2003–04 Tampa Bay Lightning season

The 2003–04 Tampa Bay Lightning season was the 12th National Hockey League season in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning won their first Stanley Cup this season.

2003–04 Tampa Bay Lightning
Stanley Cup champions
Eastern Conference champions
Southeast Division champions
Division	1st Southeast
Conference	1st Eastern
2003–04 record	46–22–8–6
Home record	24–10–4–3
Road record	22–12–4–3
Goals for	245
Goals against	192
Team information
General Manager	Jay Feaster
Coach	John Tortorella
Captain	Dave Andreychuk
Alternate captains	Vincent Lecavalier Fredrik Modin
Arena	St. Pete Times Forum
Average attendance	17,820 (92.79%)
Team leaders
Goals	Martin St. Louis (38)
Assists	Martin St. Louis (56)
Points	Martin St. Louis (94)
Penalties in minutes	Chris Dingman (140)
Wins	Nikolai Khabibulin (28)
Goals against average	John Grahame (2.06)

Offseason

The Lightning did not have a first-round pick. For their first pick, they chose Mike Egener in the second round, 35th over-all.

Regular season

On Saturday, December 27, 2003, the Lightning scored three short-handed goals in a 4-2 win over the Boston Bruins.

The Lightning finished the regular season having tied the Detroit Red Wings for the most short-handed goals scored, with 15.

