2005–06 Montreal Canadiens season

2005–06 Montreal Canadiens
Division 3rd Northeast
Conference 7th Eastern
2005–06 record 42-31-9
Home record 24-13-4
Road record 18-18-5
Goals for 243
Goals against 247
Team information
General Manager Bob Gainey
Coach Claude Julien (Oct-Jan)
Bob Gainey (Jan-Apr)
Captain Saku Koivu
Alternate captains Alexei Kovalev
Craig Rivet
Sheldon Souray (Oct-Jan)
Richard Zednik (Oct-Jan)
Arena Bell Centre
Average attendance 21,273 (100%)
Team leaders
Goals Michael Ryder (30)
Assists Saku Koivu (45)
Points Alex Kovalev (65)
Penalties in minutes Mike Komisarek
Sheldon Souray (116)
Plus/minus Andrei Markov (+13)
Wins Cristobal Huet (18)
Goals against average Cristobal Huet (2.20)
<2004–05 2006–07>

The 2005–06 Montreal Canadiens season was the team's 97th season, 89th in the National Hockey League. The Canadiens would qualify for the playoffs, eventually being eliminated in the Eastern Conference Quarter-finals by the Carolina Hurricanes 4 games to 2.

Offseason

NHL draft

Regular season

Claude Julien started the season as coach but was fired and replaced on an interim basis by manager Bob Gainey. The Canadiens's number one goaltender Jose Theodore was traded to the Colorado Avalanche. His place was taken by Cristobal Huet. Huet would lead the league in save percentage of 92.9% and placed fourth overall in goals against average of 2.20.

Final standings

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

[1] Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime/Shootout loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Game log

Regular season results
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1 W October 5, 2005 2–1 @ Boston Bruins (2005–06) 1–0–0
2 W October 6, 2005 4–3 OT @ New York Rangers (2005–06) 2–0–0
3 W October 8, 2005 5–4 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2005–06) 3–0–0
4 L October 11, 2005 2–4 Ottawa Senators (2005–06) 3–1–0
5 W October 12, 2005 2–0 @ Atlanta Thrashers (2005–06) 4–1–0
6 L October 15, 2005 2–3 Toronto Maple Leafs (2005–06) 4–2–0
7 W October 18, 2005 4–3 Boston Bruins (2005–06) 5–2–0
8 W October 22, 2005 4–3 New York Islanders (2005–06) 6–2–0
9 W October 25, 2005 3–2 OT Philadelphia Flyers (2005–06) 7–2–0
10 L October 27, 2005 3–4 OT @ Ottawa Senators (2005–06) 7–2–1
11 L October 29, 2005 2–5 New York Rangers (2005–06) 7–3–1
12 W October 31, 2005 4–1 @ New York Rangers (2005–06) 8–3–1
13 W November 1, 2005 5–4 OT Florida Panthers (2005–06) 9–3–1
14 W November 4, 2005 3–2 @ Buffalo Sabres (2005–06) 10–3–1
15 W November 5, 2005 3–2 Buffalo Sabres (2005–06) 11–3–1
16 W November 8, 2005 3–2 Tampa Bay Lightning (2005–06) 12–3–1
17 L November 10, 2005 2–3 SO @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2005–06) 12–3–2
18 L November 12, 2005 4–5 OT Toronto Maple Leafs (2005–06) 12–3–3
19 W November 15, 2005 4–3 OT Florida Panthers (2005–06) 13–3–3
20 L November 18, 2005 3–5 @ New Jersey Devils (2005–06) 13–4–3
21 L November 19, 2005 1–5 Washington Capitals (2005–06) 13–5–3
22 W November 22, 2005 3–2 SO Atlanta Thrashers (2005–06) 14–5–3
23 L November 25, 2005 1–3 @ Buffalo Sabres (2005–06) 14–6–3
24 L November 26, 2005 3–4 OT @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2005–06) 14–6–4
25 L November 29, 2005 0–4 @ Ottawa Senators (2005–06) 14–7–4
26 L December 1, 2005 2–3 OT Buffalo Sabres (2005–06) 14–7–5
27 W December 3, 2005 3–2 Los Angeles Kings (2005–06) 15–7–5
28 L December 10, 2005 3–5 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2005–06) 15–8–5
29 W December 13, 2005 5–2 Phoenix Coyotes (2005–06) 16–8–5
30 L December 15, 2005 3–5 @ Edmonton Oilers (2005–06) 16–9–5
31 L December 17, 2005 3–4 OT @ Minnesota Wild (2005–06) 16–9–6
32 W December 20, 2005 4–3 SO Ottawa Senators (2005–06) 17–9–6
33 L December 23, 2005 2–4 @ Washington Capitals (2005–06) 17–10–6
34 L December 26, 2005 0–4 @ Atlanta Thrashers (2005–06) 17–11–6
35 W December 28, 2005 4–3 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2005–06) 18–11–6
36 L December 30, 2005 1–2 @ Florida Panthers (2005–06) 18–12–6
37 L December 31, 2005 3–5 @ Carolina Hurricanes (2005–06) 18–13–6
38 L January 3, 2006 4–6 Pittsburgh Penguins (2005–06) 18–14–6
39 L January 5, 2006 4–5 @ New Jersey Devils (2005–06) 18–15–6
40 W January 7, 2006 4–1 Ottawa Senators (2005–06) 19–15–6
41 L January 11, 2006 1–2 @ Colorado Avalanche (2005–06) 19–16–6
42 W January 14, 2006 6–2 San Jose Sharks (2005–06) 20–16–6
43 W January 16, 2006 4–2 Dallas Stars (2005–06) 21–16–6
44 L January 19, 2006 2–3 @ Calgary Flames (2005–06) 21–17–6
45 L January 21, 2006 2–6 @ Vancouver Canucks (2005–06) 21–18–6
46 L January 23, 2006 3–7 @ Carolina Hurricanes (2005–06) 21–19–6
47 W January 25, 2006 5–3 @ Philadelphia Flyers (2005–06) 22–19–6
48 L January 26, 2006 0–3 @ Ottawa Senators (2005–06) 22–20–6
49 W January 28, 2006 4–3 OT @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2005–06) 23–20–6
50 L January 31, 2006 2–8 Carolina Hurricanes (2005–06) 23–21–6
51 L February 2, 2006 1–3 @ Boston Bruins (2005–06) 23–22–6
52 W February 4, 2006 2–0 Boston Bruins (2005–06) 24–22–6
53 W February 5, 2006 5–0 Philadelphia Flyers (2005–06) 25–22–6
54 L February 7, 2006 2–3 OT Buffalo Sabres (2005–06) 25–22–7
55 W February 9, 2006 3–2 OT @ Buffalo Sabres (2005–06) 26–22–7
56 L February 11, 2006 1–2 SO Atlanta Thrashers (2005–06) 26–22–8
57 W February 28, 2006 5–3 @ New York Islanders (2005–06) 27–22–8
58 W March 2, 2006 1–0 @ Florida Panthers (2005–06) 28–22–8
59 W March 4, 2006 6–2 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2005–06) 29–22–8
60 L March 6, 2006 4–5 SO @ Philadelphia Flyers (2005–06) 29–22–9
61 L March 7, 2006 3–5 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2005–06) 29–23–9
62 W March 9, 2006 3–0 @ Boston Bruins (2005–06) 30–23–9
63 W March 11, 2006 1–0 New York Rangers (2005–06) 31–23–9
64 L March 13, 2006 1–2 Tampa Bay Lightning (2005–06) 31–24–9
65 L March 16, 2006 1–5 Carolina Hurricanes (2005–06) 31–25–9
66 L March 18, 2006 4–5 Pittsburgh Penguins (2005–06) 31–26–9
67 W March 20, 2006 4–2 @ Washington Capitals (2005–06) 32–26–9
68 L March 21, 2006 1–3 @ New York Islanders (2005–06) 32–27–9
69 W March 23, 2006 5–1 Toronto Maple Leafs (2005–06) 33–27–9
70 W March 25, 2006 6–2 Toronto Maple Leafs (2005–06) 34–27–9
71 W March 26, 2006 6–5 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2005–06) 35–27–9
72 W March 28, 2006 2–0 New York Islanders (2005–06) 36–27–9
73 W March 30, 2006 3–2 OT Washington Capitals (2005–06) 37–27–9
74 W April 1, 2006 2–0 Boston Bruins (2005–06) 38–27–9
75 W April 4, 2006 5–3 Boston Bruins (2005–06) 39–27–9
76 W April 6, 2006 5–3 @ Ottawa Senators (2005–06) 40–27–9
77 L April 8, 2006 2–3 New Jersey Devils (2005–06) 40–28–9
78 W April 10, 2006 3–2 Ottawa Senators (2005–06) 41–28–9
79 L April 12, 2006 1–3 @ Buffalo Sabres (2005–06) 41–29–9
80 W April 13, 2006 4–3 @ Boston Bruins (2005–06) 42–29–9
81 L April 15, 2006 2–4 Buffalo Sabres (2005–06) 42–30–9
82 L April 18, 2006 3–4 New Jersey Devils (2005–06) 42–31–9

Playoffs

The Canadiens placed 3rd in the Northeast division, and seventh in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens played the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes in the first round and lost four games to two. The Canadiens were winning 2-0 in the series when Saku Koivu sustained a serious injury to his left eye. Hurricanes forward Justin Williams attempted to lift Koivu's stick but instead struck him in the eye. Koivu was rushed to the hospital, where he would remain overnight and for the remainder of the playoffs. Koivu remained out of the lineup for the rest of the series and underwent surgery to repair a detached retina during the off-season.

Date Home Score Visitors Score Notes
April 22 Carolina Hurricanes 1 Montreal Canadiens 6
April 24 Carolina Hurricanes 5 Montreal Canadiens 6 (OT)
April 26 Montreal Canadiens 1 Carolina Hurricanes 2 (OT)
April 28 Montreal Canadiens 2 Carolina Hurricanes 3
April 30 Carolina Hurricanes 2 Montreal Canadiens 1
May 2 Montreal Canadiens 1 Carolina Hurricanes 2 (OT)

Player stats

Scoring leaders

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Kovalev, AlexAlex Kovalev 69 23 42 65 76
Koivu, SakuSaku Koivu 72 17 45 62 70
Ryder, MichaelMichael Ryder 81 30 25 55 40
Ribeiro, MikeMike Ribeiro 79 16 35 51 36
Markov, AndreiAndrei Markov 67 10 36 46 74
Bulis, JanJan Bulis 73 20 20 40 50
Souray, SheldonSheldon Souray 75 12 27 39 116
Higgins, ChristopherChristopher Higgins 80 23 15 38 26
Rivet, CraigCraig Rivet 82 7 27 34 109
Zednik, RichardRichard Zednik 67 16 14 30 48

Goaltending

Player GP W L T SO GAA
Huet, CristobalCristobal Huet 36 18 11 4 7 2.20
Theodore, JoseJose Theodore 38 17 15 5 0 3.46
Aebischer, DavidDavid Aebischer 7 4 3 0 0 3.73
Danis, YannYann Danis 6 3 2 0 1 2.69

Note:

Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Awards and records

Transactions

Roster

Goaltenders:

Defensemen

Wingers

Centres

General Manager and Head CoachBob Gainey • 

  1. ^ Dinger, Ralph, ed (2009). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2010. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 162. 

Draft picks

Farm teams

See also

References