The 2002–03 Carolina Hurricanes season was the franchise's 24th season in the National Hockey League and sixth as the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes missed the playoffs, despite making it to the Stanley Cup Finals the previous year, finishing the season with an NHL-worst record of 22–43–11–6 (61 points). Offseason Regular season The Hurricanes finished 30th in scoring, with just 171 goals for. They also had the most power-play opportunities of all 30 teams, with 420. Final standings Schedule and results |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |1||L||October 9, 2002||1–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers (2002–03) ||0–1–0–0 || 18,730 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |2||W||October 11, 2002||5–3 || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers (2002–03) ||1–1–0–0 || 13,962 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |3||L||October 12, 2002||1–5 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03) ||1–2–0–0 || 19,814 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FF6F6F" |4||OTL||October 15, 2002||1–2 OT|| align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (2002–03) ||1–2–0–1 || 13,222 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |5||L||October 17, 2002||1–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (2002–03) ||1–3–0–1 || 10,597 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |6||W||October 19, 2002||3–1 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (2002–03) ||2–3–0–1 || 15,518 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |7||W||October 22, 2002||4–1 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (2002–03) ||3–3–0–1 || 13,514 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |8||L||October 23, 2002||1–4 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (2002–03) ||3–4–0–1 || 14,847 || |- align="center" |9||T||October 26, 2002||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (2002–03) ||3–4–1–1 || 15,613 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |10||W||October 29, 2002||2–1 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (2002–03) ||4–4–1–1 || 10,328 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |11||W||October 30, 2002||4–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (2002–03) ||5–4–1–1 || 12,495 || |- |- align="center" |12||T||November 1, 2002||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (2002–03) ||5–4–2–1 || 15,357 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FF6F6F" |13||OTL||November 5, 2002||1–2 OT|| align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (2002–03) ||5–4–2–2 || 15,501 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |14||W||November 7, 2002||2–0 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (2002–03) ||6–4–2–2 || 11,588 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |15||W||November 9, 2002||3–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (2002–03) ||7–4–2–2 || 18,730 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |16||W||November 12, 2002||3–2 || align="left"| Phoenix Coyotes (2002–03) ||8–4–2–2 || 10,707 || |- align="center" |17||T||November 15, 2002||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (2002–03) ||8–4–3–2 || 17,480 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FF6F6F" |18||OTL||November 17, 2002||1–2 OT|| align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (2002–03) ||8–4–3–3 || 13,970 || |- align="center" |19||T||November 19, 2002||4–4 OT|| align="left"| Ottawa Senators (2002–03) ||8–4–4–3 || 11,044 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |20||L||November 21, 2002||1–3 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (2002–03) ||8–5–4–3 || 10,667 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |21||W||November 23, 2002||7–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal