2005–06 NHL season

The 2005–06 NHL season was the 88th season of the National Hockey League. The 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs began on April 21 2006 and ended on June 19. The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Edmonton Oilers. This was the first Stanley Cup for the Hurricanes.

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
TV partner(s)	CBC, TSN, RDS (Canada) OLN, NBC (United States)
Draft
Top draft pick	Sidney Crosby
Picked by	Pittsburgh Penguins
Regular season
Presidents' Trophy	Detroit Red Wings
Season MVP	Joe Thornton (Bruins, Sharks)
Top scorer	Joe Thornton (Bruins, Sharks)
Playoffs
Playoffs MVP	Cam Ward (Hurricanes)
Stanley Cup
Champions	Carolina Hurricanes
Runners-up	Edmonton Oilers

The 2004–05 season was cancelled due to a labour dispute with the NHL Players Association. The dispute was over the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the league and its players.

Regular season

Final standings

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

Orange-shaded team won the other conference.

Yellow-shaded teams won the other four divisions.

Green-shaded teams won the remaining ten playoff berths.

Numbers in brackets means 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, 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)[1]	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)[1]	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 order of the clubs is determined in the following order:^[2]

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

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 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

First games

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

• Jeff Carter, Philadelphia Flyers
• Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
• Ryan Getzlaf, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
• Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
• Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
• Dustin Penner, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
• Dion Phaneuf, Calgary Flames
• Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes

Last games

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

• Dave Andreychuk, Tampa Bay Lightning
• Andrew Cassels, Washington Capitals
• Eric Daze, Chicago Blackhawks
• Eric Desjardins, Philadelphia Flyers
• Tie Domi, Toronto Maple Leafs
• Jiri Fischer, Detroit Red Wings
• Tom Fitzgerald, Boston Bruins
• Brett Hull, Phoenix Coyotes
• Steve Konowalchuk, Colorado Avalanche
• Greg Johnson, Nashville Predators (statistical quirk showed he scored goal before start of a game)
• Brian Leetch, Boston Bruins
• Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins
• Bryan Marchment, Calgary Flames
• Alexander Mogilny, New Jersey Devils
• Zigmund Palffy, Pittsburgh Penguins
• Keith Primeau, Philadelphia Flyers
• Luc Robitaille, Los Angeles Kings
• Eric Weinrich, Vancouver Canucks
• Scott Young, St. Louis Blues
• Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings