Yashin to the New York Islanders during the off-season. Martin coached the Senators for their first 80 games, going 38–26–9–7. Martin stepped aside for the final two games, allowing assistant coach Roger Neilson to head coach the team, so Neilson could get to 1000 games as a head coach. Martin returned to the Senators bench in the playoffs, as Ottawa faced the Philadelphia Flyers in the opening round of the playoffs. The Senators defeated the Flyers in five games, setting up a third straight meeting with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round. Ottawa took Toronto to a seventh game, however, the team once again lost to their provincial rivals. Ottawa finished the 2002–03 with the best record in the league, winning the Presidents' Trophy for the first time in team history, with a 52–21–8–1 record, earning 113 points. In the post-season, the Senators defeated the New York Islanders in five games in the first round, followed by a six-game series win over the Philadelphia Flyers, as the team reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in club history. In the series against the New Jersey Devils, Ottawa fell behind three games to one, however, the Senators rallied to tie the series, setting up a seventh and deciding game. In the seventh game, the Senators lost the game, and series, on a late third period goal. Heading into the 2003–04 season, the Senators were heavy favourites to win the Stanley Cup. The team had a very good regular season, going 43–23–10–6, earning 102 points, and fifth place in the Eastern Conference. In the first round of the playoffs, Ottawa faced the Toronto Maple Leafs for their fourth playoff meeting in five years. The Leafs managed to defeat the Senators again, winning the series in seven games. On April 22, 2004, the Senators fired Martin. Florida Panthers (2004–09) Martin was hired as head coach of the Florida Panthers on May 26, 2004. Due to the 2004-05 NHL lockout, the season was cancelled. Martin coached his first game with the Panthers on October 5, 2005, as the team defeated the Atlanta Thrashers 2–0. In his first year with the club in 2005–06, the Panthers went 37–34–11. However, the team failed to make the playoffs. On September 3, 2006, the Panthers general manager, Mike Keenan, resigned from the position, and Martin took over the job, while remaining the head coach.