The 2002–03 Detroit Red Wings season was the 77th National Hockey League season in Detroit, Michigan. The Red Wings scored 110 points, winning the Central Division, but just one point behind the Dallas Stars for the Western Conference's first seed.
Coming off their latest Stanley Cup victory, the Red Wings started looking towards the future. Dominik Hasek and Scotty Bowman had retired over the summer and captain Steve Yzerman was out for the first 66 games of the regular season. The weight of the team fell on Sergei Fedorov and veteran Brett Hull, who helped the Red Wings score the most goals of any team in the regular season. As newly acquired goaltender Curtis Joseph held steady in net, two more pieces of the Stanley Cup team would be traded over the course of the year. Maxim Kuznetsov and Sean Avery left in a trade for the Los Angeles Kings' Mathieu Schneider right before the trade deadline in an effort to push the Wings towards the playoffs. However, the moves did not come to complete fruition, as the Wings entered the 2003 playoffs by finding themselves pitted against the seventh-seeded Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. The Mighty Ducks shocked the hockey world when they swept the Red Wings in four games en route to their first ever Stanley Cup Finals appearance.
Three Red Wings were named to the roster for the 2003 All-Star Game: defenceman Nicklas Lidstrom, center Sergei Fedorov and head coach Dave Lewis. It was Lidstrom's seventh appearance at the All-Star Game, Fedorov's sixth and Lewis's first appearance as a coach.Nothing Typical About It, Western Conference roster, ESPN.com, September 11, 2007
The Red Wings sold out all 41 home games in 2002–03 as 20,058 fans packed Joe Louis Arena for every regular season and playoff game played in Detroit.
Regular season The Red Wings led the NHL in scoring during the regular season, with 269 goals for, and power-play percentage, at 23.82% (76 for 319). They also tied the Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals for fewest short-handed goals allowed, with just four.
Season standings
Playoffs The Detroit Red Wings ended the 2002–03 regular season as the Western Conference's second seed and played Anaheim in the first round. Anaheim upset Detroit in a four-game sweep. The Mighty Ducks would advance and reach the Stanley Cup Finals, losing in Game 7 to the New Jersey Devils.
Schedule and results
Regular season
| 1 || October 10 || Detroit || 6 – 3 || San Jose || || Joseph || 17,496 || 1–0–0–0 || 2 ||
| 2 || October 12 || Detroit || 2 – 3 || Los Angeles || || Joseph || 18,177 || 1–1–0–0 || 2 ||
| 3 || October 13 || Detroit || 4 – 2 || Anaheim || || Legace || 17,174 || 2–1–0–0 || 4 ||
| 4 || October 17 || Montreal || 3 – 2 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,058 || 2–2–0–0 || 4 ||
| 5 || October 19 || Detroit || 5 – 3 || Minnesota || || Joseph || 19,344 || 3–2–0–0 || 6 ||
| 6 || October 21 || Calgary || 0 – 4 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,058 || 4–2–0–0 || 8 ||
| 7 || October 23 || Los Angeles || 3 – 3 || Detroit || OT || Joseph || 20,058 || 4–2–1–0 || 9 ||
| 8 || October 25 || Pittsburgh || 3 – 7 || Detroit || || Legace || 20,058 || 5–2–1–0 || 11 ||
| 9 || October 26 || Detroit || 1 – 3 || Nashville || || Joseph || 17,113 || 5–3–1–0 || 11 ||
| 10 || October 29 || San Jose || 2 – 3 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,058 || 6–3–1–0 || 13 ||
| 11 || November 2 || Detroit || 2 – 5 || Ottawa || || Joseph || 18,210 || 6–4–1–0 || 13 ||
| 12 || November 3 || Dallas || 3 – 3 || Detroit || OT || Joseph || 20,058 || 6–4–2–0 || 14 ||
| 13 || November 5 || Chicago || 2 – 0 || Detroit || || Legace || 20,058 || 6–5–2–0 || 14 ||
| 14 || November 7 || Boston || 1 – 2 || Detroit || OT || Legace || 20,058 || 7–5–2–0 || 16 ||
