2005–06 NHL season

2005–06 NHL season
League National Hockey League
Sport Ice hockey
Duration October 5, 2005 – June 19, 2006
Number of games 82
Number of teams 30
Regular season
Presidents' Trophy Detroit Red Wings
Season MVP Joe Thornton (Boston, San Jose)
Top scorer Joe Thornton (Boston, San Jose)
Playoffs
Eastern champions Carolina Hurricanes
  Eastern runners-up Buffalo Sabres
Western champions Edmonton Oilers
  Western runners-up Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Playoffs MVP Cam Ward (Carolina)
Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup champions Carolina Hurricanes
  Runners-up Edmonton Oilers
NHL seasons
← 2004–05

2006–07 →

The 2005–06 NHL season was the 89th season of operation (88th season of play) of the National Hockey League (NHL). This was the season after the 2004–05 season which had all of its scheduled games canceled due to a labor dispute with the NHL Players Association over the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the league and its players. The 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs began on April 21, 2006, and concluded on June 19, with the Carolina Hurricanes defeating the Edmonton Oilers to win their first Stanley Cup.

League business

Contents

On July 13, 2005, the NHL, and NHLPA jointly announced that they had tentatively agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement which would allow the resumption of hockey for the 2005–06 season. The agreement was voted on July 21 by NHLPA members, and approved by a nearly 7 to 1 margin. The following day, the NHL's board of governors (owners) voted unanimously to approve the new agreement.

A new logo for the NHL was also unveiled, with "NHL" printed in upward-reading letters to project a vibrant, optimistic image, and having silver as the dominant color to pay homage to the Stanley Cup. Also, new Eastern and Western Conference logos were unveiled before the Olympic break, with red as the dominant East color, and blue as the dominant West hue.[1]

American television also had a new look. OLN took over broadcasting rights after ESPN decided not to renew their rights on cable television. The network, owned by Comcast, had Monday and Tuesday night games during the regular season under an exclusivity clause prohibiting local telecasts those nights in the two participating teams' markets. NBC returned as the NHL's over-the-air partner after ABC parted ways following the 2003–04 season. Comcast high-speed cable internet customers could watch at least seven games a week over the internet as part of the new TV deal.

Rule changes

After experimenting with many rule changes in 2004–05 in the American Hockey League (AHL), many of the rule changes from the previous year were adopted, with changes:

The rule experimentation was based on the previous season of play in the American Hockey League, and was based on creating a more exciting game and will create more scoring opportunities, and therefore more goals.

Furthermore, a new Competition Committee was formed to discuss future rule changes, and players were invited to participate in the discussion.

Regular season

The 2005–06 regular season was the highest-scoring regular season in NHL history, with 7,443 goals scored in 1,230 games.[3] The previous record was 7,311 goals, scored during the 1992–93 regular season of 1,008 games.[4] Another record from 1992–93, the most shorthanded goals scored in a season (312),[4] was broken as 318 shorthanded goals were scored.[5] An average of 6.05 goals per game were scored (compared with 7.25 in 1992-93). A total of 117 shutouts were recorded,[6] down from an all-time high of 192 in 2003-04. The higher offensive numbers were largely attributable, among other things, to greater frequency of power plays. In 2003-04, teams had an average of 348 power plays over 82 games.[7] In 2005-06, that number rose to 480.[5]

The NHL season began on October 5, and for the first time in the league's history, all of the league's thirty teams played a game on opening night. In the first period of each game, all teams wore a jersey (sweater) with a special patch as the league and players association auctioned off those jerseys for the benefit of the Red Cross in both the USA and Canada earmarking the proceeds for Hurricane Katrina victims (the Islanders' ECHL affiliate in Biloxi, Mississippi suspended operations for the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons because of this disaster; furthermore, the NHL had a Stanley Cup tour of ECHL cities to raise additional funds for relief efforts. On opening night of this season, Jean-Pierre Dumont of the Buffalo Sabres scored the first goal of the regular season, and Daniel Alfredsson and Dany Heatley, of the Ottawa Senators became the first players to score the winning goals for a shoot out in NHL history, both scoring against Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Ed Belfour. Their sticks were subsequently sent to the nearby Hockey Hall of Fame.

The All-Star Game, which would have been in Phoenix this year, did not take place (the city will host the event in a future year as a replacement); the league instead took a break in February so that many of its players could participate in the XX Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy. The new schedule features more intra-division games in order to promote division rivalries. Consequently, there are whole divisions in the opposite conference that teams never played during the season.

