2002–03 Buffalo Sabres season

      2002-03 Buffalo Sabres
      Division 5 Northeast
      Conference 12 Eastern
      2002-03 record 27-37-10
      Home record 18-18-5
      Road record 9-27-5
      Goals for 190
      Goals against 219
      Team information
      General Manager Darcy Regier
      Coach Lindy Ruff
      Captain Stu Barnes (Oct-Mar)
      Vacant (Mar-Apr)
      Arena First Niagara Center
      Average attendance 13,776
      Team leaders
      Goals Miroslav Satan (26)
      Assists Miroslav Satan (49)
      Points Miroslav Satan (75)
      Penalties in minutes Eric Boulton (178)
      Plus/minus Jochen Hecht and Curtis Brown (4)
      Wins Martin Biron (17)
      Goals against average Mika Noronen (2.42)
      <2001–02 2003–04>

      The 2002-03 Buffalo Sabres season was the 33rd season of operation for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970.[1] The 72 points accumulated in the regular season was the lowest total for the franchise since the 1986-87 season.

      Offseason

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      Regular season

      Final standings

      Northeast Division
      No. CR GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
      1 1 Ottawa Senators 82 52 21 8 1 263 182 113
      2 5 Toronto Maple Leafs 82 44 28 7 3 236 208 98
      3 7 Boston Bruins 82 36 31 11 4 245 237 87
      4 10 Montreal Canadiens 82 30 35 8 9 206 234 77
      5 12 Buffalo Sabres 82 27 37 10 8 190 219 72

      [2]

      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[3]
      R Div GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts
      1 P- Ottawa Senators NE 82 52 21 8 1 263 182 113
      2 Y- New Jersey Devils AT 82 46 20 10 6 216 166 108
      3 Y- Tampa Bay Lightning SE 82 36 25 16 5 219 210 93
      4 X- Philadelphia Flyers AT 82 45 20 13 4 211 166 107
      5 X- Toronto Maple Leafs NE 82 44 28 7 3 236 208 98
      6 X- Washington Capitals SE 82 39 29 8 6 224 220 92
      7 X- Boston Bruins NE 82 36 31 11 4 245 237 87
      8 X- New York Islanders AT 82 35 34 11 2 224 231 83
      8.5
      9 New York Rangers AT 82 32 36 10 4 210 231 78
      10 Montreal Canadiens NE 82 30 35 8 9 206 234 77
      11 Atlanta Thrashers SE 82 31 39 7 5 226 284 74
      12 Buffalo Sabres NE 82 27 37 10 8 190 219 72
      13 Florida Panthers SE 82 24 36 13 9 176 237 70
      14 Pittsburgh Penguins AT 82 27 44 6 5 189 255 65
      15 Carolina Hurricanes SE 82 22 43 11 6 171 240 61

