2003–04 NHL season

The 2003–04 NHL season was the 87th regular season of the National Hockey League. The thirty teams played 82 games in a new format that increased divisional games from 5 to 6 per team (30 total), conference games from 3 to 4 (32 total), and decreased inter-conference games to at least one per team, with three extra games (18 in total).

The Stanley Cup winners were the Tampa Bay Lightning, who won the best of seven series 4–3 against the Calgary Flames. This was the first season since the 1969–70 season that teams would wear their dark jerseys at home. For the fourth time in eight years, the all-time record for total shutouts in a season was shattered, as 192 shutouts were recorded. The 2003–04 regular season was also the first one (excluding the lockout-shortened regular season of 1994–95) since 1967–68 in which there was neither a 50-goal scorer, nor a 100-point scorer.

This was the final season that ABC and ESPN televised NHL games. It was also the final NHL season before the 2004–05 NHL lockout, and the final season in which games could end in ties.

Regular season

Final standings
Detroit Red Wings won the Presidents' Trophy and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

For rankings in conference, division leaders are automatically ranked 1–3.  These three, plus the next five teams in the conference standings, earn playoff berths at the end of the season.

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points
 Player Team GP G A Pts Martin St. Louis  Tampa Bay  82  38  56  94 Ilya Kovalchuk  Atlanta  81  41  46  87 Joe Sakic  Colorado  81  33  54  87 Markus Naslund  Vancouver  78  35  49  84 Marian Hossa  Ottawa  81  36  46  82 Patrik Elias  New Jersey  82  38  43  81 Daniel Alfredsson  Ottawa  77  32  48  80 Cory Stillman  Tampa Bay  81  25  55  80 Robert Lang  Washington / Detroit  69  30  49  79 Brad Richards  Tampa Bay  82  26  53  79

Leading goaltenders
Note: GP = Games Played; Mins = Minutes Played; W = Wins; L = Losses: OT = Overtime Losses; GA = Goals Allowed; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against Average
 Player Team GP Mins W L  T GA SO SV GAA Martin BrodeurNew Jersey75455438261115411.9172.03 Marty TurcoDallas7343593721131449.9131.98 Ed BelfourToronto5934443419612210.9182.13 Tomas VokounNashville7342213429101783.9092.53 Dan CloutierVancouver603539332161345.9142.27

Stanley Cup Playoffs
Note: All dates in 2004.

The 2004 playoffs were considered to be wide open with no clear favourite. All of the top teams had weaknesses. Tampa Bay and Boston were both young teams with no history of recent postseason success. Detroit, Ottawa, Colorado, and Philadelphia all had major questions in goal. New Jersey was marred by injuries to Scott Stevens and Brian Rafalski, while Vancouver was missing the suspended Todd Bertuzzi.

The first-round Eastern Conference matchups were notable for the number of heated rivalries. The Ottawa Senators met the Toronto Maple Leafs for the fourth time in five years in the always passion-filled Battle of Ontario. The Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens met in a resumption of the most common of all NHL playoff series, and one which the Canadiens have thoroughly dominated, including an upset win two years prior. The Philadelphia Flyers also played a hated division rival in the New Jersey Devils. The only non-rivalry was the Tampa Bay-New York Islanders series.

The West saw the resumption of the Vancouver-Calgary rivalry, which had been somewhat dormant as the Flames made the playoffs for the first time since 1996. In a less passionate but still interesting matchup, Detroit played division rival Nashville (whom they had struggled against during the regular season) in Nashville's first ever franchise visit to the playoffs. San Jose met the St. Louis Blues, while the always difficult four-five matchup saw Colorado and Dallas meet.

The Calgary Flames, a sixth seed, defeated three straight division champions, the Canucks, the Red Wings and the Sharks to become the first Canadian team to reach the Stanley Cup Finals in ten years, since the Canucks lost to the Rangers in the Finals in 1994. They faced the Tampa Bay Lightning, who defeated the Islanders in five, swept the Canadiens and defeated the Flyers in seven games.

The Flames and the Lightning battled hard in the Stanley Cup Finals, eventually pushing the series to seven games.  By game 5, the Flames took the 3–2 series lead back to Calgary, and in game six, a puck appeared to have gone into the net, which would have made the game 3–2, but the goal light did not go on, the referee did not signal that a goal had been scored, and play went on, no goal counted. Extensive replays showed the play was inconclusive. The Lightning would win the game in double overtime, and go on to win the Stanley Cup with a 2–1 win in game seven, with two goals from Ruslan Fedotenko. Brad Richards, with a team-high 25 points in the playoffs, was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Playoff bracket

