2002–03 Carolina Hurricanes season

2002–03 Carolina Hurricanes
Division	5th Southeast
Conference	15th Eastern
2002–03 record	22–43–11–6
Home record	12–17–9–3
Road record	10–26–2–3
Goals for	171
Goals against	240
Team information
General manager	Jim Rutherford
Coach	Paul Maurice
Captain	Ron Francis
Alternate captains	Rod Brind'Amour Glen Wesley
Arena	RBC Center
Average attendance	15,682
Minor league affiliate(s)	Lowell Lock Monsters Florida Everblades
Team leaders
Goals	Jeff O'Neill (30)
Assists	Ron Francis (35)
Points	Jeff O'Neill (61)
Penalty minutes	Sean Hill (141)
Plus/minus	Sean Hill (+4)
Wins	Kevin Weekes (14)
Goals against average	Kevin Weekes (2.55)

The 2002–03 Carolina Hurricanes season was the franchise's 24th season in the National Hockey League and sixth as the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes missed the playoffs, despite making it to the Stanley Cup Finals the previous year, finishing the season with an NHL-worst record of 22–43–11–6 (61 points).

Regular season

The Hurricanes finished 30th in scoring, with just 171 goals for. They also had the most power-play opportunities of all 30 teams, with 420.

Final standings

Southeast Division

No.	CR		GP	W	L	T	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	3	Tampa Bay Lightning	82	36	25	16	5	219	210	93
2	6	Washington Capitals	82	39	29	8	6	224	220	92
3	11	Atlanta Thrashers	82	31	39	7	5	226	284	74
4	13	Florida Panthers	82	24	36	13	9	176	237	70
5	15	Carolina Hurricanes	82	22	43	11	6	171	240	61

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	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