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

      Z- Clinched Presidents Trophy; Y- Clinched Division; X- Clinched Playoff spot


      Game log

      No. R Date Score Opponent Record
      1 W October 10, 2002 5–1 New York Islanders (2002–03) 1–0–0–0
      2 W October 12, 2002 6–1 @ Montreal Canadiens (2002–03) 2–0–0–0
      3 L October 13, 2002 0–3 @ Chicago Blackhawks (2002–03) 2–1–0–0
      4 T October 17, 2002 4–4 OT New York Rangers (2002–03) 2–1–1–0
      5 L October 19, 2002 2–3 Phoenix Coyotes (2002–03) 2–2–1–0
      6 W October 22, 2002 2–1 Philadelphia Flyers (2002–03) 3–2–1–0
      7 L October 25, 2002 1–2 New Jersey Devils (2002–03) 3–3–1–0
      8 L October 26, 2002 2–5 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03) 3–4–1–0
      9 T October 29, 2002 1–1 OT @ Vancouver Canucks (2002–03) 3–4–2–0
      10 L October 31, 2002 0–3 @ Calgary Flames (2002–03) 3–5–2–0
      11 T November 1, 2002 1–1 OT @ Edmonton Oilers (2002–03) 3–5–3–0
      12 L November 3, 2002 2–3 @ Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–03) 3–6–3–0
      13 L November 7, 2002 0–2 @ Carolina Hurricanes (2002–03) 3–7–3–0
      14 L November 9, 2002 4–6 Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03) 3–8–3–0
      15 L November 12, 2002 3–4 Boston Bruins (2002–03) 3–9–3–0
      16 L November 15, 2002 2–3 Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03) 3–10–3–0
      17 L November 16, 2002 1–4 @ Ottawa Senators (2002–03) 3–11–3–0
      18 L November 19, 2002 3–4 OT @ New Jersey Devils (2002–03) 3–11–3–1
      19 W November 22, 2002 5–4 Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–03) 4–11–3–1
      20 L November 23, 2002 1–4 @ Boston Bruins (2002–03) 4–12–3–1
      21 T November 27, 2002 1–1 OT Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03) 4–12–4–1
      22 L November 29, 2002 1–4 Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03) 4–13–4–1
      23 L November 30, 2002 1–3 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03) 4–14–4–1
      24 W December 4, 2002 4–0 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2002–03) 5–14–4–1
      25 W December 6, 2002 4–1 @ New York Rangers (2002–03) 6–14–4–1
      26 W December 7, 2002 4–3 Washington Capitals (2002–03) 7–14–4–1
      27 L December 10, 2002 2–4 Ottawa Senators (2002–03) 7–15–4–1
      28 T December 13, 2002 1–1 OT Chicago Blackhawks (2002–03) 7–15–5–1
      29 L December 14, 2002 0–2 @ Philadelphia Flyers (2002–03) 7–16–5–1
      30 W December 18, 2002 4–2 Boston Bruins (2002–03) 8–16–5–1
      31 L December 20, 2002 0–3 Florida Panthers (2002–03) 8–17–5–1
      32 L December 21, 2002 2–6 @ Montreal Canadiens (2002–03) 8–18–5–1
      33 L December 23, 2002 2–5 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03) 8–19–5–1
      34 L December 26, 2002 2–3 Ottawa Senators (2002–03) 8–20–5–1
      35 L December 28, 2002 3–4 Minnesota Wild (2002–03) 8–21–5–1
      36 L December 30, 2002 3–4 @ Washington Capitals (2002–03) 8–22–5–1
      37 L December 31, 2002 0–1 OT New York Islanders (2002–03) 8–22–5–2
      38 W January 3, 2003 6–3 Carolina Hurricanes (2002–03) 9–22–5–2
      39 W January 4, 2003 2–1 OT @ Ottawa Senators (2002–03) 10–22–5–2
      40 L January 7, 2003 2–3 @ Philadelphia Flyers (2002–03) 10–23–5–2