Conference Quarterfinals
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
 Tampa Bay vs. NY Islanders Date  Away  Home  OT  Score April 8  NY Islanders  Tampa Bay   3 – 0 April 10  NY Islanders  Tampa Bay   3 – 0 April 12  Tampa Bay  NY Islanders   3 – 0 April 14  Tampa Bay  NY Islanders   3 – 0 April 16  NY Islanders  Tampa Bay  OT  3 – 2 Tampa Bay wins series 4–1 Philadelphia vs. New Jersey Date  Away  Home  Score April 8  New Jersey  Philadelphia  3 – 2 April 10  New Jersey  Philadelphia  3 – 2 April 12  Philadelphia  New Jersey  4 – 2 April 14  Philadelphia  New Jersey  3 – 0 April 17  New Jersey  Philadelphia  3 – 1 Philadelphia wins series 4–1 Boston vs. Montreal Date  Away  Home  OT  Score April 7  Montreal  Boston   3 – 0 April 9  Montreal  Boston  OT  2 – 1 April 11  Boston  Montreal   3 – 2 April 13  Boston  Montreal  2OT  4 – 3 April 15  Montreal  Boston    5 – 1 April 17  Boston  Montreal   5 – 2 April 19  Montreal  Boston    2 – 0 Montreal wins series 4–3 Toronto vs. Ottawa Date  Away   Home  OT  Score April 8  Ottawa  Toronto   4 – 2 April 10  Ottawa  Toronto   2 – 0 April 12  Toronto  Ottawa   2 – 0 April 14  Toronto  Ottawa   4 – 1 April 16  Ottawa  Toronto   2 – 0 April 18  Toronto  Ottawa  2OT  2 – 1 April 20  Ottawa  Toronto   4 – 1 Toronto wins series 4–3

Western Conference Quarterfinals
 Colorado vs. Dallas Date  Away  Home  OT  Score April 7  Dallas  Colorado   3 – 1 April 9  Dallas  Colorado   5 – 2 April 12  Colorado  Dallas  OT  4 – 3 April 14  Colorado  Dallas  2OT  3 – 2 April 17  Dallas  Colorado    5 – 1 Colorado wins series 4–1 San Jose vs. St. Louis Date  Away  Home  OT  Score April 8  St. Louis  San Jose  OT  1 – 0 April 10  St. Louis  San Jose    3 – 1 April 12  San Jose  St. Louis    4 – 1 April 13  San Jose  St. Louis    4 – 3 April 15  St. Louis  San Jose    3 – 1 San Jose wins series 4–1 Vancouver vs. Calgary Date  Away  Home  OT  Score April 7  Calgary  Vancouver    5 – 3 April 9  Calgary  Vancouver    2 – 1 April 11  Vancouver  Calgary    2 – 1 April 13  Vancouver  Calgary   4 – 0 April 15  Calgary  Vancouver   2 – 1 April 17  Vancouver  Calgary  3OT  5 – 4 April 19  Calgary  Vancouver  OT  3 – 2 Calgary wins series 4–3 Detroit vs. Nashville Date  Away  Home  Score April 7  Nashville  Detroit  3 – 1 April 10  Nashville  Detroit  2 – 1 April 11  Detroit  Nashville  3 – 1 April 13  Detroit  Nashville  3 – 0 April 15  Nashville  Detroit  4 – 1 April 17  Detroit  Nashville  2 – 0 Detroit wins series 4–2

Conference Semifinals
Eastern Conference Semifinals
 Tampa Bay vs. Montreal Date  Away  Home  OT  Score April 23  Montreal  Tampa Bay   4 – 0 April 25  Montreal  Tampa Bay    3 – 1 April 27  Tampa Bay  Montreal  OT  4 – 3 April 29  Tampa Bay  Montreal   3 – 1 Tampa Bay wins series 4–0 Philadelphia vs. Toronto Date  Away  Home  OT  Score April 22  Toronto  Philadelphia   3 – 1 April 25  Toronto  Philadelphia   2 – 1 April 28  Philadelphia  Toronto   4 – 1 April 30  Philadelphia  Toronto   3 – 1 May 2  Toronto  Philadelphia   7 – 2 May 4  Philadelphia  Toronto  OT  3 – 2 Philadelphia wins series 4–2

Western Conference Semifinals
 Detroit vs. Calgary Date  Away  Home  OT  Score April 22  Calgary    Detroit  OT  2 – 1 April 24  Calgary    Detroit   2 – 5 April 27  Detroit    Calgary   2 – 3 April 29  Detroit    Calgary   4 – 2 May 1  Calgary    Detroit   1 – 0 May 3  Detroit    Calgary  OT  0 – 1 Calgary wins series 4–2 San Jose vs. Colorado Date  Away  Home  OT  Score April 22  Colorado    San Jose   2 – 5 April 24  Colorado    San Jose   1 – 4 April 26  San Jose 1  0 Colorado   1 – 0 April 28  San Jose    Colorado  OT  0 – 1 May 1  Colorado    San Jose  OT  2 – 1 May 4  San Jose    Colorado   3 – 1 San Jose wins series 4–2

