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).

2003–04 NHL season
LeagueNational Hockey League
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 8, 2003 June 7, 2004
Number of games82
Number of teams30
TV partner(s)CBC, TSN, RDS (Canada)
ESPN, ABC (United States)
Draft
Top draft pickMarc-Andre Fleury
Picked byPittsburgh Penguins
Regular season
Presidents' TrophyDetroit Red Wings
Season MVPMartin St. Louis (Lightning)
Top scorerMartin St. Louis (Lightning)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVPBrad Richards (Lightning)
Stanley Cup
ChampionsTampa Bay Lightning
  Runners-upCalgary Flames

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

Atlantic Division[1]
No. CR GP W L T OTL GF GA PTS
13Philadelphia Flyers824021156229186101
26New Jersey Devils824325122213164100
38New York Islanders82382911423721091
413New York Rangers8227407820625069
515Pittsburgh Penguins8223478419030358

Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Northeast Division[1]
No. CR GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
12Boston Bruins824119157209188104
24Toronto Maple Leafs824524103242204103
35Ottawa Senators824323106262189102
47Montreal Canadiens8241307420819293
59Buffalo Sabres8237347422022185

Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Southeast Division[1]
No. CR GP W L T OTL GF GA PTS
11Tampa Bay Lightning82462286245192106
210Atlanta Thrashers8233378421424378
311Carolina Hurricanes82283414617220976
412Florida Panthers82283515418822175
514Washington Capitals82234610318625359

Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Eastern Conference[2]
R Div GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
1 Z- Tampa Bay LightningSE82462286245192106
2 Y- Boston BruinsNE824119157209188104
3 Y- Philadelphia FlyersAT824021156209188101
4 X- Toronto Maple LeafsNE824524103242204103
5 X- Ottawa SenatorsNE824323106262189102
6 X- New Jersey DevilsAT824325122213164100
7 X- Montreal CanadiensNE8241307420819293
8 X- New York IslandersAT82382911423721091
8.5
9 Buffalo SabresNE8237347422022185
10 Atlanta ThrashersSE8233378421424378
11 Carolina HurricanesSE82283414617220976
12 Florida PanthersSE82283515418822175
13 New York RangersAT8227407820625069
14 Washington CapitalsSE82234610318625359
15 Pittsburgh PenguinsAT8223478419030358

Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast

Z- Clinched Conference; Y- Clinched Division; X- Clinched Playoff spot

Western Conference

Central Division[1]
No. CR GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
11Detroit Red Wings824821112255189109
27St. Louis Blues82393011219119891
38Nashville Predators82382911421621791
414Columbus Blue Jackets8225458417723862
515Chicago Blackhawks82204311818825959

Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Northwest Division[1]
No. CR GP W L T OTL GF GA PTS
13Vancouver Canucks824324105235194101
24Colorado Avalanche824022137235198100
36Calgary Flames8242307320017694
49Edmonton Oilers82362912522120889
510Minnesota Wild82302920318818383

Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Pacific Division[1]
No. CR GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
12San Jose Sharks824321126219183104
25Dallas Stars82412613219417597
311Los Angeles Kings82282916920521781
412Mighty Ducks of Anaheim82293510818421376
513Phoenix Coyotes82223618618824568

Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Western Conference[2]
R Div GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
1 P- Detroit Red WingsCE824821112255189109
2 Y- San Jose SharksPA824321126255183104
3 Y- Vancouver CanucksNW824324105235194101
4 X- Colorado AvalancheNW824022137236198100
5 X- Dallas StarsPA82412613219417597
6 X- Calgary FlamesNW8242307320017694
7 X- St. Louis BluesCE82393011219119891
8 X- Nashville PredatorsCE82382911421621791
8.5
9 Edmonton OilersNW82362912522120889
10 Minnesota WildNW82302920318818383
11 Los Angeles KingsPA82282916920521781
12 Mighty Ducks of AnaheimPA82293510818421376
13 Phoenix CoyotesPA82223618618824568
14 Columbus Blue JacketsCE8225458417723862
15 Chicago BlackhawksCE82204311818825959