      41 W January 10, 2003 4–2 Boston Bruins (2002–03) 11–23–5–2
      42 W January 11, 2003 3–2 @ Montreal Canadiens (2002–03) 12–23–5–2
      43 W January 14, 2003 1–0 @ Minnesota Wild (2002–03) 13–23–5–2
      44 T January 16, 2003 2–2 OT @ San Jose Sharks (2002–03) 13–23–6–2
      45 W January 18, 2003 1–0 @ Phoenix Coyotes (2002–03) 14–23–6–2
      46 T January 21, 2003 0–0 OT Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03) 14–23–7–2
      47 W January 24, 2003 4–0 Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03) 15–23–7–2
      48 L January 25, 2003 3–4 OT @ Ottawa Senators (2002–03) 15–23–7–3
      49 L January 27, 2003 1–5 Nashville Predators (2002–03) 15–24–7–3
      50 L January 30, 2003 1–2 OT @ St. Louis Blues (2002–03) 15–24–7–4
      51 L February 4, 2003 1–4 @ New Jersey Devils (2002–03) 15–25–7–4
      52 L February 7, 2003 2–4 Vancouver Canucks (2002–03) 15–26–7–4
      53 L February 8, 2003 1–3 @ New York Islanders (2002–03) 15–27–7–4
      54 L February 11, 2003 2–3 St. Louis Blues (2002–03) 15–28–7–4
      55 L February 13, 2003 2–4 @ Detroit Red Wings (2002–03) 15–29–7–4
      56 W February 15, 2003 5–4 New York Rangers (2002–03) 16–29–7–4
      57 L February 17, 2003 3–4 OT @ Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03) 16–29–7–5
      58 W February 19, 2003 2–1 OT Montreal Canadiens (2002–03) 17–29–7–5
      59 L February 21, 2003 1–4 Los Angeles Kings (2002–03) 17–30–7–5
      60 W February 23, 2003 4–1 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03) 18–30–7–5
      61 T February 24, 2003 2–2 OT @ Florida Panthers (2002–03) 18–30–8–5
      62 L February 26, 2003 2–3 @ Washington Capitals (2002–03) 18–31–8–5
      63 W February 28, 2003 5–3 Dallas Stars (2002–03) 19–31–8–5
      64 L March 1, 2003 1–2 OT @ New York Islanders (2002–03) 19–31–8–6
      65 L March 4, 2003 1–2 Washington Capitals (2002–03) 19–32–8–6
      66 W March 6, 2003 4–2 Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03) 20–32–8–6
      67 W March 8, 2003 4–0 @ Florida Panthers (2002–03) 21–32–8–6
      68 T March 9, 2003 1–1 OT @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03) 21–32–9–6
      69 L March 12, 2003 2–3 OT Carolina Hurricanes (2002–03) 21–32–9–7
      70 L March 14, 2003 2–4 Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03) 21–33–9–7
      71 L March 15, 2003 3–5 @ Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03) 21–34–9–7
      72 W March 18, 2003 5–2 Philadelphia Flyers (2002–03) 22–34–9–7
      73 L March 19, 2003 0–3 @ New York Rangers (2002–03) 22–35–9–7
      74 L March 22, 2003 2–3 OT @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03) 22–35–9–8
      75 W March 24, 2003 4–3 OT Colorado Avalanche (2002–03) 23–35–9–8
      76 W March 26, 2003 2–1 Florida Panthers (2002–03) 24–35–9–8
      77 W March 28, 2003 4–1 Montreal Canadiens (2002–03) 25–35–9–8
      78 W March 29, 2003 3–1 @ Carolina Hurricanes (2002–03) 26–35–9–8
      79 L March 31, 2003 0–3 @ Dallas Stars (2002–03) 26–36–9–8
      80 W April 2, 2003 4–3 Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03) 27–36–9–8
      81 L April 5, 2003 5–8 @ Boston Bruins (2002–03) 27–37–9–8
      82 T April 6, 2003 2–2 OT New Jersey Devils (2002–03) 27–37–10–8
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      Playoffs

      2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs
      The Sabres failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

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      Player stats

      Regular season

      Scoring
      Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
      Satan, MiroslavMiroslav Satan LW 79 26 49 75 20 -3 11 1 3
      Gratton, ChrisChris Gratton C 66 15 29 44 86 -5 4 0 2
      Kotalik, AlesAles Kotalik RW 68 21 14 35 30 -2 4 0 2
      Dumont, J.P.J.P. Dumont RW 76 14 21 35 44 -14 2 0 2
      Barnes, StuStu Barnes C 68 11 21 32 20 -13 2 1 2
      Brown, CurtisCurtis Brown C/LW 74 15 16 31 40 4 3 4 4
      Pyatt, TaylorTaylor Pyatt LW 78 14 14 28 38 -8 2 0 0
      Hecht, JochenJochen Hecht LW 49 10 16 26 30 4 2 0 2
      Connolly, TimTim Connolly C 80 12 13 25 32 -28 6 0 2
      Kalinin, DmitriDmitri Kalinin D 65 8 13 21 57 -7 3 1 0
      Zhitnik, AlexeiAlexei Zhitnik D 70 3 18 21 85 -5 0 0 1
      Campbell, BrianBrian Campbell D 65 2 17 19 20 -8 0 0 1
      Mair, AdamAdam Mair C 79 6 11 17 146 -4 0 1 1
      Patrick, JamesJames Patrick D 69 4 12 16 26 -3 2 0 1
      Tallinder, HenrikHenrik Tallinder D 46 3 10 13 28 -3 1 0 0
      Briere, DanielDaniel Briere C 14 7 5 12 12 1 5 0 1
      Varada, VaclavVaclav Varada RW 44 7 4 11 23 -2 1 0 0
      Afinogenov, MaximMaxim Afinogenov RW 35 5 6 11 21 -12 2 0 2
      Warrener, RhettRhett Warrener D 50 0 9 9 63 1 0 0 0
      Boulton, EricEric Boulton LW 58 1 5 6 178 1 0 0 0
      Botterill, JasonJason Botterill LW 17 1 4 5 14 1 1 0 0
      McKee, JayJay McKee D 59 0 5 5 49 -16 0 0 0
      Fitzpatrick, RoryRory Fitzpatrick D 36 1 3 4 16 -7 0 0 0
      Taylor, ChrisChris Taylor C 11 1 3 4 2 -1 0 0 0
      Woolley, JasonJason Woolley D 14 0 3 3 29 -1 0 0 0
      Hamel, DenisDenis Hamel LW 25 2 0 2 17 -4 0 0 1
      Milley, NormNorm Milley RW 8 0 2 2 6 -2 0 0 0
      Bartovic, MilanMilan Bartovic RW 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
      Biron, MartinMartin Biron G 54 0 1 1 12 0 0 0 0
      Gaustad, PaulPaul Gaustad C 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Hecl, RadoslavRadoslav Hecl D 14 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
      Houda, DougDoug Houda D 1 0 0 0 2 -2 0 0 0
      Janik, DougDoug Janik D 6 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0
      Kristek, JaroslavJaroslav Kristek RW 6 0 0 0 4 -2 0 0 0
      McMorrow, SeanSean McMorrow LW 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Miller, RyanRyan Miller G 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Noronen, MikaMika Noronen G 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
      Ray, RobRob Ray RW 41 0 0 0 92 -5 0 0 0
      Goaltending
      Player MIN GP W L T/OT GA GAA SO SA SV SV%
      Biron, MartinMartin Biron 3170 54 17 28 6 135 2.56 4 1468 1333 .908
      Miller, RyanRyan Miller 912 15 6 8 1 40 2.63 1 410 370 .902
      Noronen, MikaMika Noronen 891 16 4 9 3 36 2.42 1 411 375 .912
      Team: 4973 82 27 45 10 211 2.55 6 2289 2078 .908

      [4]

      Note:

      Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
      Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;
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      Awards and records

      Awards

      Regular Season
      Player Award Awarded
      Miroslav Satan[5] NHL Player of the Week December 1–7, 2002
      Ales Kotalik NHL Rookie of the Month January 2003
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      Transactions

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      Roster

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      Draft picks

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      Farm teams

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      References

      1. ^ National Hockey League (2010). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011. Triumph Books. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-60078-422-4. 
      2. ^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2009). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2010. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 163. 
      3. ^ "2002–2003 Standings by Conference". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 26, 2012. 
      4. ^ "2002-03 Buffalo Sabres Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 12, 2009. 
      5. ^ "Awards and Honors". Sabres.nhl.com. NHL.com. Retrieved July 20, 2012. 
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      Last modified on 19 April 2013, at 23:03