This season saw the much-hyped debuts of (and immediate rivalry between) Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin. It was only the second time that two rookies had 100+ points in a season (Teemu Selanne and Joe Juneau did it back in 1992-93). Ovechkin finished with 106 points, which is third best all-time among NHL rookies. Crosby surpassed teammate Mario Lemieux's 100-point rookie season, finishing with 102 points, currently fifth best all-time.[8]

On November 30, 2005, Joe Thornton of the Boston Bruins was traded to the San Jose Sharks in a four player deal, which sent forwards Marco Sturm and Wayne Primeau and defenceman Brad Stuart to Boston. Thornton went on to win the scoring title and to date has consistently been a top 10 scorer. The Bruins missed the playoffs.

On November 26 the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals played the longest shootout to date. Rangers defenseman Marek Malik scored the winning goal in the 15th round, pulling the puck between his own legs to defeat Capitals goalie Olaf Kolzig, giving the Rangers the victory by the final score of 3–2.

Three early-season games had to be rescheduled due to various events. Hurricane Wilma had forced the NHL to reschedule two Florida Panthers home games. Their game against Ottawa Senators scheduled on October 22 was rescheduled to December 5; the game against Washington Capitals scheduled for October 29 was moved to December 1. The Nashville Predators-Detroit Red Wings game on November 22 was called off with 7:30 left in the first period after Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jiri Fischer suffered a seizure and had to be resuscitated. It was rescheduled to January 23, 2006, with the game starting 1–0 for Nashville as Greg Johnson's goal from the original date was allowed to stand. The game that was originally scheduled for January 23 at Nashville between the two teams was moved to March 30, 2006.

On January 12, the New York Rangers retired the Number 11 of long-time captain Mark Messier to the rafters of Madison Square Garden. The Rangers would beat Messier's former team, the Edmonton Oilers, 5–4 in overtime.

On January 16 in Phoenix, Washington Capitals rookie wing Alexander Ovechkin added himself to the league's historical highlight reel by scoring a goal from his back while rolling and sliding past the goal. Ovechkin was checked to the ice by Coyotes defenseman Paul Mara on a breakaway between the Coyotes' faceoff circles, but rolled to his back, reached over his head with his stick and hooked the puck in behind goaltender Brian Boucher. (Watch Ovechkin's goal at Google Videos (Adobe Flash video))

On January 19, Los Angeles Kings veteran left winger Luc Robitaille scored his 550th, 551st, and 552nd goals as a member of the Kings, eclipsing Marcel Dionne's franchise record (550). The 40-year old Robitaille retired at season's end.

The season was rocked with scandal in early February when it came to light that Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet was found to be involved in a $1.6 million illegal sports gambling ring with Mafia ties. Apparently no betting on NHL games was being done, but bets were being placed on college and professional football and college and professional basketball. Although Coyotes head coach Wayne Gretzky denied any knowledge or involvement in the ring, initial reports stated that wiretapped phone conversations he had proved that he not only knew about the ring, but was trying to find ways to conceal his wife's involvement in it. He was later cleared of these accusations, but long-term implications to his reputation are still unknown. For more information, see Operation Slapshot.

On April 15, in the Nashville Predators' 81st game of the season, Nashville goaltender Chris Mason was credited with a goal when Phoenix Coyote Geoff Sanderson put the puck in his own net. Mason was given the goal as he was the last Predator to have touched the puck. It was the ninth regular season goal scored by a goaltender in NHL history. The last goal of the regular season was scored by Kyle Calder of the Chicago Blackhawks in overtime in a 3–2 victory over the St. Louis Blues, which ended the 2005–06 regular season at 10:50 EDT on April 18, 2006.

The Tampa Bay Lightning narrowly avoided becoming the first team since the New Jersey Devils in the 1995–96 season to miss the postseason after winning the Stanley Cup the previous season.

This season also marked the first time since the 1978–79 season that the St. Louis Blues did not qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs, ending the third longest NHL post-season appearance streak at 25 seasons. Only the Chicago Blackhawks (28 seasons) and the Boston Bruins (29 seasons) had longer streaks.

In the Western Conference, no teams with home-ice advantage made it to the semifinals.

