2005-06 NHL season

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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 (originally the 89th season) of the National Hockey League. This is the season after the non-existent 2004-05 season which was cancelled 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.^{[#endnote_new-NHL-logo]}

American television also has a new look. OLN (formerly Outdoor Life Network) took over broadcasting rights after ESPN decided not to renew their rights on cable television. The network, owned by Comcast, will have 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 can watch at least seven games a week over the internet as part of the new TV deal.

Contents

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 shoot out 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. NOTE: 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 remain at five shots, and the SPHL adopted the five shot formatt. Shoot outs 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 was abolished. However, the ECHL will continue to adopt the rule, while the AHL also abolished 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. (NOTE: This rule was not experimented 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.
The longstanding ECHL rule regarding 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 experiementation was based on the previous season of play in the American Hockey League, and were 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

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 (or "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 ECHL had lost two teams for the 2005-06 season because of Hurricane Katrina, in Biloxi, MS, and Beaumont, TX.  For that league's opening weekend, all goaltenders wore sweaters with "MISSISSIPPI" written diagonally across their sweaters, and those were auctioned.)  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, they both scored 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 (they will get the 2009 event 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 will never play in the season.

On November 26 the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals played the longest shootout to date. Marek Malik, a Rangers defenseman, scored the winning goal against Olaf Kolzig in the 15th round to give the Rangers the victory by the final score of 3-2.

Three games had to be rescheduled due to various events. Hurricane Wilma had forced the NHL (among other major league sports) 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. Thus, the originally scheduled game at Nashville between the two teams was moved to March 30, 2006.

Also of note, on January 16, 2006, Washington Capitals rookie Alexander Ovechkin scored what has been called by some sports analysts as one of the most amazing goals in NHL history against the Phoenix Coyotes, shooting whilst on his back. The play is commonly referred to as "The 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 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 9:50 CT 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.

Final Regular Season Standings

Green shaded denotes top eight teams in each conference, advancing to playoffs (seed in parenthesis)

Yellow shaded denotes division champions (automatically seeded 1-3)

Orange shaded denotes conference champions

Red shaded denotes Presidents' Trophy winners

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 82 36 40 6 230 278 78
Pittsburgh Penguins 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 82 41 33 8 257 270 90
Boston Bruins 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 82 41 33 8 281 275 90
Florida Panthers 82 37 34 11 240 257 85
Washington Capitals 82 29 41 12 237 306 70

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	82	36	40	6	230	278	78
Pittsburgh Penguins	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	82	41	33	8	257	270	90
Boston Bruins	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	82	41	33	8	281	275	90
Florida Panthers	82	37	34	11	240	257	85
Washington Capitals	82	29	41	12	237	306	70

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 82 35 43 4 223 279 74
Chicago Blackhawks 82 26 43 13 211 285 65
St. Louis Blues 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 82 42 32 8 256 255 92
Minnesota Wild 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
Anaheim Mighty Ducks (6) 82 43 27 12 254 229 98
Los Angeles Kings 82 42 35 5 249 270 89
Phoenix Coyotes 82 38 39 5 246 271 81

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	82	35	43	4	223	279	74
Chicago Blackhawks	82	26	43	13	211	285	65
St. Louis Blues	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	82	42	32	8	256	255	92
Minnesota Wild	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
Anaheim Mighty Ducks (6)	82	43	27	12	254	229	98
Los Angeles Kings	82	42	35	5	249	270	89
Phoenix Coyotes	82	38	39	5	246	271	81

Tiebreakers

*-The Devils win the Atlantic division over the Flyers and earn the #3 seed in the East based on more wins. Likewise, the Avalanche hold the #7 seed in the West over the Oilers on more wins.

Scoring leaders

As of April 18, 2006, Official Results

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 +24 58

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	+24	58

Leading goaltenders

As of April 18, 2006. 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

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

Stanley Cup playoffs

For more details on this topic, see 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Stanley Cup

Conference Quarterfinals

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

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Western Conference Quarterfinals

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Conference Semifinals

Eastern Conference Semifinals

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Western Conference Semifinals

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Conference Finals

Eastern Conference Finals

Western Conference Finals

Stanley Cup Finals

NHL awards

Footnotes

↑ [NHL unveils new logo for 2005-06 season]

References

[Hockey Database]
[NHL.com]

National Hockey League 1917 to present

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