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NHL Shield

The modernized NHL shield logo was introduced for the 2005-06 season. The metallic silver color is said to have been inspired by the Stanley Cup, the trophy given to the playoff champion.

The 2005-06 NHL season was the 88th season of the National Hockey League. This was the season after the non-existent 2004-05 season which was canceled due to a labour 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.

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, many of the rule changes from the previous year were adopted, with changes:

  • The shootout features only three shots per team, and if it is still tied, the shootout becomes sudden death. In preseason games (regardless of the outcome) shootouts were held. This rule is similar to the one used in 2004-05 in the Southern Professional Hockey League. For 2005-06, however, the AHL and ECHL shootouts remained at five shots, and the SPHL adopted the five shot format. Shootouts are only in effect for regular-season games. Playoff games will continue with twenty-minute periods until a sudden-death goal is scored.)
  • The no-touch icing rule used in the AHL in 2004-05 is abolished. However, the ECHL continues no-touch icing.
  • The neutral zone becomes smaller by four feet (1.2 m).
  • All blue and red lines are returned to the traditional width of 12 inches (31 cm). The double-width lines used in the AHL 2004-05 season were abandoned.
  • If a team ices the puck, it is not allowed to make a line change afterwards. (This rule was not experimented with in the 2004-05 AHL season.)
  • Linesmen are given more discretion when it comes to waving off icing calls when they are accidentally made as the result of a failed pass attempt.
  • A longstanding ECHL rule in which players who instigate a fight in the last five minutes of a game will be given a game misconduct penalty plus a one-game suspension is adopted. Furthermore, the player's coach will be fined $10,000 (US).
  • All referees are equipped with wireless microphones so they can now announce penalties over the public address system, similar to NFL referees.
    • With multiple penalties, only the first will be announced by the referee calling the penalty, with the others being announced by the arena's ice-side PA announcer.
  • Any player that shoots the puck over the glass (without deflection) from his own defensive zone will be penalized for delay of game. After the 2006 Olympic break, the rule has been modified to read that the puck must cross the glass before crossing the blue line.
  • After the 2006 Olympic break, all sticks to be used in the shootout will be measured prior to use.

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[]

3236

This logo appeared on all teams sweaters for their first game and the jerseys were auctioned off to benefit of the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

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; Hurricane Rita also affected the Minnesota Wild, as their AA affiliates.). 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.

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 Red Wings defenseman Jíři 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 14, 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 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 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.

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 NHL season to miss the postseason after winning the Stanley Cup the previous season.

This season also marked the first time since the 1978-79 NHL season that the St. Louis Blues did not qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Final standings[]

Red-shaded team won the Presidents' Trophy and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

Orange-shaded team clinched the other conference.

Yellow-shaded teams clinched the other four divisions.

Green-shaded teams clinched the remaining ten playoff berths.

Numbers in parentheses indicate 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.

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points

Eastern Conference[]

Atlantic Division GP W L OTL GF GA PTS
New Jersey Devils (3) 82 46 27 9 242 229 101
Philadelphia Flyers (5) 82 45 26 11 267 259 101
New York Rangers (6) 82 44 26 12 257 215 100
New York Islanders (12) 82 36 40 6 230 278 78
Pittsburgh Penguins (15) 82 22 46 14 244 316 58
Northeast Division GP W L OTL GF GA PTS
Ottawa Senators (1) 82 52 21 9 314 211 113
Buffalo Sabres (4) 82 52 24 6 281 239 110
Montreal Canadiens (7) 82 42 31 9 243 247 93
Toronto Maple Leafs (9)[2] 82 41 33 8 257 270 90
Boston Bruins (13) 82 29 37 16 230 266 74
Southeast Division GP W L OTL GF GA PTS
Carolina Hurricanes (2) 82 52 22 8 294 260 112
Tampa Bay Lightning (8) 82 43 33 6 252 260 92
Atlanta Thrashers (10)[2] 82 41 33 8 281 275 90
Florida Panthers (11) 82 37 34 11 240 257 85
Washington Capitals (14) 82 29 41 12 237 306 70

Western Conference[]

