1st in the East 52-21-8-1, 113 pts 263 Goals For 182 Goals Against »Team Stats »Depth Chart

Financial problems and ownership uncertainty did little to slow the Senators on-ice performance. They started slowly, going 3-4-1-0 in October, then picked up the pace in November (10-2-2) and never looked back.

Month in, month out, the Senators were one of the league's most consistent squads, posting only two three-game losing skids all season. They've also shown that they can finish, only losing twice all season when leading after two periods.

Finishing with a club-record 111 points and 51 wins, the Senators became the first Canadian team in 14 years to win the President's Trophy. Does that bode well for the Sens' post-season hopes? The last two teams to win the Stanley Cup, the Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche, also won the award and three out of the last four teams to win at least 50 games in a season have gone on to win the Stanley Cup.

Patrick Lalime proved this season that he is among the game's top goaltenders, finishing with 39 wins and an excellent 2.11 GAA. On offence, Marian Hossa continued to blossom, breaking Alexei Yashin's team record for goals (45) and finished with 80 points in 80 games.

8th in the East 35-34-11-2, 83 pts 224 Goals For 231 Goals Against »Team Stats »Depth Chart

After finishing with 42 wins and 96 points in 2002, the Islanders' 35-34-11-2 record and eighth-place finish in the East -- and a first-round date with the powerful Ottawa Senators -- is a bit of a comedown.

A poor start and a poor finish were the culprits. The Islanders got off badly, going 8-13-3 over October and November. Goaltender Chris Osgood struggled early on then suffered an ankle injury. Backup Garth Snow played well in Osgood's absence and the Isles eventually dealt their No. 1 netminder.

Another big disappointment was Alexei Yashin. The $10-million centreman was terrible for a good chunk of the season, so much so that coach Peter Laviolette demoted the team star to the fourth line in mid-February.

Since then Yashin has played better and in late-March posted five- and four-point nights against the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks respectively. Nevertheless, Yashin's 65 points mark his lowest output since 1995-96, when he only played 46 games.

The Islanders backed into the playoffs, going 1-4-1 in their last six games.