Final standings

The Detroit Red Wings won the Presidents' Trophy and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

For ranking in conference, division leaders are automatically ranked 1–3. These three, plus the next five teams in the conference standings, earn playoff berths at the end of the season.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division
No. CR GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1 3 New Jersey Devils 82 46 27 9 242 229 101
2 5 Philadelphia Flyers 82 45 26 11 267 259 101
3 6 New York Rangers 82 44 26 12 257 215 100
4 12 New York Islanders 82 36 40 6 230 278 78
5 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 82 22 46 14 244 316 58

[9]

Northeast Division
No. CR GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1 1 Ottawa Senators 82 52 21 9 314 211 113
2 4 Buffalo Sabres 82 52 24 6 281 239 110
3 7 Montreal Canadiens 82 42 31 9 243 247 93
4 9 Toronto Maple Leafs 82 41 33 8 257 270 90
5 13 Boston Bruins 82 29 37 16 230 266 74

[9]

Southeast Division
No. CR GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1 2 Carolina Hurricanes 82 52 22 8 294 260 112
2 8 Tampa Bay Lightning 82 43 33 6 252 260 92
3 10 Atlanta Thrashers 82 41 33 8 281 275 90
4 11 Florida Panthers 82 37 34 11 240 257 85
5 14 Washington Capitals 82 29 41 12 237 306 70

[9]

Western Conference

Central Division
No. CR GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1 1 Detroit Red Wings 82 58 16 8 305 209 124
2 4 Nashville Predators 82 49 25 8 259 227 106
3 13 Columbus Blue Jackets 82 35 43 4 223 279 74
4 14 Chicago Blackhawks 82 26 43 13 211 285 65
5 15 St. Louis Blues 82 21 46 15 197 292 57

[9]

Northwest Division
No. CR GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1 3 Calgary Flames 82 46 25 11 218 200 103
2 7 Colorado Avalanche 82 43 30 9 283 257 95
3 8 Edmonton Oilers 82 41 28 13 256 251 95
4 9 Vancouver Canucks 82 42 32 8 256 255 92
5 11 Minnesota Wild 82 38 36 8 231 215 84

[9]

Pacific Division
No. CR GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1 2 Dallas Stars 82 53 23 6 265 218 112
2 5 San Jose Sharks 82 44 27 11 266 242 99
3 6 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 82 43 27 12 254 229 98
4 10 Los Angeles Kings 82 42 35 5 249 270 89
5 12 Phoenix Coyotes 82 38 39 5 246 271 81

[9]

Tiebreaking procedures

If two or more clubs are tied in points during the regular season, the standing of the clubs is determined in the following order: [1]

  1. The fewer number of games played (i.e., superior points percentage).
  2. The greater number of games won.
  3. The greater number of points earned in games between the tied clubs.
  4. The greater differential between goals for and against.

Playoffs

Main article: 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs

Playoff bracket

  Conference Quarter-finals Conference Semi-finals Conference Finals Stanley Cup Finals
                                     
1  Ottawa 4     1  Ottawa 1  
8  Tampa Bay 1     4  Buffalo 4  
2  Carolina 4 Eastern Conference
7  Montreal 2  
    4  Buffalo 3  
  2  Carolina 4  
3  New Jersey 4  
6  N.Y. Rangers 0  
4  Buffalo 4   2  Carolina 4
5  Philadelphia 2     3  New Jersey 1  
  E2  Carolina 4
(Pairings are re-seeded after the first round.)
  W8  Edmonton 3
1  Detroit 2     6  Anaheim 4
8  Edmonton 4     7  Colorado 0  
2  Dallas 1
7  Colorado 4  
  6  Anaheim 1
  8  Edmonton 4  
3  Calgary 3  
6  Anaheim 4   Western Conference
4  Nashville 1   5  San Jose 2
5  San Jose 4     8  Edmonton 4  

Stanley Cup Final

Main article: 2006 Stanley Cup Final
Carolina vs. Edmonton
Date Away Home
June 5 Edmonton 4 5 Carolina
June 7 Edmonton 0 5 Carolina
June 10 Carolina 1 2 Edmonton
June 12 Carolina 2 1 Edmonton
June 14 Edmonton 4 3 Carolina OT
June 17 Carolina 0 4 Edmonton
June 19 Edmonton 1 3 Carolina
Carolina wins series 4–3 and Stanley Cup
Cam Ward (Carolina) wins Conn Smythe Trophy

