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2003–04 NHL season facts for kids

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2003–04 NHL season
League National Hockey League
Sport Ice hockey
Duration October 8, 2003 – June 7, 2004
Regular season
Presidents' Trophy Detroit Red Wings
Season MVP Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
Top scorer Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
Playoffs
Eastern champions Tampa Bay Lightning
  Eastern runners-up Philadelphia Flyers
Western champions Calgary Flames
  Western runners-up San Jose Sharks
Playoffs MVP Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning
Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup champions Tampa Bay Lightning
  Runners-up Calgary Flames
NHL seasons

← 2002–03

2004–05 →

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

Atlantic Division
No. CR GP W L T OTL GF GA PTS
1 3 Philadelphia Flyers 82 40 21 15 6 229 186 101
2 6 New Jersey Devils 82 43 25 12 2 213 164 100
3 8 New York Islanders 82 38 29 11 4 237 210 91
4 13 New York Rangers 82 27 40 7 8 206 250 69
5 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 82 23 47 8 4 190 303 58

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
No. CR GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
1 2 Boston Bruins 82 41 19 15 7 209 188 104
2 4 Toronto Maple Leafs 82 45 24 10 3 242 204 103
3 5 Ottawa Senators 82 43 23 10 6 262 189 102
4 7 Montreal Canadiens 82 41 30 7 4 208 192 93
5 9 Buffalo Sabres 82 37 34 7 4 220 221 85

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
No. CR GP W L T OTL GF GA PTS
1 1 Tampa Bay Lightning 82 46 22 8 6 245 192 106
2 10 Atlanta Thrashers 82 33 37 8 4 214 243 78
3 11 Carolina Hurricanes 82 28 34 14 6 172 209 76
4 12 Florida Panthers 82 28 35 15 4 188 221 75
5 14 Washington Capitals 82 23 46 10 3 186 253 59

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
R Div GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
1 Z- Tampa Bay Lightning SE 82 46 22 8 6 245 192 106
2 Y- Boston Bruins NE 82 41 19 15 7 209 188 104
3 Y- Philadelphia Flyers AT 82 40 21 15 6 209 188 101
4 X- Toronto Maple Leafs NE 82 45 24 10 3 242 204 103
5 X- Ottawa Senators NE 82 43 23 10 6 262 189 102
6 X- New Jersey Devils AT 82 43 25 12 2 213 164 100
7 X- Montreal Canadiens NE 82 41 30 7 4 208 192 93
8 X- New York Islanders AT 82 38 29 11 4 237 210 91
8.5
9 Buffalo Sabres NE 82 37 34 7 4 220 221 85
10 Atlanta Thrashers SE 82 33 37 8 4 214 243 78
11 Carolina Hurricanes SE 82 28 34 14 6 172 209 76
12 Florida Panthers SE 82 28 35 15 4 188 221 75
13 New York Rangers AT 82 27 40 7 8 206 250 69
14 Washington Capitals SE 82 23 46 10 3 186 253 59
15 Pittsburgh Penguins AT 82 23 47 8 4 190 303 58

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

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


Western Conference

Central Division
No. CR GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
1 1 Detroit Red Wings 82 48 21 11 2 255 189 109
2 7 St. Louis Blues 82 39 30 11 2 191 198 91
3 8 Nashville Predators 82 38 29 11 4 216 217 91
4 14 Columbus Blue Jackets 82 25 45 8 4 177 238 62
5 15 Chicago Blackhawks 82 20 43 11 8 188 259 59

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
No. CR GP W L T OTL GF GA PTS
1 3 Vancouver Canucks 82 43 24 10 5 235 194 101
2 4 Colorado Avalanche 82 40 22 13 7 235 198 100
3 6 Calgary Flames 82 42 30 7 3 200 176 94
4 9 Edmonton Oilers 82 36 29 12 5 221 208 89
5 10 Minnesota Wild 82 30 29 20 3 188 183 83

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
No. CR GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
1 2 San Jose Sharks 82 43 21 12 6 219 183 104
2 5 Dallas Stars 82 41 26 13 2 194 175 97
3 11 Los Angeles Kings 82 28 29 16 9 205 217 81
4 12 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 82 29 35 10 8 184 213 76
5 13 Phoenix Coyotes 82 22 36 18 6 188 245 68

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
R Div GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
1 P- Detroit Red Wings CE 82 48 21 11 2 255 189 109
2 Y- San Jose Sharks PA 82 43 21 12 6 255 183 104
3 Y- Vancouver Canucks NW 82 43 24 10 5 235 194 101
4 X- Colorado Avalanche NW 82 40 22 13 7 236 198 100
5 X- Dallas Stars PA 82 41 26 13 2 194 175 97
6 X- Calgary Flames NW 82 42 30 7 3 200 176 94
7 X- St. Louis Blues CE 82 39 30 11 2 191 198 91
8 X- Nashville Predators CE 82 38 29 11 4 216 217 91
8.5
9 Edmonton Oilers NW 82 36 29 12 5 221 208 89
10 Minnesota Wild NW 82 30 29 20 3 188 183 83
11 Los Angeles Kings PA 82 28 29 16 9 205 217 81
12 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim PA 82 29 35 10 8 184 213 76
13 Phoenix Coyotes PA 82 22 36 18 6 188 245 68
14 Columbus Blue Jackets CE 82 25 45 8 4 177 238 62
15 Chicago Blackhawks CE 82 20 43 11 8 188 259 59

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. 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 Brodeur New Jersey 75 4554 38 26 11 154 11 .917 2.03
Marty Turco Dallas 73 4359 37 21 13 144 9 .913 1.98
Ed Belfour Toronto 59 3444 34 19 6 122 10 .918 2.13
Tomas Vokoun Nashville 73 4221 34 29 10 178 3 .909 2.53
Dan Cloutier Vancouver 60 3539 33 21 6 134 5 .914 2.27

Stanley Cup Playoffs

Hhof stanley cup
The Stanley Cup

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  

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 Conference
Tampa 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 4–3
and Prince of Wales Trophy
Western Conference
San 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 and
Clarence 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 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 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 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
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