Divisions: CE – Central, PA – Pacific, NW – Northwest

P – Clinched Presidents Trophy; Y – Clinched Division; X – Clinched Playoff spot

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points

Player Team GP G A Pts
Martin St. LouisTampa Bay82385694
Ilya KovalchukAtlanta81414687
Joe SakicColorado81335487
Markus NaslundVancouver78354984
Marian HossaOttawa81364682
Patrik EliasNew Jersey82384381
Daniel AlfredssonOttawa77324880
Cory StillmanTampa Bay81255580
Robert LangWashington / Detroit69304979
Brad RichardsTampa Bay82265379

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 Conference Semifinals Conference Finals Stanley Cup Finals
                                     
1 Tampa Bay 4  
8 NY Islanders 1  
  1 Tampa Bay 4  
 
  7 Montreal 0  
2 Boston 3
7 Montreal 4  
  1 Tampa Bay 4  
Eastern Conference
  3 Philadelphia 3  
3 Philadelphia 4  
6 New Jersey 1  
  3 Philadelphia 4
 
  4 Toronto 2  
4 Toronto 4
5 Ottawa 3  
  E1 Tampa Bay 4
  W6 Calgary 3
1 Detroit 4  
8 Nashville 2  
  1 Detroit 2
 
  6 Calgary 4  
2 San Jose 4
7 St. Louis 1  
  2 San Jose 2
Western Conference
  6 Calgary 4  
3 Vancouver 3  
6 Calgary 4  
  2 San Jose 4
 
  4 Colorado 2  
4 Colorado 4
5 Dallas 1  

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

Tampa Bay vs. NY Islanders
DateAwayHomeOTScore
April 8NY IslandersTampa Bay3 – 0
April 10NY IslandersTampa Bay3 – 0
April 12Tampa BayNY Islanders3 – 0
April 14Tampa BayNY Islanders3 – 0
April 16NY IslandersTampa BayOT3 – 2
Tampa Bay wins series 4–1
Philadelphia vs. New Jersey
DateAwayHomeScore
April 8New JerseyPhiladelphia3 – 2
April 10New JerseyPhiladelphia3 – 2
April 12PhiladelphiaNew Jersey4 – 2
April 14PhiladelphiaNew Jersey3 – 0
April 17New JerseyPhiladelphia3 – 1
Philadelphia wins series 4–1
Boston vs. Montreal
DateAwayHomeOTScore
April 7MontrealBoston3 – 0
April 9MontrealBostonOT2 – 1
April 11BostonMontreal3 – 2
April 13BostonMontreal2OT4 – 3
April 15MontrealBoston5 – 1
April 17BostonMontreal5 – 2
April 19MontrealBoston2 – 0
Montreal wins series 4–3
Toronto vs. Ottawa
DateAwayHomeOTScore
April 8OttawaToronto4 – 2
April 10OttawaToronto2 – 0
April 12TorontoOttawa2 – 0
April 14TorontoOttawa4 – 1
April 16OttawaToronto2 – 0
April 18TorontoOttawa2OT2 – 1
April 20OttawaToronto4 – 1
Toronto wins series 4–3

Western Conference Quarterfinals

Colorado vs. Dallas
DateAwayHomeOTScore
April 7DallasColorado3 – 1
April 9DallasColorado5 – 2
April 12ColoradoDallasOT4 – 3
April 14ColoradoDallas2OT3 – 2
April 17DallasColorado5 – 1
Colorado wins series 4–1
San Jose vs. St. Louis
DateAwayHomeOTScore
April 8St. LouisSan JoseOT1 – 0
April 10St. LouisSan Jose3 – 1
April 12San JoseSt. Louis4 – 1
April 13San JoseSt. Louis4 – 3
April 15St. LouisSan Jose3 – 1
San Jose wins series 4–1
Vancouver vs. Calgary
DateAwayHomeOTScore
April 7CalgaryVancouver5 – 3
April 9CalgaryVancouver2 – 1
April 11VancouverCalgary2 – 1
April 13VancouverCalgary4 – 0
April 15CalgaryVancouver2 – 1
April 17VancouverCalgary3OT5 – 4
April 19CalgaryVancouverOT3 – 2
Calgary wins series 4–3
Detroit vs. Nashville
DateAwayHomeScore
April 7NashvilleDetroit3 – 1
April 10NashvilleDetroit2 – 1
April 11DetroitNashville3 – 1
April 13DetroitNashville3 – 0
April 15NashvilleDetroit4 – 1
April 17DetroitNashville2 – 0
Detroit wins series 4–2

Eastern Conference Semifinals

Tampa Bay vs. Montreal
DateAwayHomeOTScore
April 23MontrealTampa Bay4 – 0
April 25MontrealTampa Bay 3 – 1
April 27Tampa BayMontrealOT4 – 3
April 29Tampa BayMontreal3 – 1
Tampa Bay wins series 4–0
Philadelphia vs. Toronto
DateAwayHomeOTScore
April 22TorontoPhiladelphia3 – 1
April 25TorontoPhiladelphia2 – 1
April 28PhiladelphiaToronto4 – 1
April 30PhiladelphiaToronto3 – 1
May 2TorontoPhiladelphia7 – 2
May 4PhiladelphiaTorontoOT3 – 2
Philadelphia wins series 4–2

Western Conference Semifinals

Detroit vs. Calgary
DateAwayHomeOTScore
April 22Calgary DetroitOT2 – 1
April 24Calgary Detroit2 – 5
April 27Detroit Calgary2 – 3
April 29Detroit Calgary4 – 2
May 1Calgary Detroit1 – 0
May 3Detroit CalgaryOT0 – 1
Calgary wins series 4–2
San Jose vs. Colorado
DateAwayHomeOTScore
April 22Colorado San Jose2 – 5
April 24Colorado San Jose1 – 4
April 26San Jose 10 Colorado1 – 0
April 28San Jose ColoradoOT0 – 1
May 1Colorado San JoseOT2 – 1
May 4San Jose Colorado3 – 1
San Jose wins series 4–2

Conference Finals

Eastern Conference
Tampa Bay vs. Philadelphia
DateAwayHome 
May 8Philadelphia 13 Tampa Bay 
May 10Philadelphia 62 Tampa Bay 
May 13Tampa Bay 41 Philadelphia 
May 15Tampa Bay 23 Philadelphia 
May 18Philadelphia 24 Tampa Bay 
May 20Tampa Bay 45 PhiladelphiaOT
May 22Philadelphia 12 Tampa Bay 
Tampa Bay wins series 4–3
and Prince of Wales Trophy
Western Conference
San Jose vs. Calgary
DateAwayHome 
May 9Calgary 43 San JoseOT
May 11Calgary 41 San Jose 
May 13San Jose 30 Calgary 
May 15San Jose 42 Calgary 
May 17Calgary 30 San Jose 
May 19San Jose 13 Calgary 
Calgary wins series 4–2 and
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl

Finals

Tampa Bay vs. Calgary
DateAwayHome 
May 25Calgary 41 Tampa Bay 
May 27Calgary 14 Tampa Bay 
May 29Tampa Bay 03 Calgary  
May 31Tampa Bay 10 Calgary 
June 3Calgary 32 Tampa BayOT
June 5Tampa Bay 32 Calgary2OT
June 7Calgary 12 Tampa Bay 
Tampa Bay wins series
4–3 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 RichardsTampa Bay23121325
Martin St. LouisTampa Bay2391524
Jarome IginlaCalgary2613922
Fredrik ModinTampa Bay2381119
Craig ConroyCalgary2661117
Vincent LecavalierTampa Bay239716
Keith PrimeauPhiladelphia189716
Martin GelinasCalgary268614
Vincent DamphousseSan Jose177714
Alexei ZhamnovPhiladelphia1841014

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 Team
Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils G Roberto Luongo, Florida Panthers
Scott Niedermayer, New Jersey Devils D Chris Pronger, St. Louis Blues
Zdeno Chara, Ottawa Senators D Bryan McCabe, Toronto Maple Leafs
Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche C Mats Sundin, Toronto Maple Leafs
Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning RW Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames
Markus Naslund, Vancouver Canucks LW Ilya 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

  1. "2003-2004 Division Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  2. "2003–2004 Standings by Conference". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
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