NHL awards

2005-2006 NHL awards
Award Recipient(s)
Stanley Cup: Carolina Hurricanes
Presidents' Trophy: Detroit Red Wings
Prince of Wales Trophy: Carolina Hurricanes
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: Edmonton Oilers
Art Ross Trophy: Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks/Boston Bruins
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: Teemu Selanne, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Calder Memorial Trophy: Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Conn Smythe Trophy: Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes
Frank J. Selke Trophy: Rod Brind'Amour, Carolina Hurricanes
Hart Memorial Trophy: Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks/Boston Bruins
Jack Adams Award: Lindy Ruff, Buffalo Sabres
James Norris Memorial Trophy: Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings
King Clancy Memorial Trophy: Olaf Kolzig, Washington Capitals
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Lester B. Pearson Award: Jaromir Jagr, New York Rangers
Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy: Jonathan Cheechoo, San Jose Sharks
NHL Plus/Minus Award: Wade Redden, Ottawa Senators;
Michal Rozsival, New York Rangers
Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award: Cristobal Huet, Montreal Canadiens
Vezina Trophy: Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames
William M. Jennings Trophy: Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames
Lester Patrick Trophy: Red Berenson, Marcel Dionne, Reed Larson, Glen Sonmor, Steve Yzerman

All-Star teams

First Team   Position   Second Team
Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames G Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils
Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings D Zdeno Chara, Ottawa Senators
Scott Niedermayer, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim D Sergei Zubov, Dallas Stars
Joe Thornton, Boston/San Jose C Eric Staal, Carolina Hurricanes
Jaromir Jagr, New York Rangers RW Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators
Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals LW Dany Heatley, Ottawa Senators

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts +/- PIM
Joe Thornton Boston Bruins/San Jose Sharks 81 29 96 125 +31 61
Jaromir Jagr New York Rangers 82 54 69 123 +34 72
Alexander Ovechkin Washington Capitals 81 52 54 106 +2 52
Dany Heatley Ottawa Senators 82 50 53 103 +29 86
Daniel Alfredsson Ottawa Senators 77 43 60 103 +29 50
Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins 81 39 63 102 -1 110
Eric Staal Carolina Hurricanes 82 45 55 100 -8 81
Ilya Kovalchuk Atlanta Thrashers 78 52 46 98 -6 68
Marc Savard Atlanta Thrashers 82 28 69 97 +7 100
Jonathan Cheechoo San Jose Sharks 82 56 37 93 +23 25

Source: NHL.[10]

Leading goaltenders

Minimum 1,000 minutes played.

Note: GP = Games Played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/Shootout Losses; GA = Goals Against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save Percentage; GAA = Goals Against Average

Player Team GP Min W L OT GA SO Sv% GAA
Miikka Kiprusoff Calgary Flames 74 4379:40 42 20 11 151 10 .923 2.07
Dominik Hasek Ottawa Senators 43 2583:58 28 10 4 90 5 .925 2.09
Manny Legace Detroit Red Wings 51 2905:09 37 8 3 106 7 .915 2.19
Cristobal Huet Montreal Canadiens 36 2102:59 18 11 4 77 7 .929 2.20
Henrik Lundqvist New York Rangers 53 3111:53 30 12 9 116 2 .922 2.24
Manny Fernandez Minnesota Wild 58 3411:14 30 18 7 130 1 .919 2.29
Ilya Bryzgalov Anaheim Ducks 31 1575:13 13 12 1 66 1 .910 2.51
Marty Turco Dallas Stars 68 3910:12 41 19 5 166 3 .898 2.55
Vesa Toskala San Jose Sharks 37 2039:13 23 7 4 87 2 .901 2.56
Martin Brodeur New Jersey Devils 73 4364:35 43 23 7 187 5 .911 2.57

Milestones

Debuts

The following are players of note who played their first NHL game in 2005-06:

Last games

The following is a list of players who played their last NHL game in 2005-06:

See also

References

Notes
  1. ^ "NHL unveils new logo for 2005–06 season". CBC News. July 22, 2005. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2005/07/22/nhllogo050722.html. 
  2. ^ a b c d e Dinger, Ralph, ed (2009). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2010. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 11. 
  3. ^ http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2006_skaters.html
  4. ^ a b http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1993.html
  5. ^ a b http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2006.html
  6. ^ http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2006_goalies.html
  7. ^ http://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2004.html
  8. ^ http://www.hhof.com/html/r&rRo.shtml
  9. ^ a b c d e f Dinger, Ralph, ed (2009). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2010. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 162. 
  10. ^ Dinger 2011, p. 156.

External links

 
Category · Portal  · 2011–12 season
2005–06 NHL season by team
Atlantic
Northeast
Southeast
Central
Northwest
Pacific
See also