Season standings

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

Schedule and results

Regular season

2003–04 regular season game log
October: 6–0–1–0, 13 points (Home: 4–0–1–0; Road: 2–0–0–0) Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap 1 October 10 Boston Bruins 5–1 Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 20,454 1–0–0–0 2 2 October 16 Phoenix Coyotes 5–1 Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 12,784 2–0–0–0 4 3 October 18 @ New Jersey Devils 3–2 Khabibulin Continental Airlines Arena 15,590 3–0–0–0 6 4 October 21 Atlanta Thrashers 3–2 OT Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 14,822 4–0–0–0 8 5 October 23 @ Columbus Blue Jackets 1–0 Grahame Nationwide Arena 16,542 5–0–0–0 10 6 October 25 Minnesota Wild 3–2 Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 16,223 6–0–0–0 12 7 October 30 San Jose Sharks 2–2 OT Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 17,609 6–0–1–0 13
November: 5–4–3–1, 14 points (Home: 4–2–1–1; Road: 1–2–2–0) Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap 8 November 1 Carolina Hurricanes 4–3 Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 16,616 7–0–1–0 15 9 November 4 Washington Capitals 1–5 Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 14,312 7–1–1–0 15 10 November 6 Los Angeles Kings 0–1 OT Grahame St. Pete Times Forum 14,287 7–1–1–1 16 11 November 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 9–0 Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 18,262 8–1–1–1 18 12 November 9 @ Carolina Hurricanes 1–1 OT Grahame RBC Center 9,821 8–1–2–1 19 13 November 11 @ Florida Panthers 0–4 Khabibulin Office Depot Center 13,214 8–2–2–1 19 14 November 14 @ Washington Capitals 5–2 Grahame MCI Center 14,536 9–2–2–1 21 15 November 20 New York Islanders 3–2 Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 14,898 10–2–2–1 23 16 November 22 Buffalo Sabres 2–1 Grahame St. Pete Times Forum 20,112 11–2–2–1 25 17 November 23 @ Carolina Hurricanes 0–0 Khabibulin RBC Center 10,391 11–2–3–1 26 18 November 25 New York Rangers 0–2 Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 16,034 11–3–3–1 26 19 November 28 St. Louis Blues 2–2 Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 18,787 11–3–4–1 27 20 November 28 @ Atlanta Thrashers 1–2 Grahame Philips Arena 16,847 11–4–4–1 27
December: 4–9–2–0, 10 points (Home: 1–4–1–0; Road: 3–5–1–0) Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap 21 December 2 @ Montreal Canadiens 2–3 Khabibulin Bell Centre 19,858 11–5–4–1 27 22 December 4 Ottawa Senators 1–4 Grahame St. Pete Times Forum 15,221 11–6–4–1 27 23 December 6 @ Buffalo Sabres 3–1 Khabibulin HSBC Arena 15,833 12–6–4–1 29 24 December 7 @ New York Rangers 3–2 Grahame Madison Square Garden 18,200 13–6–4–1 31 25 December 9 @ New York Islanders 2–5 Khabibulin Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,860 13–7–4–1 31 26 December 11 @ Ottawa Senators 2–3 Khabibulin Corel Centre 17,256 13–8–4–1 31 27 December 13 Montreal Canadiens 2–5 Grahame St. Pete Times Forum 17,228 13–9–4–1 31 28 December 16 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 0–3 Khabibulin Air Canada Centre 19,331 13–10–4–1 31 29 December 18 @ Philadelphia Flyers 5–4 OT Khabibulin Wachovia Center 19,332 14–10–4–1 33 30 December 20 Dallas Stars 1–2 Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 16,233 14–11–4–1 33 31 December 23 @ Boston Bruins 1–1 OT Khabibulin FleetCenter 13,266 14–11–5–1 34 32 December 26 @ Atlanta Thrashers 1–3 Khabibulin Philips Arena 18,545 14–12–5–1 34 33 December 27 Boston Bruins 4–2 Grahame St. Pete Times Forum 19,942 15–12–5–1 36 34 December 29 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 0–2 Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 17,662 15–13–5–1 36 35 December 31 Florida Panthers 2–2 OT Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 15,234 15–13–6–1 37
January: 11–3–0–2, 24 points (Home: 4–1–0–1; Road: 7–2–0–1) Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap 36 January 2 Columbus Blue Jackets 0–2 Grahame St. Pete Times Forum 13,609 15–14–6–1 37 37 January 3 Philadelphia Flyers 6–1 Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 19,242 16–14–6–1 39 38 January 6 @ Ottawa Senators 2–5 Khabibulin Corel Centre 16,890 16–15–6–1 39 39 January 8 @ Montreal Canadiens 4–1 Grahame Bell Centre 20,706 17–15–6–1 41 40 January 9 @ New Jersey Devils 4–1 Grahame Continental Airlines Arena 19,040 18–15–6–1 43 41 January 11 @ New York Rangers 2–1 OT Grahame Madison Square Garden 18,200 19–15–6–1 45 42 January 13 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 3–1 Grahame Mellon Arena 10,039 20–15–6–1 47 43 January 15 Carolina Hurricanes 5–4 Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 19,909 21–15–6–1 49 44 January 17 @ Florida Panthers 1–2 Grahame Office Depot Center 19,250 21–16–6–1 49 45 January 19 Colorado Avalanche 4–5 OT Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 19,212 21–16–6–2 50 46 January 21 @ Vancouver Canucks 4–5 OT Khabibulin General Motors Place 18,630 21–16–6–3 51 47 January 22 @ Edmonton Oilers 3–2 Grahame Rexall Place 16,839 22–16–6–3 53 48 January 24 @ Calgary Flames 6–2 Grahame Pengrowth Saddledome 17,109 23–16–6–3 55 49 January 27 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 6–2 Grahame Mellon Arena 9,931 24–16–6–3 57 50 January 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–1 Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 15,847 25–16–6–3 59 51 January 31 Atlanta Thrashers 5–2 Grahame St. Pete Times Forum 20,762 26–16–6–3 61
February: 9–1–1–2, 21 points (Home: 5–0–1–0; Road: 4–1–0–2) Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap 52 February 2 @ Philadelphia Flyers 2–1 Khabibulin Wachovia Center 19,048 27–16–6–3 63 53 February 3 @ Washington Capitals 1–2 Khabibulin MCI Center 13,085 27–17–6–3 63 54 February 5 @ Nashville Predators 5–2 Khabibulin Gaylord Entertainment Center 9,879 28–17–6–3 65 All-Star Break (February 6–9) 55 February 10 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–4 OT Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 17,222 28–17–7–3 66 56 February 12 Montreal Canadiens 5–3 Grahame St. Pete Times Forum 15,644 29–17–7–3 68 57 February 14 Florida Panthers 3–2 Grahame St. Pete Times Forum 18,888 30–17–7–3 70 58 February 17 Philadelphia Flyers 5–2 Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 17,545 31–17–7–3 72 59 February 19 @ St. Louis Blues 3–4 OT Khabibulin Savvis Center 17,973 31–17–7–4 73 60 February 20 @ Buffalo Sabres 3–4 OT Grahame HSBC Arena 18,124 31–17–7–5 74 61 February 23 @ Washington Capitals 6–3 Khabibulin MCI Center 16,051 32–17–7–5 76 62 February 25 @ Atlanta Thrashers 4–2 Khabibulin Philips Arena 14,667 33–17–7–5 78 63 February 26 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–3 Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 19,909 34–17–7–5 80 64 February 28 Washington Capitals 4–2 Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 20,124 35–17–7–5 82
March: 10–4–1–1, 22 points (Home: 5–2–0–1; Road: 5–2–1–0) Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap 65 March 1 @ Colorado Avalanche 3–0 Khabibulin Pepsi Center 18,007 36–17–7–5 84 66 March 3 @ Chicago Blackhawks 5–3 Khabibulin United Center 10,702 37–17–7–5 86 67 March 5 New Jersey Devils 3–2 OT Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 20,239 38–17–7–5 88 68 March 6 @ Florida Panthers 5–3 Khabibulin Office Depot Center 17,509 39–17–7–5 90 69 March 8 @ Detroit Red Wings 1–1 OT Khabibulin Joe Louis Arena 20,066 39–17–8–5 91 70 March 10 @ Carolina Hurricanes 4–2 Grahame RBC Center 13,531 40–17–8–5 93 71 March 12 New York Rangers 5–2 Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 20,026 41–17–8–5 95 72 March 13 Carolina Hurricanes 1–5 Grahame St. Pete Times Forum 20,237 41–18–8–5 95 73 March 16 New York Islanders 1–3 Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 19,914 41–19–8–5 95 74 March 18 Buffalo Sabres 1–3 Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 19,946 42–19–8–5 97 75 March 20 @ Boston Bruins 4–5 Khabibulin FleetCenter 17,565 42–20–8–5 97 76 March 21 @ New York Islanders 0–3 Grahame Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,447 42–21–8–5 97 77 March 23 @ Toronto Maple Leafs 7–2 Grahame Air Canada Centre 19,452 43–21–8–5 99 78 March 25 New Jersey Devils 2–1 Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 19,013 44–21–8–5 101 79 March 27 Washington Capitals 4–1 Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 18,812 45–21–8–5 103 80 March 29 Ottawa Senators 4–5 OT Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 19,844 45–21–8–6 104
March: 1–1–0–0, 2 points (Home: 1–1–0–0; Road: 0–0–0–0) Game Date Opponent Score OT Decision Location Attendance Record Points Recap 81 April 1 Florida Panthers 4–3 Grahame St. Pete Times Forum 17,726 46–21–8–6 106 82 April 3 Atlanta Thrashers 1–2 Khabibulin St. Pete Times Forum 20,244 46–22–8–6 106
Lightning score listed first;   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)   Overtime loss (1 point)

