The 2002–03 Tampa Bay Lightning season was the 11th National Hockey League (NHL) season in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning made it back to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 1996. Regular season Final standings Playoffs Schedule and results Regular season |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |1||W||October 10, 2002||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (2002–03) ||1–0–0–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |2||W||October 12, 2002||5–1 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes (2002–03) ||2–0–0–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |3||W||October 18, 2002||8–5 || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03) ||3–0–0–0 || |- align="center" |4||T||October 19, 2002||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03) ||3–0–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |5||W||October 21, 2002||4–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (2002–03) ||4–0–1–0 || |- align="center" |6||T||October 23, 2002||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–03) ||4–0–2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |7||W||October 25, 2002||3–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (2002–03) ||5–0–2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |8||L||October 26, 2002||1–5 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (2002–03) ||5–1–2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |9||W||October 28, 2002||6–1 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (2002–03) ||6–1–2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |10||W||October 30, 2002||3–0 || align="left"| New York Rangers (2002–03) ||7–1–2–0 || |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |11||L||November 1, 2002||2–3 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (2002–03) ||7–2–2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |12||L||November 2, 2002||3–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03) ||7–3–2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |13||L||November 5, 2002||3–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03) ||7–4–2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |14||W||November 8, 2002||4–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03) ||8–4–2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FF6F6F" |15||OTL||November 9, 2002||2–3 OT|| align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (2002–03) ||8–4–2–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |16||W||November 11, 2002||4–2 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes (2002–03) ||9–4–2–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |17||W||November 15, 2002||4–2 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (2002–03) ||10–4–2–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |18||W||November 17, 2002||2–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (2002–03) ||11–4–2–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |19||L||November 19, 2002||2–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (2002–03) ||11–5–2–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |20||L||November 21, 2002||2–7 || align="left"| New York Islanders (2002–03) ||11–6–2–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |21||W||November 23, 2002||3–1 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (2002–03) ||12–6–2–1 || |- align="center" |22||T||November 27, 2002||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (2002–03) ||12–6–3–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |23||L||November 29, 2002||3–5 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (2002–03) ||12–7–3–1 || |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |24||L||December 1, 2002||3–4 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (2002–03) ||12–8–3–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FF6F6F" |25||OTL||December 3, 2002||3–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03) ||12–8–3–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |26||W||December 5, 2002||3–2 || align="left"| Edmonton