The 2002–03 Boston Bruins season was the team's 79th season of operation. Offseason Joe Thornton was named the 17th captain in team history on October 8, 2002. Regular season Head coach Robbie Ftorek was fired on March 19 and general manager Mike O'Connell assumed coaching duties on an interim basis through the end of the season. Final standings Playoffs Schedule and results Regular season |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |1||L||October 11, 2002||1–5 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Wild (2002–03) ||0–1–0–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |2||W||October 14, 2002||2–1 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (2002–03) ||1–1–0–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |3||W||October 16, 2002||6–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (2002–03) ||2–1–0–0 || |- align="center" |4||T||October 17, 2002||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (2002–03) ||2–1–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |5||W||October 19, 2002||4–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (2002–03) ||3–1–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |6||W||October 21, 2002||4–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03) ||4–1–1–0 || |- align="center" |7||T||October 24, 2002||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Ottawa Senators (2002–03) ||4–1–2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |8||W||October 26, 2002||4–3 || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03) ||5–1–2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |9||W||October 30, 2002||7–2 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (2002–03) ||6–1–2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |10||L||October 31, 2002||1–4 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2002–03) ||6–2–2–0 || |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |11||W||November 2, 2002||3–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (2002–03) ||7–2–2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FF6F6F" |12||OTL||November 7, 2002||1–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (2002–03) ||7–2–2–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |13||W||November 9, 2002||7–1 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (2002–03) ||8–2–2–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |14||W||November 11, 2002||6–1 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (2002–03) ||9–2–2–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |15||W||November 12, 2002||4–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (2002–03) ||10–2–2–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |16||W||November 14, 2002||4–1 || align="left"| New York Islanders (2002–03) ||11–2–2–1 || |- align="center" |17||T||November 16, 2002||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (2002–03) ||11–2–3–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |18||L||November 19, 2002||0–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2002–03) ||11–3–3–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |19||W||November 21, 2002||3–1 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes (2002–03) ||12–3–3–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |20||W||November 23, 2002||4–1 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (2002–03) ||13–3–3–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |21||W||November 26, 2002||7–2 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (2002–03) ||14–3–3–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |22||W||November 29, 2002||4–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (2002–03) ||15–3–3–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |23||W||November 30, 2002||3–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03) ||16–3–3–1 || |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |24||L||December 3, 2002||0–4 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (2002–03) ||16–4–3–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |25||W||December 5,