2005-06 NHL season facts for kids

The 2005–06 NHL season was the 88th season for the National Hockey League (NHL). It was a very exciting year for hockey fans! The season started on October 5, 2005, and ended on June 19, 2006.

This season was extra special because the previous one, the 2004–05 season, was cancelled. It was cancelled because of a big disagreement between the league and the players. They couldn't agree on a new contract. But for the 2005–06 season, everything was back on track!

The 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs began on April 21, 2006. The playoffs are where the best teams battle it out for the championship. In the end, the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup. They defeated the Edmonton Oilers in a thrilling final series. This was the very first Stanley Cup win for the Hurricanes!

Regular Season Highlights

The regular season is where all the teams play many games to see who is the best. Teams try to earn as many points as possible. Points are given for winning games or losing in overtime. The teams with the most points get to go to the playoffs.

Top Teams and Playoff Spots

The Detroit Red Wings were the best team in the regular season. They won the Presidents' Trophy for having the most points. This also gave them home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. This means they would play more games at their home arena.

The Ottawa Senators were the top team in the Eastern Conference. The Dallas Stars were the second-best team in the Western Conference. The New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames, and Carolina Hurricanes also won their divisions.

The top eight teams from each conference (Eastern and Western) made it to the playoffs. These teams were shaded in different colors in the standings tables to show their success.

Top Scorers in the League

Many players had amazing seasons, scoring lots of goals and assists. Here are the top players who earned the most points:

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

Best Goaltenders

Goaltenders are super important in hockey. They stop the puck from going into the net. Here are some of the best goalies from this season:

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

Stanley Cup Playoffs Journey

The playoffs are a knockout tournament where teams play best-of-seven series. The first team to win four games moves on. The last two teams face off in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Stanley Cup

Playoff Bracket

This bracket shows how the teams moved through the playoffs:

Playoff Series Winners

• Eastern Conference Quarterfinals:
  • Ottawa Senators beat Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1.
  • Carolina Hurricanes beat Montreal Canadiens 4-2.
  • New Jersey Devils beat New York Rangers 4-0.
  • Buffalo Sabres beat Philadelphia Flyers 4-2.

• Western Conference Quarterfinals:
  • Edmonton Oilers beat Detroit Red Wings 4-2.
  • Colorado Avalanche beat Dallas Stars 4-1.
  • Mighty Ducks of Anaheim beat Calgary Flames 4-3.
  • San Jose Sharks beat Nashville Predators 4-1.

• Eastern Conference Semifinals:
  • Buffalo Sabres beat Ottawa Senators 4-1.
  • Carolina Hurricanes beat New Jersey Devils 4-1.

• Western Conference Semifinals:
  • Edmonton Oilers beat San Jose Sharks 4-2.
  • Mighty Ducks of Anaheim beat Colorado Avalanche 4-0.

• Eastern Conference Finals:
  • Carolina Hurricanes beat Buffalo Sabres 4-3. They won the Prince of Wales Trophy.

• Western Conference Finals:
  • Edmonton Oilers beat Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 4-1. They won the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl.

Stanley Cup Finals: Carolina vs. Edmonton

The final series was a thrilling battle between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Edmonton Oilers. The Hurricanes won the series 4-3 to claim their first-ever Stanley Cup. Cam Ward from the Carolina Hurricanes won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs.

NHL Awards and Honors

At the end of the season, many players and teams received special awards for their great performance.

All-Star Teams

The NHL also picks the best players for "All-Star Teams" at the end of the season. These are like dream teams made up of the top players in each position.

New Faces and Farewell Games

Every season, new players join the league, and some older players play their last games.

Players' First NHL Games

These are some notable players who played their very first NHL game in the 2005-06 season:

• 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

Players' Last NHL Games

Here is a list of players who played their last NHL game in the 2005-06 season:

• 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
• 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