  April 30  Dallas 0  1 Anaheim May 3  Anaheim 1  4 Dallas May 5  Dallas 3  4 Anaheim Anaheim wins series 4–2 Vancouver vs. Minnesota Date  Away  Home  April 25  Minnesota 3  4 Vancouver  OT April 27  Minnesota 3  2 Vancouver April 29  Vancouver 3  2 Minnesota May 2  Vancouver 3  2 Minnesota  OT May 5  Minnesota 7  2 Vancouver May 7  Vancouver 1  5 Minnesota May 8  Minnesota 4  2 Vancouver Minnesota wins series 4–3
2As of 2006, this playoff game is the 4th longest NHL overtime game. 80 minutes and 48 seconds of overtime were played before Petr Sykora scored the game-winning goal.

Conference Finals
 Eastern ConferenceOttawa vs. New Jersey Date  Away  Home  May 10  New Jersey 2  3 Ottawa  OT May 13  New Jersey 4  1 Ottawa May 15  Ottawa 0  1 New Jersey May 17  Ottawa 2  5 New Jersey May 19  New Jersey 1  3 Ottawa May 21  Ottawa 2  1 New Jersey  OT May 23  New Jersey 3  2 Ottawa New Jersey wins series 4–3and Prince of Wales Trophy Western ConferenceAnaheim vs. Minnesota Date  Away  Home  May 10  Anaheim 1  0 Minnesota  2OT May 12  Anaheim 2  0 Minnesota May 14  Minnesota 0  4 Anaheim May 16  Minnesota 1  2 Anaheim Anaheim wins series 4–0 andClarence S. Campbell Bowl

Finals
 Anaheim vs. New Jersey Date  Away  Home  May 27  Anaheim 0  3 New Jersey May 29  Anaheim 0  3 New Jersey May 31  New Jersey 2  3 Anaheim  OT June 2  New Jersey 0  1 Anaheim  OT June 5  Anaheim 3  6 New Jersey June 7  New Jersey 2  5 Anaheim June 9  Anaheim 0  3 New Jersey New Jersey wins series4–3 and Stanley Cup J.S. Giguère (Anaheim)wins Conn Smythe Trophy

Scoring leaders 
Note: GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points
 Player Team GP G A Pts Jamie Langenbrunner  New Jersey Devils  24  11  7  18 Scott Niedermayer  New Jersey Devils  24  2  16  18 Marian Gaborik  Minnesota Wild  18  9  8  17 John Madden  New Jersey Devils  24  6  10  16 Marian Hossa  Ottawa Senators  18  5  11  16 Mike Modano  Dallas Stars  12  5  10  15 Jeff Friesen  New Jersey Devils  24  10  4  14 Markus Naslund  Vancouver Canucks  14  5  9  14 Sergei Zubov  Dallas Stars  12  4  10  14 Andrew Brunette  Minnesota Wild  18  7  6  13 Wes Walz  Minnesota Wild  18  7  6  13

NHL awards
The NHL Awards presentation took place in Toronto.
 Presidents' Trophy:  Ottawa Senators Prince of Wales Trophy:  New Jersey Devils Clarence S. Campbell Bowl:  Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Art Ross Memorial Trophy:  Peter Forsberg, Colorado Avalanche Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy:  Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings Calder Memorial Trophy:  Barret Jackman, St. Louis Blues Conn Smythe Trophy:  Jean-Sébastien Giguère, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Frank J. Selke Trophy:  Jere Lehtinen, Dallas Stars Hart Memorial Trophy:  Peter Forsberg, Colorado Avalanche Jack Adams Award:  Jacques Lemaire, Minnesota Wild James Norris Memorial Trophy:  Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings King Clancy Memorial Trophy:  Brendan Shanahan, Detroit Red Wings Lady Byng Memorial Trophy:  Alexander Mogilny, Toronto Maple Leafs Lester B. Pearson Award:  Markus Naslund, Vancouver Canucks Lester Patrick Trophy:  Willie O'Ree, Raymond Bourque, Ron DeGregorio Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy:  Milan Hejduk, Colorado Avalanche NHL Plus/Minus Award:  Peter Forsberg & Milan Hejduk, Colorado Avalanche Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award:  Marty Turco, Dallas Stars Vezina Trophy:  Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils William M. Jennings Trophy:  Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils; Roman Cechmanek & Robert Esche, Philadelphia Flyers

All-Star teams
 First Team    Position    Second TeamMartin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils GMarty Turco, Dallas StarsAl MacInnis, St. Louis Blues DSergei Gonchar, Washington CapitalsNicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings DDerian Hatcher, Dallas StarsPeter Forsberg, Colorado Avalanche CJoe Thornton, Boston BruinsTodd Bertuzzi, Vancouver Canucks RWMilan Hejduk, Colorado AvalancheMarkus Naslund, Vancouver Canucks LWPaul Kariya, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim

First games
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 2002–03 (listed with their first team):
Martin Gerber, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins
Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres
Jordan Leopold, Calgary Flames
Rick Nash, Columbus Blue Jackets
Steve Ott, Dallas Stars
Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings
Ales Hemsky, Edmonton Oilers
Fernando Pisani, Edmonton Oilers
Jarret Stoll, Edmonton Oilers
Marc-Andre Bergeron, Edmonton Oilers
Jay Bouwmeester, Florida Panthers
Alexander Frolov, Los Angeles Kings
Cristobal Huet, Los Angeles Kings
Joe Corvo, Los Angeles Kings
Mike Cammalleri, Los Angeles Kings
Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Minnesota Wild
Francois Beauchemin, Montreal Canadiens
Vernon Fiddler, Nashville Predators
Anton Volchenkov, Ottawa Senators
Jason Spezza, Ottawa Senators
Ray Emery, Ottawa Senators
Jonathan Cheechoo, San Jose Sharks
Christian Backman, St. Louis Blues
Petr Cajanek, St. Louis Blues

Last games
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 2002–03 (listed with their last team):
Theoren Fleury, Chicago Blackhawks
Claude Lemieux, Dallas Stars
Mike Richter, New York Rangers
Pavel Bure, New York Rangers
Adam Graves, San Jose Sharks
Phil Housley, Toronto Maple Leafs
Doug Gilmour, Toronto Maple Leafs

References

Hockey Database
NHL Official Website

Category:National Hockey League seasons