2003–04 NHL season
| 2003–04 NHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | National Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | October 8, 2003 – June 7, 2004 |
| Number of games | 82 |
| Number of teams | 30 |
| 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 Playoffs MVP | Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning |
| Stanley Cup | |
| Champions | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| Runners-up | Calgary Flames |
The 2003–04 NHL season was the 87th regular season of the National Hockey League. The Stanley Cup champions were the Tampa Bay Lightning, who won the best of seven series four games to three against the Calgary Flames.
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 1994–95 season) 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.
The schedule of 82 games was revamped. The 30 teams played 82 games in a revamped format that increased divisional games from five to six per team (24 total), conference games from three to four (40 total), and decreased inter-conference games to at least one per team, with three extra games (18 in total).
The alternating of jerseys was changed. For the first season since the 1969–70 season, teams would now wear their colored jerseys at home and white jerseys away.
The Phoenix Coyotes moved to a new arena in Glendale, Arizona, after playing their first seven seasons at America West Arena.
The 2003–04 season was one overhung by concern over the expiry of the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement. It would lead to the cancellation of the League's games for the entirety of the next season. During the entire season, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL Players' Association (NHLPA) head Bob Goodenow waged a war of words with no agreement being signed.
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