2002–03 regular season
October: 5–4–1–1 (Home: 3–2–1–0; Road: 2–2–0–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap 1 L October 9, 2002 1–4 New York Rangers (2002–03) 0–1–0–0 18,730 Recap 2 W October 11, 2002 5–3 Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03) 1–1–0–0 13,962 Recap 3 L October 12, 2002 1–5 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03) 1–2–0–0 19,814 Recap 4 OTL October 15, 2002 1–2 OT @ St. Louis Blues (2002–03) 1–2–0–1 13,222 Recap 5 L October 17, 2002 1–2 Washington Capitals (2002–03) 1–3–0–1 10,597 Recap 6 W October 19, 2002 3–1 New Jersey Devils (2002–03) 2–3–0–1 15,518 Recap 7 W October 22, 2002 4–1 @ New York Islanders (2002–03) 3–3–0–1 13,514 Recap 8 L October 23, 2002 1–4 @ Ottawa Senators (2002–03) 3–4–0–1 14,847 Recap 9 T October 26, 2002 3–3 OT Chicago Blackhawks (2002–03) 3–4–1–1 15,613 Recap 10 W October 29, 2002 2–1 @ New Jersey Devils (2002–03) 4–4–1–1 10,328 Recap 11 W October 30, 2002 4–2 New York Islanders (2002–03) 5–4–1–1 12,495 Recap
November: 6–3–3–2 (Home: 4–1–3–2; Road: 2–2–0–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap 12 T November 1, 2002 2–2 OT Montreal Canadiens (2002–03) 5–4–2–1 15,357 Recap 13 OTL November 5, 2002 1–2 OT Philadelphia Flyers (2002–03) 5–4–2–2 15,501 Recap 14 W November 7, 2002 2–0 Buffalo Sabres (2002–03) 6–4–2–2 11,588 Recap 15 W November 9, 2002 3–2 Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03) 7–4–2–2 18,730 Recap 16 W November 12, 2002 3–2 Phoenix Coyotes (2002–03) 8–4–2–2 10,707 Recap 17 T November 15, 2002 1–1 OT Philadelphia Flyers (2002–03) 8–4–3–2 17,480 Recap 18 OTL November 17, 2002 1–2 OT Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03) 8–4–3–3 13,970 Recap 19 T November 19, 2002 4–4 OT Ottawa Senators (2002–03) 8–4–4–3 11,044 Recap 20 L November 21, 2002 1–3 @ Boston Bruins (2002–03) 8–5–4–3 10,667 Recap 21 W November 23, 2002 7–3 @ Montreal Canadiens (2002–03) 9–5–4–3 20,420 Recap 22 L November 25, 2002 1–3 @ New York Rangers (2002–03) 9–6–4–3 18,200 Recap 23 L November 27, 2002 2–3 Vancouver Canucks (2002–03) 9–7–4–3 14,943 Recap 24 W November 29, 2002 6–4 Detroit Red Wings (2002–03) 10–7–4–3 18,730 Recap 25 W November 30, 2002 4–2 @ Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–03) 11–7–4–3 18,136 Recap
December: 4–8–1–0 (Home: 1–3–1–0; Road: 3–5–0–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap 26 W December 3, 2002 2–1 @ Nashville Predators (2002–03) 12–7–4–3 10,258 Recap 27 L December 4, 2002 2–4 @ Florida Panthers (2002–03) 12–8–4–3 10,944 Recap 28 L December 6, 2002 0–2 Florida Panthers (2002–03) 12–9–4–3 17,006 Recap 29 L December 7, 2002 2–5 @ Ottawa Senators (2002–03) 12–10–4–3 15,328 Recap 30 L December 11, 2002 1–4 @ Edmonton Oilers (2002–03) 12–11–4–3 16,091 Recap 31 W December 12, 2002 4–3 @ Calgary Flames (2002–03) 13–11–4–3 14,528 Recap 32 L December 15, 2002 1–2 @ Minnesota Wild (2002–03) 13–12–4–3 18,568 Recap 33 T December 18, 2002 1–1 OT Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03) 13–12–5–3 15,236 Recap 34 W December 20, 2002 3–2 OT @ Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03) 14–12–5–3 12,831 Recap 35 W December 22, 2002 1–0 Dallas Stars (2002–03) 15–12–5–3 17,127 Recap 36 L December 27, 2002 3–5 Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03) 15–13–5–3 18,730 Recap 37 L December 28, 2002 0–3 @ New York Islanders (2002–03) 15–14–5–3 15,559 Recap 38 L December 31, 2002 0–2 New York Rangers (2002–03) 15–15–5–3 18,730 Recap
January: 2–10–1–2 (Home: 1–5–0–1; Road: 1–5–1–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap 39 L January 3, 2003 3–6 @ Buffalo Sabres (2002–03) 15–16–5–3 13,757 Recap 40 W January 4, 2003 4–2 @ Boston Bruins (2002–03) 16–16–5–3 16,407 Recap 41 T January 7, 2003 3–3 OT @ Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03) 16–16–6–3 9,061 Recap 42 L January 8, 2003 1–5 @ New York Rangers (2002–03) 16–17–6–3 18,200 Recap 43 L January 10, 2003 1–4 Washington Capitals (2002–03) 16–18–6–3 16,553 Recap 44 OTL January 12, 2003 2–3 OT Colorado Avalanche (2002–03) 16–18–6–4 18,730 Recap 45 L January 15, 2003 0–2 Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03) 16–19–6–4 15,265 Recap 46 L January 17, 2003 1–2 New Jersey Devils (2002–03) 16–20–6–4 18,730 Recap 47 L January 18, 2003 2–5 @ New Jersey Devils (2002–03) 16–21–6–4 17,574 Recap 48 L January 20, 2003 3–5 St. Louis Blues (2002–03) 16–22–6–4 14,654 Recap 49 L January 22, 2003 3–5 @ Washington Capitals (2002–03) 16–23–6–4 12,954 Recap 50 W January 24, 2003 3–1 Florida Panthers (2002–03) 17–23–6–4 15,346 Recap 51 OTL January 25, 2003 2–3 OT @ Florida Panthers (2002–03) 17–23–6–5 16,122 Recap 52 L January 29, 2003 2–3 Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03) 17–24–6–5 18,094 Recap 53 L January 30, 2003 1–3 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03) 17–25–6–5 13,541 Recap