Conference Finals
 Eastern ConferenceTampa Bay vs. Philadelphia Date  Away  Home    May 8  Philadelphia 1  3 Tampa Bay    May 10  Philadelphia 6  2 Tampa Bay    May 13  Tampa Bay 4  1 Philadelphia    May 15  Tampa Bay 2  3 Philadelphia    May 18  Philadelphia 2  4 Tampa Bay    May 20  Tampa Bay 4  5 Philadelphia  OT May 22  Philadelphia 1  2 Tampa Bay    Tampa Bay wins series 4–3and Prince of Wales Trophy Western ConferenceSan Jose vs. Calgary Date  Away  Home    May 9  Calgary 4  3 San Jose  OT May 11  Calgary 4  1 San Jose    May 13  San Jose 3  0 Calgary    May 15  San Jose 4  2 Calgary    May 17  Calgary 3  0 San Jose    May 19  San Jose 1  3 Calgary    Calgary wins series 4–2 andClarence S. Campbell Bowl

Finals
 Tampa Bay vs. Calgary Date  Away  Home    May 25  Calgary 4  1 Tampa Bay    May 27  Calgary 1  4 Tampa Bay    May 29  Tampa Bay 0  3 Calgary     May 31  Tampa Bay 1  0 Calgary     June 3  Calgary  3  2 Tampa Bay  OT June 5  Tampa Bay 3  2 Calgary   2OT June 7  Calgary  1  2 Tampa Bay    Tampa Bay wins series4–3 and Stanley Cup Brad Richards (Tampa Bay)wins Conn Smythe Trophy

Scoring leaders
''Note: GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points
 Player Team GP G A Pts Brad Richards  Tampa Bay  23  12  13  25 Martin St. Louis  Tampa Bay  23  9  15  24 Jarome Iginla  Calgary  26  13  9  22 Fredrik Modin  Tampa Bay  23  8  11  19 Craig Conroy  Calgary  26  6  11  17 Vincent Lecavalier  Tampa Bay  23  9  7  16 Keith Primeau  Philadelphia  18  9  7  16 Martin Gelinas  Calgary  26  8  6  14 Vincent Damphousse  San Jose  17  7  7  14 Alexei Zhamnov  Philadelphia  18  4  10  14

NHL awards
The NHL Awards presentation took place in Toronto.
 Presidents' Trophy:  Detroit Red Wings Prince of Wales Trophy:  Tampa Bay Lightning Clarence S. Campbell Bowl:  Calgary Flames Art Ross Memorial Trophy:  Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy:  Bryan Berard, Chicago Blackhawks Calder Memorial Trophy:  Andrew Raycroft, Boston Bruins Conn Smythe Trophy:  Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lighting Frank J. Selke Trophy:  Kris Draper, Detroit Red Wings Hart Memorial Trophy:  Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning Jack Adams Award:  John Tortorella, Tampa Bay Lightning James Norris Memorial Trophy:  Scott Niedermayer, New Jersey Devils King Clancy Memorial Trophy:  Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames Lady Byng Memorial Trophy:  Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning Lester B. Pearson Award:  Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning Lester Patrick Trophy:  Mike Emrick, John Davidson, Ray Miron Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy:  Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames;Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta Thrashers;Rick Nash, Columbus Blue Jackets NHL Plus/Minus Award:  Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning;Marek Malik, Vancouver Canucks Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award:  Dwayne Roloson, Minnesota Wild Vezina Trophy:  Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils William M. Jennings Trophy:  Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils

All-Star teams
 First Team    Position    Second TeamMartin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils GRoberto Luongo, Florida PanthersScott Niedermayer, New Jersey Devils DChris Pronger, St. Louis BluesZdeno Chara, Ottawa Senators DBryan McCabe, Toronto Maple LeafsJoe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche CMats Sundin, Toronto Maple LeafsMartin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning RWJarome Iginla, Calgary FlamesMarkus Naslund, Vancouver Canucks LWIlya Kovalchuk, Atlanta Thrashers

First games
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 2003–04 (listed with their first team):
Joffrey Lupul, Anaheim Mighty Ducks
Kari Lehtonen, Atlanta Thrashers
Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
Jason Pominville, Buffalo Sabres
Matthew Lombardi, Calgary Flames
Eric Staal, Carolina Hurricanes
Tuomo Ruutu, Chicago Blackhawks
John-Michael Liles, Colorado Avalanche
Marek Svatos, Colorado Avalanche
Nikolai Zherdev, Columbus Blue Jackets
Pascal Leclaire, Columbus Blue Jackets
Michael Ryder, Montreal Canadiens
Jordin Tootoo, Nashville Predators
Marek Zidlicky, Nashville Predators
Antoine Vermette, Ottawa Senators
Antero Niittymaki, Philadelphia Flyers
Joni Pitkanen, Philadelphia Flyers
Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins
Tom Preissing, San Jose Sharks
Alexander Semin, Washington Capitals

Last games
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 2003–04 (listed with their last team):
Patrick Roy, Colorado Avalanche
Steve Thomas, Detroit Red Wings
Adam Oates, Edmonton Oilers
Igor Larionov, New Jersey Devils
Scott Stevens, New Jersey Devils
Cliff Ronning, New York Islanders
Mark Messier, New York Rangers
Vincent Damphousse, San Jose Sharks
Al MacInnis, St. Louis Blues
Ron Francis, Toronto Maple Leafs

References

Hockey Database
NHL Official Website

NHL
NHL
Category:National Hockey League seasons