| 15 || November 12 || Nashville || 1 – 4 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,058 || 8–5–2–0 || 18 ||
| 16 || November 15 || Anaheim || 1 – 2 || Detroit || OT || Joseph || 20,058 || 9–5–2–0 || 20 ||
| 17 || November 16 || Detroit || 2 – 1 || Toronto || || Legace || 19,110 || 10–5–2–0 || 22 ||
| 18 || November 19 || Detroit || 5 – 0 || Calgary || || Joseph || 16,061 || 11–5–2–0 || 24 ||
| 19 || November 22 || Detroit || 1 – 4 || Vancouver || || Legace || 18,422 || 11–6–2–0 || 24 ||
| 20 || November 23 || Detroit || 1 – 1 || Edmonton || OT || Joseph || 16,839 || 11–6–3–0 || 25 ||
| 21 || November 25 || Edmonton || 5 – 4 || Detroit || OT || Legace || 20,058 || 11–6–3–1 || 26 ||
| 22 || November 27 || New Jersey || 2 – 3 || Detroit || OT || Joseph || 20,058 || 12–6–3–1 || 28 ||
| 23 || November 29 || Detroit || 4 – 6 || Carolina || || Joseph || 20,066 || 12–7–3–1 || 28 ||
| 24 || December 1 || Calgary || 2 – 4 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,066 || 13–7–3–1 || 30 ||
| 25 || December 3 || Anaheim || 1 – 2 || Detroit || || Joseph || 18,504 || 14–7–3–1 || 32 ||
| 26 || December 5 || Detroit || 5 – 3 || Phoenix || || Joseph || 15,189 || 15–7–3–1 || 34 ||
| 27 || December 6 || Detroit || 3 – 3 || Dallas || OT || Joseph || 18,532 || 15–7–4–1 || 35 ||
| 28 || December 8 || St. Louis || 3 – 4 || Detroit || OT || Joseph || 20,058 || 16–7–4–1 || 37 ||
| 29 || December 12 || Minnesota || 3 – 2 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,058 || 16–8–4–1 || 37 ||
| 30 || December 14 || Columbus || 4 – 6 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,058 || 17–8–4–1 || 39 ||
| 31 || December 17 || Detroit || 2 – 2 || NY Islanders || OT || Legace || 14,884 || 17–8–5–1 || 40 ||
| 32 || December 19 || Dallas || 1 – 1 || Detroit || OT || Legace || 20,058 || 17–8–6–1 || 41 ||
| 33 || December 21 || NY Rangers || 2 – 3 || Detroit || || Legace || 20,058 || 18–8–6–1 || 43 ||
| 34 || December 23 || Detroit || 1 – 0 || Columbus || || Joseph || 18,136 || 19–8–6–1 || 45 ||
| 35 || December 26 || Columbus || 2 – 4 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,058 || 20–8–6–1 || 47 ||
| 36 || December 28 || Detroit || 4 – 2 || Nashville || || Legace || 17,113 || 21–8–6–1 || 49 ||
| 37 || December 29 || Detroit || 2 – 2 || Dallas || OT || Joseph || 18,532 || 21–8–7–1 || 50 ||
| 38 || December 31 || St. Louis || 1 – 5 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,058 || 22–8–7–1 || 52 ||
| 39 || January 3 || Phoenix || 4 – 1 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,058 || 22–9–7–1 || 52 ||
| 40 || January 5 || Detroit || 4 – 3 || Chicago || OT || Joseph || 21,295 || 23–9–7–1 || 54 ||
| 41 || January 7 || Detroit || 0 – 1 || Tampa Bay || || Joseph || 19,941 || 23–10–7–1 || 54 ||
| 42 || January 8 || Detroit || 2 – 1 || Florida || OT || Legace ||19,250 || 24–10–7–1 || 56 ||
| 43 || January 11 || Detroit || 2 – 3 || Philadelphia || || Joseph || 19,654 || 24–11–7–1 || 56 ||
| 44 || January 13 || Chicago || 4 – 5 || Detroit || OT || Joseph || 20,058 || 25–11–7–1 || 58 ||
| 45 || January 15 || Detroit || 1 – 4 || Chicago || || Legace || 21,391 || 25–12–7–1 || 58 ||
| 46 || January 16 || Detroit || 2 – 4 || Colorado || || Joseph || 18,007 || 26–12–7–1 || 60 ||
| 47 || January 19 || Vancouver || 4 – 1 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,058 || 26–13–7–1 || 60 ||
| 48 || January 22 || Detroit || 3 – 4 || Edmonton || OT || Joseph || 16,839 || 26–13–7–2 || 61 ||
| 49 || January 24 || Detroit || 5 – 2 || Vancouver || || Legace || 18,422 || 27–13–7–2 || 63 ||
| 50 || January 25 || Detroit || 1 – 4 || Calgary || || Joseph || 18,028 || 27–14–7–2 || 63 ||
| 51 || January 28 || Detroit || 0 – 1 || New Jersey || || Legace || 16,453 || 27–15–7–2 || 63 ||