Central Division GP W L OTL GF GA PTS
Detroit Red Wings (1) 82 58 16 8 305 209 124
Nashville Predators (4) 82 49 25 8 259 227 106
Columbus Blue Jackets (13) 82 35 43 4 223 279 74
Chicago Blackhawks (14) 82 26 43 13 211 285 65
St. Louis Blues (15) 82 21 46 15 197 292 57
Northwest Division GP W L OTL GF GA PTS
Calgary Flames (3) 82 46 25 11 218 200 103
Colorado Avalanche (7) 82 43 30 9 283 257 95
Edmonton Oilers (8) 82 41 28 13 256 251 95
Vancouver Canucks (9) 82 42 32 8 256 255 92
Minnesota Wild (11) 82 38 36 8 231 215 84
Pacific Division GP W L OTL GF GA PTS
Dallas Stars (2) 82 53 23 6 265 218 112
San Jose Sharks (5) 82 44 27 11 266 242 99
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (6) 82 43 27 12 254 229 98
Los Angeles Kings (10) 82 42 35 5 249 270 89
Phoenix Coyotes (12) 82 38 39 5 246 271 81

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.

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

Leading goaltenders[]

Minimum 1,000 minutes played.

Note: GP = Games Played; TOI = Time On Ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/Shootout Losses; GA = Goals Against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save Percentage; GAA = Goals Against Average

Player Team GP TOI 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
Ilja Bryzgalov Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 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

Stanley Cup playoffs[]

Hhof stanley cup

The Stanley Cup

Playoff bracket[]

  Conference Quarterfinals Conference Semifinals Conference Finals Stanley Cup Finals
                                     
1  Ottawa 4  
8  Tampa Bay 1  
  1  Ottawa 1  
  4  Buffalo 4  
4  Buffalo 4
5  Philadelphia 2  
  4  Buffalo 3  
Eastern Conference
  2  Carolina 4  
2  Carolina 4  
7  Montreal 2  
  2  Carolina 4
  3  New Jersey 1  
3  New Jersey 4
6  N.Y. Rangers 0  
  E2  Carolina 4
  W8  Edmonton 3
2  Dallas 1  
7  Colorado 4  
  6  Anaheim 4
  7  Colorado 0  
3  Calgary 3
6  Anaheim 4  
  6  Anaheim 1
Western Conference
  8  Edmonton 4  
1  Detroit 2  
8  Edmonton 4  
  5  San Jose 2
  8  Edmonton 4  
4  Nashville 1
5  San Jose 4  

Conference Quarterfinals[]

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals[]

Ottawa (1) vs. Tampa Bay (8)
Date Away Home
April 21 Tampa Bay 1 4 Ottawa
April 23 Tampa Bay 4 3 Ottawa
April 25 Ottawa 8 4 Tampa Bay
April 27 Ottawa 5 2 Tampa Bay
April 29 Tampa Bay 2 3 Ottawa
Ottawa wins series 4–1
  
Carolina (2) vs. Montreal (7)
Date Away Home
April 22 Montreal 6 1 Carolina  
April 24 Montreal 6 5 Carolina 2OT
April 26 Carolina 2 1 Montreal OT
April 28 Carolina 3 2 Montreal  
April 30 Montreal 1 2 Carolina  
May 2 Carolina 2 1 Montreal OT
Carolina wins series 4–2
New Jersey (3) vs. New York Rangers (6)
Date Away Home
April 22 NY Rangers 1 6 New Jersey
April 24 NY Rangers 1 4 New Jersey
April 26 New Jersey 3 0 NY Rangers
April 29 New Jersey 4 2 NY Rangers
New Jersey wins series 4–0
  
Buffalo (4) vs. Philadelphia (5)
Date Away Home
April 22 Philadelphia 2 3 Buffalo 2OT
April 24 Philadelphia 2 8 Buffalo  
April 26 Buffalo 2 4 Philadelphia  
April 28 Buffalo 4 5 Philadelphia  
April 30 Philadelphia 0 3 Buffalo  
May 2 Buffalo 7 1 Philadelphia  
Buffalo wins series 4–2

Western Conference Quarterfinals[]

Detroit (1) vs. Edmonton (8)
Date Away Home
April 21 Edmonton 2 3 Detroit 2OT
April 23 Edmonton 4 2 Detroit  
April 25 Detroit 3 4 Edmonton 2OT
April 27 Detroit 4 2 Edmonton  
April 29 Edmonton 3 2 Detroit  
May 1 Detroit 3 4 Edmonton  
Edmonton wins series 4–2
  
Dallas (2) vs. Colorado (7)
Date Away Home
April 22 Colorado 5 2 Dallas  
April 24 Colorado 5 4 Dallas OT
April 26 Dallas 3 4 Colorado OT
April 28 Dallas 4 1 Colorado  
April 30 Colorado 3 2 Dallas OT
Colorado wins series 4–1
Calgary (3) vs. Anaheim (6)
Date Away Home
April 21 Anaheim 1 2 Calgary OT
April 23 Anaheim 4 3 Calgary  
April 25 Calgary 5 2 Anaheim  
April 27 Calgary 2 3 Anaheim OT
April 29 Anaheim 2 3 Calgary  
May 1 Calgary 1 2 Anaheim  
May 3 Anaheim 3 0 Calgary  
Anaheim wins series 4–3
  
Nashville (4) vs. San Jose (5)
Date Away Home
April 21 San Jose 3 4 Nashville
April 23 San Jose 3 0 Nashville
April 25 Nashville 1 4 San Jose
April 27 Nashville 4 5 San Jose
April 30 San Jose 2 1 Nashville
San Jose wins series 4–1

Conference Semifinals[]

Eastern Conference Semifinals[]

Ottawa (1) vs. Buffalo (4)
Date Away Home
May 5 Buffalo 7 6 Ottawa OT
May 8 Buffalo 2 1 Ottawa  
May 10 Ottawa 2 3 Buffalo OT
May 11 Ottawa 2 1 Buffalo  
May 13 Buffalo 3 2 Ottawa OT
Buffalo wins series 4–1
  
Carolina (2) vs. New Jersey (3)
Date Away Home
May 6 New Jersey 0 6 Carolina  
May 8 New Jersey 2 3 Carolina OT
May 10 Carolina 3 2 New Jersey  
May 13 Carolina 1 5 New Jersey  
May 14 New Jersey 1 4 Carolina  
Carolina wins series 4–1

Western Conference Semifinals[]

San Jose (5) vs. Edmonton (8)
Date Away Home
May 7 Edmonton 1 2 San Jose  
May 8 Edmonton 1 2 San Jose  
May 10 San Jose 2 3 Edmonton 3OT
May 12 San Jose 3 6 Edmonton  
May 14 Edmonton 6 3 San Jose  
May 17 San Jose 0 2 Edmonton  
Edmonton wins series 4–2
  
Anaheim (6) vs. Colorado (7)
Date Away Home
May 5 Colorado 0 5 Anaheim  
May 7 Colorado 0 3 Anaheim  
May 9 Anaheim 4 3 Colorado OT
May 11 Anaheim 4 1 Colorado  
Anaheim wins series 4–0

Conference Finals[]

Eastern Conference Finals[]

Carolina (2) vs. Buffalo (4)
Date Away Home
May 20 Buffalo 3 2 Carolina  
May 22 Buffalo 3 4 Carolina  
May 24 Carolina 3 4 Buffalo  
May 26 Carolina 4 0 Buffalo  
May 28 Buffalo 3 4 Carolina OT
May 30 Carolina 1 2 Buffalo OT
June 1 Buffalo 2 4 Carolina
Carolina wins series 4–3 and
Prince of Wales Trophy

Western Conference Finals[]

Anaheim (6) vs. Edmonton (8)
Date Away Home
May 19 Edmonton 3 1 Anaheim
May 21 Edmonton 3 1 Anaheim
May 23 Anaheim 4 5 Edmonton
May 25 Anaheim 6 3 Edmonton
May 27 Edmonton 2 1 Anaheim
Edmonton wins series 4–1 and
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl

Stanley Cup Finals[]

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 Selänne, Anaheim Mighty Ducks
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, Anaheim Mighty Ducks 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

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:

Hat tricks[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. NHL unveils new logo for 2005-06 season. Archived from the original on 2005-07-25.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Recap: Atlanta @ Toronto - 02/07/2006. Retrieved on 2007-08-13.

External links[]


NHL Seasons

2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10

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