2003–04 Philadelphia Flyers season

Regular season

Free-agent goaltender Jeff Hackett was signed from the Boston Bruins to replace Roman Cechmanek and challenge backup Robert Esche for the number one spot in 2003–04, but Hackett was forced to retire in February due to vertigo. During the course of the season, serious injuries suffered by both Jeremy Roenick (broken jaw) and Keith Primeau (concussion) in February forced the Flyers to trade for the Chicago Blackhawks' Alexei Zhamnov, who filled in well and kept the Flyers afloat. Esche entrenched himself as starter and remained in that position even after the Flyers re-acquired Sean Burke from the Phoenix Coyotes, as the Flyers clinched the Atlantic Division title over the New Jersey Devils on the last day of the season.

Season standings

Playoffs

Though solid in net, Esche's performance was over-shadowed by the play of captain Keith Primeau in the playoffs. Primeau led the Flyers past the defending Stanley Cup champion Devils in five, and the Toronto Maple Leafs in six on their way to the Eastern Conference Finals and a match-up with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Despite winning Game 6 on the late-game heroics of Primeau and winger Simon Gagne, the Flyers would come up short once again losing Game 7 in Tampa, 2–1.

Schedule and results

Preseason

|- | 1 || September 19 || 6–1 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || 1–0–0 || W |- | 2 || September 20 || 4–2 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || 2–0–0 || W |- | 3 || September 23 || 0–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || 2–1–0 || L |- | 4 || September 26 || 5–4 OT || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || 3–1–0 || W |- | 5 || September 27 || 2–4 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || 3–2–0 || L |- | 6 || September 30 || 1–4 || align="left"| New York Islanders || 3–3–0 || L |- | 7 || October 1 || 4–4 OT || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || 3–3–1 || T |- | 8 || October 2 || 2–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || 3–4–1 || L |- Notes:

Game played at Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, New Jersey.

Game played at Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

| Legend:

Regular season

|- | 1 || October 9 || 2–0 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Hackett || 1–0–0–0 || 2 || |- | 2 || October 11 || 3–3 OT || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Esche || 1–0–1–0 || 3 || |- | 3 || October 16 || 0–0 OT || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks || Hackett || 1–0–2–0 || 4 || |- | 4 || October 18 || 5–4 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Coyotes || Hackett || 2–0–2–0 || 6 || |- | 5 || October 21 || 0–4 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings || Hackett || 2–1–2–0 || 6 || |- | 6 || October 22 || 3–4 OT || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim || Esche || 2–1–2–1 || 7 || |- | 7 || October 25 || 4–4 OT || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes || Hackett || 2–1–3–1 || 8 || |- | 8 || October 27 || 5–0 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens || Esche || 3–1–3–1 || 10 || |- | 9 || October 29 || 5–1 || align="left"| Florida Panthers || Esche || 4–1–3–1 || 12 || |- | 10 || October 30 || 2–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Hackett || 4–2–3–1 || 12 ||

| Legend:

Playoffs

|- | 1 || April 8 || 3–2 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Esche || 19,608 || Flyers lead 1–0 || |- | 2 || April 10 || 3–2 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Esche || 19,779 || Flyers lead 2–0 || |- | 3 || April 12 || 2–4 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Esche || 18,023 || Flyers lead 2–1 || |- | 4 || April 14 || 3–0 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Esche || 19,040 || Flyers lead 3–1 || |- | 5 || April 17 || 3–1 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Esche || 19,778 || Flyers win 4–1 ||

| 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 Flyers only.*
• • = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.*

Goaltending

• • = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.*
• • = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.*

Awards and records

Awards

Records

The March 5, 2004 game against the Ottawa Senators set four NHL records. The Flyers set the records for most penalty minutes in a game (213) and most penalty minutes in a period (209). Likewise, both teams penalty minute totals set the combined game (419) and period (409) records. The Flyers 32 penalties during the third period set a franchise record.

Milestones

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from June 10, 2003, the day after the deciding game of the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals, through June 7, 2004, the day of the deciding game of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals.

Trades

Players acquired

Players lost

Signings

Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 2003 NHL entry draft, which was held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 21–22, 2003. The Flyers traded their originally allotted second, fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, and ninth-round draft picks in five different trades.

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL and the Trenton Titans of the ECHL.

Notes

References

References

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