Senators 2002-03 Trivia Quiz

Answer: 113

The President's Trophy is given to the team with the best overall record, or the team with the most points in the NHL at the end of the regular season. It was presented to the NHL in 1985-86 by the NHL Board of Governors. The Ottawa Senators finished with a record of 52-21-8-1, amassing 113 points.

Answer: Marian Hossa

Marian Hossa had a career year in the 2002-03 season, scoring 45 goals and 35 assists for a total of 80 points. He also set team records for most goals (45) and hat tricks (3) in a season. He was fourth in overall in the NHL in goals and fourteenth in the league in points.

Answer: False

The Senators were very active before the trade deadline, in picking up forwards Bryan Smolinski from the LA Kings, and Vaclav Varada and Rob Ray from the Buffalo Sabres. Smolinski is a versatile player who can play all three forward positions, while Varada is a pesky left wing who is a pro at irritating other team's players. Finally, Ray is a veteran fighter who was picked up to add to the team's toughness.

Answer: Martin Havlat

Although Martin Havlat is not known for his defensive abilities, he led all Ottawa forwards with a +20. The best plus minus on the team belonged to Zdeno Chara with a +29, while the worst belonged to Rob Ray with a -5, although that may have to do with the fact that he played with Buffalo for most of the season.

Answer: True

After the team declared bankruptcy on January 9th, 2003, Eugene Melnyk finalized his purchase of the team on August 26, 2003.

Answer: Fifth Game, Round Three

After falling behind the New Jersey Devils in the series 1-3, the Senators were one game away from being eliminated. Roger Neilson talked to the players before the fifth game, telling them that they never knew when they would reach this point again and to give it their all.

This inspirational speech motivated the Senators who went on to win the next two games pushing the series to seven games. No one told the public exactly what Neilson said, however it was surely motivating.

Answer: Two

The only two playoff series the Senators had ever won prior to the 2002-03 season, was in 1998 against the higher seeded New Jersey Devils team and in 2002 against the higher seeded Philadelphia Flyers team. The Senators beat the Devils in six games, but then lost to the Washington Capitals in five games in 1998, and beat the Flyers in five games before losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games in 2002. With their series win against the New York Islanders, the Senators won a series as the higher seeded team for the first time.

Answer: 8

Patrick Lalime finished the season with 8 shutouts, tied for second in the league. Only Martin Brodeur had more, with 9 shutouts. Lalime was also second in the league in wins, with 39. He finished the regular season with 39-20-7 record, a goals against average of 2.16 and a save percentage of .911.

Answer: 33

Jason Spezza was sent down to the minor league after the 2002 training camp in order to work on his defensive play. However due to injuries he was called up numerous times. In total he played 33 games, forfeiting his chance to compete for the Calder Tropy as rookie of the year in the 2003-04 season.

In playing more than 30 games in the 2002-03 season, Spezza became elibible for the Tropy that season. He was asked if he would prefer to sit out a few games in order to be elibible the next season, but Spezza said he would prefer to play.

Answer: Patrick Eaves

The Senators drafted forward Patrick Eaves of Boston College in the first round of the 2003 Entry Draft. He was the 29th pick overall. Igor Mirnov was drafted in the second round, 67th overall, Philippe Seydoux was drafted in the third round, 100th overall and Will Colbert was drafted in the seventh round, 228th overall.