2003 National Hockey League All-Star Game
First All-Star Game since 1997 using conference format.
The 2003 NHL All-Star Game, played on February 2, 2003, was hosted at the Florida Panthers' arena, Office Depot Center in Sunrise. This matchup marked the return to the Eastern Conference versus Western Conference format, a structure not used since 1997.
Quick Facts
- Game name
- 2003 NHL All-Star Game
- Visitor
- West
- Home
- East
- Visitor total
- 6
- Home total
- 5
- Date
- February 2, 2003
- Arena
- Office Depot Center
- City
- Sunrise
Facts from the source article.
All-Star weekend
The All-Star festivities began on February 1 with the YoungStars Game, featuring the best rookies. Assistant coaches of the teams with the best points percentages in each conference through January 8 were selected as coaches for the Eastern and Western Conference YoungStars. The NHL's Hockey Operations Department, in consultation with general managers, chose the players. The game format changed from the previous season, using five skaters and one goaltender per team, with three 20-minute periods and a sudden-death shootout if tied. Brian Sutherby of the Washington Capitals won Most Valuable Player for the Eastern Conference YoungStars, scoring two goals and an assist in an 8–3 victory. Hometown favorite Stephen Weiss added a goal and an assist. The NHL Skills Competition followed, won by the Western Conference 15–9. Al MacInnis of the St. Louis Blues won his seventh Hardest Shot event, and Patrick Roy of the Colorado Avalanche allowed only one goal in the Goaltending Competitions. Other winners included Martin St. Louis (Puck Control Relay), Marian Gaborik (Fastest Skater, 13.713 seconds), and Jeremy Roenick (Accuracy Shooting, 4 hits on 4 shots).
The game
On Sunday, February 2, the Eastern Conference named five injury replacements: Ed Belfour, Brian Leetch, Mario Lemieux, Saku Koivu, and Mats Sundin were out. Dany Heatley of the Atlanta Thrashers opened the scoring past Patrick Roy five and a half minutes into the first period. Peter Forsberg and Mike Modano gave the Western Conference a 2–1 lead, but Heatley tied it on a rebound of a Jaromir Jagr shot. Marian Gaborik restored the West's lead at 3–2, which held through the first period. Goaltenders Roy and Nikolai Khabibulin were replaced by Jocelyn Thibault and Martin Brodeur. Heatley completed a hat trick with a wrist shot past Thibault to tie the game at 3. Ed Jovanovski put the West ahead again on a deflection off Sergei Gonchar's skate. Heatley scored his fourth goal on a pass from Olli Jokinen, tying the All-Star record of four goals held by Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Vincent Damphousse, and Mike Gartner; he became the first to score four goals with no other goals in between. No further goals came in the second period. Patrick Lalime and Marty Turco entered for the third period. Al MacInnis scored past Lalime's glove a minute and a half into the third period to give the West a 5–4 lead.
Rosters
Brian Leetch was voted a starter but could not play due to injury; Tom Poti replaced him, and Scott Stevens started in his place. Sandis Ozolinsh was chosen as a member of the Florida Panthers but was traded to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim two nights before the game; the public address announcement noted he was from the Panthers but now playing for Anaheim. Mario Lemieux was voted a starter but could not play due to injury; Vincent Lecavalier replaced him, and Jeremy Roenick started in his place. Mats Sundin was selected but could not play due to injury; Olli Jokinen replaced him. Ed Belfour was selected but could not play due to injury; Patrick Lalime replaced him. Saku Koivu was selected but could not play due to injury; Miroslav Satan replaced him.
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