The Canadiens would return to the playoffs reaching the Eastern Conference Semifinals before being eliminated by the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4–0.
Bob Gainey, who played his entire 16 season NHL career with Montreal, was named the team’s new general manager on June 2, 2003, and assumed the role on July 1 from Andre Savard, who was demoted to assistant general manager.
[3] The event took place in Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium in front of a crowd of 57,167, the largest number of people to ever watch a live NHL game, despite temperatures of close to −18 °C, −30 °C (−22 °F) with wind chill.
It was held to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Edmonton Oilers joining the NHL in 1979.
Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.