| 52 || January 30 || Florida || 2 – 2 || Detroit || OT || Legace || 20,058 || 27–15–8–2 || 64 ||
| 53 || February 4 || Nashville || 5 – 5 || Detroit || OT || Joseph || 20,058 || 27–15–9–2 || 65 ||
| 54 || February 6 || Colorado || 1 – 0 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,058 || 27–16–9–2 || 65 ||
| 55 || February 8 || Detroit || 3 – 5 || Colorado || || Joseph || 18,007 || 27–17–9–2 || 65 ||
| 56 || February 10 || San Jose || 5 – 4 || Detroit || || Legace || 20,058 || 28–17–9–2 || 67 ||
| 57 || February 13 || Buffalo || 2 – 4 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,058 || 29–17–9–2 || 69 ||
| 58 || February 15 || Detroit || 6 – 2 || Atlanta || || Joseph || 18,857 || 30–17–9–2 || 71 ||
| 59 || February 18 || Vancouver || 4 – 3 || Detroit || OT || Joseph || 20,058 || 30–17–9–3 || 72 ||
| 60 || February 20 || Edmonton || 2 – 6 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,058 || 31–17–9–3 || 74 ||
| 61 || February 22 || Detroit || 5 – 1 || Washington || || Joseph || 18,277 || 32–17–9–3 || 76 ||
| 62 || February 24 || Los Angeles || 4 – 5 || Detroit || || Legace || 20,058 || 33–17–9–3 || 78 ||
| 63 || February 27 || Toronto || 2 – 7 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,058 || 34–17–9–3 || 80 ||
| 64 || March 2 || Phoenix || 2 – 5 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,058 || 35–17–9–3 || 82 ||
| 65 || March 3 || Detroit || 3 – 2 || Columbus || || Legace || 18,136 || 36–17–9–3 || 84 ||
| 66 || March 5 || Tampa Bay || 2 – 3 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,058 || 37–17–9–3 || 86 ||
| 67 || March 7 || St. Louis || 2 – 7 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,058 || 38–17–9–3 || 88 ||
| 68 || March 9 || Detroit || 1 – 4 || Anaheim || || Legace || 17,174 || 38–18–9–3 || 88 ||
| 69 || March 10 || Detroit || 2 – 3 || Los Angeles || || Legace || 18,344 || 39–18–9–3 || 90 ||
| 70 || March 12 || Detroit || 2 – 3 || Phoenix || || Joseph || 15,813 || 40–18–9–3 || 92 ||
| 71 || March 15 || Colorado || 3 – 5 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,058 || 41–18–9–3 || 94 ||
| 72 || March 16 || Ottawa || 2 – 6 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,058 || 42–18–9–3 || 96 ||
| 73 || March 18 || Detroit || 5 – 1 || Pittsburgh || || Legace || 13,840 || 43–18–9–3 || 98 ||
| 74 || March 22 || Detroit || 4 – 2 || St. Louis || || Joseph || 19,995 || 44–18–9–3 || 100 ||
| 75 || March 23 || Detroit || 0 – 4 || Minnesota || || Legace || 18,568 || 44–19–9–3 || 100 ||
| 76 || March 25 || Minnesota || 0 – 4 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,058 || 45–19–9–3 || 102 ||
| 77 || March 27 || Detroit || 0 – 3 || San Jose || || Joseph || 17,496 || 45–20–9–3 || 102 ||
| 78 || March 29 || Detroit || 6 – 2 || St. Louis || || Legace || 19,951 || 46–20–9–3 || 104 ||
| 79 || March 31 || Nashville || 0 – 3 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,058 || 47–20–9–3 || 106 ||
| 80 || April 3 || NY Islanders || 2 – 5 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,058 || 48–20–9–3 || 108 ||
| 81 || April 4 || Detroit || 5 – 5 || Columbus || OT || Legace || 18,136 || 48–20–10–3 || 109 ||
| 82 || April 6 || Detroit || 3 – 4 || Chicago || OT || Joseph || 21,565 || 48–20–10–4 || 110 ||
Legend:
Playoffs
| 1 || April 10 || Anaheim || 2 – 1 || Detroit || OT || Joseph || 20,058 || Anaheim leads 1–0 ||
| 2 || April 12 || Anaheim || 3 – 2 || Detroit || || Joseph || 20,058 || Anaheim leads 2–0 ||
| 3 || April 14 || Detroit || 1 – 2 || Anaheim || || Joseph || 17,174 || Anaheim leads 3–0 ||
| 4 || April 16 || Detroit || 2 – 3 || Anaheim || OT || Joseph || 17,174 || Anaheim wins 4–0 ||
Legend:
Player statistics
Scoring Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Red Wings only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Red Wings only.