February: 1–6–3–1 (Home: 1–1–2–0; Road: 0–5–1–1) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap 54 L February 5, 2003 2–6 @ San Jose Sharks (2002–03) 17–26–6–5 17,108 Recap 55 L February 7, 2003 2–8 @ Los Angeles Kings (2002–03) 17–27–6–5 18,118 Recap 56 L February 9, 2003 1–2 @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2002–03) 17–28–6–5 15,599 Recap 57 OTL February 11, 2003 1–2 OT @ Dallas Stars (2002–03) 17–28–6–6 18,532 Recap 58 W February 14, 2003 3–1 Washington Capitals (2002–03) 18–28–6–6 17,003 Recap 59 T February 15, 2003 2–2 OT @ Philadelphia Flyers (2002–03) 18–28–7–6 19,408 Recap 60 L February 18, 2003 3–4 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03) 18–29–7–6 19,365 Recap 61 T February 19, 2003 1–1 OT Boston Bruins (2002–03) 18–29–8–6 16,194 Recap 62 T February 21, 2003 2–2 OT Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03) 18–29–9–6 16,732 Recap 63 L February 23, 2003 0–4 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2002–03) 18–30–9–6 15,053 Recap 64 L February 26, 2003 2–4 @ Phoenix Coyotes (2002–03) 18–31–9–6 12,168 Recap
March: 4–9–2–0 (Home: 2–4–2–0; Road: 2–5–0–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap 65 L March 1, 2003 1–4 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03) 18–32–9–6 19,362 Recap 66 L March 2, 2003 0–2 @ Washington Capitals (2002–03) 18–33–9–6 16,198 Recap 67 L March 4, 2003 2–4 Boston Bruins (2002–03) 18–34–9–6 14,973 Recap 68 W March 6, 2003 4–0 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03) 19–34–9–6 14,812 Recap 69 W March 7, 2003 1–0 Minnesota Wild (2002–03) 20–34–9–6 13,224 Recap 70 W March 10, 2003 6–5 Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–03) 21–34–9–6 13,066 Recap 71 W March 12, 2003 3–2 OT @ Buffalo Sabres (2002–03) 22–34–9–6 15,425 Recap 72 L March 13, 2003 3–5 @ Philadelphia Flyers (2002–03) 22–35–9–6 19,399 Recap 73 T March 15, 2003 0–0 OT Los Angeles Kings (2002–03) 22–35–10–6 16,017 Recap 74 L March 18, 2003 5–6 Ottawa Senators (2002–03) 22–36–10–6 16,531 Recap 75 L March 22, 2003 3–5 @ Montreal Canadiens (2002–03) 22–37–10–6 21,273 Recap 76 T March 25, 2003 3–3 OT Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03) 22–37–11–6 16,262 Recap 77 L March 26, 2003 1–5 @ Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03) 22–38–11–6 9,994 Recap 78 L March 29, 2003 1–3 Buffalo Sabres (2002–03) 22–39–11–6 17,677 Recap 79 L March 31, 2003 0–4 Montreal Canadiens (2002–03) 22–40–11–6 14,157 Recap
April: 0–3–0–0 (Home: 0–1–0–0; Road: 0–2–0–0) Game Result Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap 80 L April 2, 2003 2–3 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03) 22–41–11–6 15,718 Recap 81 L April 4, 2003 1–4 @ Florida Panthers (2002–03) 22–42–11–6 16,544 Recap 82 L April 6, 2003 1–2 New York Islanders (2002–03) 22–43–11–6 16,918 Recap
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)   Overtime loss (1 point)

Draft picks

Carolina's picks at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Hurricanes have the 25th overall pick.

Round	#	Player	Position	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1	25	Cam Ward	G	Canada	Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
3	91	Jesse Lane	D	United States	Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)
5	160	Daniel Manzato	G	Canada	Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
7	224	Adam Taylor	C	United States	Kootenay Ice (WHL)

Farm teams

American Hockey League

The Lowell Lock Monsters are the Hurricanes American Hockey League affiliate for the 2002–03 AHL season.

East Coast Hockey League

The Florida Everblades are the Hurricanes East Coast Hockey League affiliate.