2002–03 Buffalo Sabres season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2002-03 Buffalo Sabres
Division5th Northeast
Conference12th Eastern
2002-03 record27–37–10–8
Home record18–18–5–2
Road record9–27–5–6
Goals for190
Goals against219
Team information
General managerDarcy Regier
CoachLindy Ruff
CaptainStu Barnes (Oct-Mar)
Vacant (Mar-Apr)
ArenaHSBC Arena
Average attendance13,776
Team leaders
GoalsMiroslav Satan (26)
AssistsMiroslav Satan (49)
PointsMiroslav Satan (75)
Penalty minutesEric Boulton (178)
Plus/minusJochen Hecht and Curtis Brown (4)
WinsMartin Biron (17)
Goals against averageMika Noronen (2.42)

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.

Off-season[]

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

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


Schedule and results[]

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 OTL 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 OTL 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 OTL 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 OTL 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 OTL 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 OTL 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 OTL 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 OTL 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

Playoffs[]

The Sabres failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

Player statistics[]

Regular season[]

Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Miroslav Satan LW 79 26 49 75 20 -3 11 1 3
Chris Gratton C 66 15 29 44 86 -5 4 0 2
Ales Kotalik RW 68 21 14 35 30 -2 4 0 2
Jean-Pierre Dumont RW 76 14 21 35 44 -14 2 0 2
Stu Barnes C 68 11 21 32 20 -13 2 1 2
Curtis Brown C/LW 74 15 16 31 40 4 3 4 4
Taylor Pyatt LW 78 14 14 28 38 -8 2 0 0
Jochen Hecht LW 49 10 16 26 30 4 2 0 2
Tim Connolly C 80 12 13 25 32 -28 6 0 2
Dmitri Kalinin D 65 8 13 21 57 -7 3 1 0
Alexei Zhitnik D 70 3 18 21 85 -5 0 0 1
Brian Campbell D 65 2 17 19 20 -8 0 0 1
Adam Mair C 79 6 11 17 146 -4 0 1 1
James Patrick D 69 4 12 16 26 -3 2 0 1
Henrik Tallinder D 46 3 10 13 28 -3 1 0 0
Daniel Briere C 14 7 5 12 12 1 5 0 1
Vaclav Varada RW 44 7 4 11 23 -2 1 0 0
Maxim Afinogenov RW 35 5 6 11 21 -12 2 0 2
Rhett Warrener D 50 0 9 9 63 1 0 0 0
Eric Boulton LW 58 1 5 6 178 1 0 0 0
Jason Botterill LW 17 1 4 5 14 1 1 0 0
Jay McKee D 59 0 5 5 49 -16 0 0 0
Rory Fitzpatrick D 36 1 3 4 16 -7 0 0 0
Chris Taylor C 11 1 3 4 2 -1 0 0 0
Jason Woolley D 14 0 3 3 29 -1 0 0 0
Denis Hamel LW 25 2 0 2 17 -4 0 0 1
Norm Milley RW 8 0 2 2 6 -2 0 0 0
Milan Bartovic RW 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Martin Biron G 54 0 1 1 12 0 0 0 0
Paul Gaustad C 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Radoslav Hecl D 14 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
Doug Houda D 1 0 0 0 2 -2 0 0 0
Doug Janik D 6 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0
Jaroslav Kristek RW 6 0 0 0 4 -2 0 0 0
Sean McMorrow LW 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Ryan Miller G 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mika Noronen G 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Rob 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%
Martin Biron 3170 54 17 28 6 135 2.56 4 1468 1333 .908
Ryan Miller 912 15 6 8 1 40 2.63 1 410 370 .902
Mika 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;

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

Transactions[]

Roster[]

Draft picks[]

Buffalo's draft picks at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft held at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 11 Keith Ballard  United States University of Minnesota (WCHA)
1 20 Daniel Paille  Canada Guelph Storm (OHL)
3 76 Michael Tessier  Canada Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL)
3 82 John Adams  United States Boston College (Hockey East)
4 108  Czech Republic HC Vitkovice Jr. (Czech Republic)
4 121 Marty Magers  United States Omaha Lancers (USHL)
6 178  Russia Elemash Elektrostal (Russia)
7 208 Radoslav Hecl  Slovakia Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia)
8 241 Dennis Wideman  Canada London Knights (OHL)
9 271  Czech Republic Slavia Prague Jr. (Czech Republic)

Farm teams[]

See also[]

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. Archived from the original on March 7, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
Retrieved from ""