The 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs, the playoff tournament of the National Hockey League (NHL), began on April 9, 2003, following the 2002–03 regular season. The playoffs concluded on June 9, 2003, with the New Jersey Devils defeating the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in seven games. The 16 qualifying teams played best-of-seven series in the conference quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. Each conference champion proceeded to the Stanley Cup Finals. These playoffs marked the first time the Minnesota Wild qualified, in only their third season in the NHL. The Minnesota Wild, a sixth-seed, made an unlikely advance to the Western Conference Final as underdogs after being down three games to one in two consecutive rounds. This, along with the Canucks' comeback against the Blues, made for three 3-1 series comebacks in the playoffs, the second time this had happened in NHL playoff history. Despite losing to the Devils in the Stanley Cup Finals, Mighty Ducks goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player during the playoffs, marking only the fifth time that the Trophy had ever been awarded to a player on the losing team. Playoff seeds Eastern Conference Ottawa Senators, Northeast Division champions, Eastern Conference regular season champions, Presidents' Trophy winners – 113 points New Jersey Devils, Atlantic Division champions – 108 points Tampa Bay Lightning, Southeast Division champions – 93 points Philadelphia Flyers – 107 points Toronto Maple Leafs – 98 points Washington Capitals – 92 points Boston Bruins – 87 points New York Islanders – 83 points Western Conference Dallas Stars, Pacific Division champions, Western Conference regular season champions – 111 points Detroit Red Wings, Central Division champions – 110 points Colorado Avalanche, Northwest Division champions – 105 points Vancouver Canucks – 104 points St. Louis Blues – 99 points Minnesota Wild – 95 points (42 wins) Mighty Ducks of Anaheim – 95 points (40 wins) Edmonton Oilers – 92 points Playoff bracket Conference Quarterfinals Eastern Conference Quarterfinals (1) Ottawa Senators vs. (8) New York Islanders The Ottawa Senators finished as the first overall seed in the Eastern Conference with 113 points. The New York Islanders earned 83 points during the regular season to finish eighth overall in the Eastern Conference. This was the first playoff series between these two teams. Ottawa won the four game regular season series by earning five of eight points in their matchup. The Senators defeated the Islanders