Playoffs

See also: 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Player stats

Forwards

Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; A= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points

Player	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Martin St. Louis	82	38	56	94	24
Cory Stillman	81	25	55	80	36
Brad Richards	82	26	53	79	12
Vincent Lecavalier	81	32	34	66	52
Fredrik Modin	82	29	28	57	32
Dave Andreychuk	82	21	18	39	42
Ruslan Fedotenko	77	17	22	39	30
Tim Taylor	82	7	15	22	25
Dmitry Afanasenkov	71	6	10	16	12
Martin Cibak	63	2	7	9	30
Chris Dingman	74	1	5	6	140
Shane Willis	12	0	6	6	2
Alexandr Svitov	11	0	3	3	4
Andre Roy	33	1	1	2	78
Eric Perrin	4	0	0	0	0

Defensemen

Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; A= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points

Player	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Dan Boyle	78	9	30	39	60
Pavel Kubina	81	17	18	35	85
Brad Lukowich	79	5	14	19	24
Cory Sarich	82	3	16	19	89
Ben Clymer	66	2	8	10	50
Jassen Cullimore	79	2	5	7	58
Darryl Sydor	31	1	6	7	6
Nolan Pratt	58	1	3	4	42
Darren Rumble	5	0	0	0	2
Stan Neckar	--	--	--	--	--

Goaltending

Note: GP= Games played; W= Wins; L= Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against

Player	GP	W	L	T	SO	GAA
Nikolai Khabibulin	55	28	19	7	3	2.33
John Grahame	29	18	9	1	1	2.06

Awards and records

• Brad Richards, Conn Smythe Trophy
• Brad Richards, Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
• Martin St. Louis, Art Ross Trophy
• Martin St. Louis, Hart Memorial Trophy
• Martin St. Louis, Lester B. Pearson Award
• Martin St. Louis, NHL Plus/Minus Award, (shared with Marek Malik of the Vancouver Canucks)
• John Tortorella, Jack Adams Award

Draft picks

NHL draft

See also: 2003 NHL Entry Draft

Round	#	Player	Position	Nationality	College/junior/club team
2	34	Mike Egener	Defence	Germany	Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
2	41	Matt Smaby	Defence	United States	Shattuck-Saint Mary's (Midget Major AAA)
3	96	Jonathan Boutin	Goalie	Canada	Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
6	192	Doug O'Brien	Defense	Canada	Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)
7	224	Gerald Coleman	Goalie	United States	London Knights (OHL)
7	227	Jay Rosehill	Left Wing	Canada	Olds Grizzlys (AJHL)
8	255	Raimonds Danilics	Forward	Latvia	Stalkers (LHL)
8	256	Brady Greco	Defense	United States	Chicago Steel (USHL)
9	273	Albert Vishnyakov	Left Wing	Russia	Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)
9	286	Zbyněk Hrdel	Center	Czech Republic	Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL)
9	287	Nick Tarnasky	Center	Canada	Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)

References

• Lightning on Hockey Database