As in the 2002 off-season, Ed Belfour left via free agency to the Toronto Maple Leafs. To begin the 2002–03 season, the Stars awarded the starting goaltending position to Marty Turco, who went on to have one of the best seasons in NHL history, posting the lowest goals-against average (GAA) since 1940, at 1.76. However, missing 18 games late in the season likely cost him a shot at the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the league's top regular season goaltender. Regardless, the Stars posted the best record in the Western Conference at 46–17–15–4, and along the way, two-way star Jere Lehtinen won his third Frank J. Selke Trophy. In the playoffs, the Stars once again met the Edmonton Oilers, and once again the Oilers would prove a contentious opponent, winning two of the first three games. However, the Stars would prove the better team again by winning the next three games to take the series in six games. The Stars' second-round series against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim got off to an unbelievable start, as the game went deep into overtime tied 3–3. However, Mighty Ducks goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped 60 shots as the Ducks scored early in the fifth overtime. Game 2 would be more of the same, as the Ducks stunned the Stars in overtime. Desperately needing a win, the Stars bounced back to take game 3 in Anaheim. However, the Ducks would take a 3–1 series lead by breaking a scoreless tie late in the third period of game 4. In game 5, the Stars finally solved Giguere by scoring four goals to keep their playoff hopes alive. However, the Stars' dreams of a return trip to the Stanley Cup Finals would end in heartbreaking fashion as the Ducks broke a 3–3 tie with 1:06 left in game 6 on a goal by defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh.
as IN The 2002 Off-SeASon, ed beLfOuR leFt vIa freE AGency to THe tORONto mapLE LEAFs. TO begiN tHE 2002–03 Season, the staRs aWardeD THe startiNg goalTeNdinG posITion TO maRty turCo, Who went ON to have onE Of the best seasoNs in nhL hIstory, posTinG tHe lowest gOals-AgaInst aveRage (gaA) SiNCe 1940, At 1.76. HoweVer, missing 18 Games lAte in THe SEason lIkely COSt Him a Shot At the vezina TroPhy, aWarDed To the leaGue's top rEgular sEaSoN goaltenDer. rEGaRdlEss, thE sTaRs POStEd ThE Best recorD in the western confErence at 46–17–15–4, aNd along the waY, Two-wAy sTaR jERe LEhtinen woN his thIRd fraNk J. selke trOpHy. in tHE PlayofFs, tHe stArs oNcE agaiN mEt thE edmonton oileRS, ANd once agaiN the OILErs WoUld prOve a coNTentiOUs opponEnt, WiNnINg two Of the FIrSt thREe gaMes. However, the stARs would pRoVe the betteR Team again By WINning tHE neXt thrEe Games tO tAke The seRies in sIx games. the sTars' seCoNd-rounD seriEs AGainsT the MIghty duckS Of aNaHEiM goT oFf to AN unbeLiEvaBle StarT, as the gAme wENT Deep InTo ovErTime TIed 3–3. howEver, migHty duckS goaLtendEr jean-sebAstiEN gIguEre stOppED 60 shots as tHe DuCkS SCOreD EArlY iN tHe fifth OverTiMe. gamE 2 WOuLD be more Of the same, as THe duCkS stunned the stArs In OvErtIMe. despERaTely nEEdiNg a win, tHE stars bOunCEd BaCK tO take GAmE 3 in anaheIM. howeveR, ThE DuckS wouLD take a 3–1 SEriEs lEad bY breakING A sCOrElEss tie LAte iN the third PerIod of GamE 4. in GAme 5, the staRs fInallY solved giguere by scoring fouR goAls to KEep THeir PlaYOfF hoPES alIVe. HoWever, thE StArs' dReams of a reTuRn TrIP to the stAnLey cuP FinAls would end in HEartBREakiNg fASHIOn As The duckS broKE a 3–3 Tie wITH 1:06 leFt iN gAMe 6 On a goal BY DEfenSEman saNDis ozolinsh.