The 2005–06

Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...

season A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's axial tilt, tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperat ...

was the 36th season of operation, 35th season of play, for the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

franchise that was established on May 22, 1970. The season not only saw the team qualify for the

Stanley Cup playoffs The Stanley Cup playoffs () is the annual elimination tournament to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, and the league champion of the National Hockey League (NHL). The four-round, best-of-seven tournament is held after the NHL's regular s ...

for the first time since the 2000–01 season, but saw them advance to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals before losing to the eventual

Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup () is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, and the International Ic ...

champions, the

Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Con ...

. After starting the season 7–8–0 through their first 15 games by November 9, 2005, the Sabres were sitting in fifth place in the Northeast Division and were trailing the Northeast Division-leading

Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators (), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. The Senators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Di ...

by 11 points. The Sabres then went on to have only eight regulation losses out of their next 50 games; by March 16, 2006, they had improved to 44–16–5 to move within one point of the Northeast Division-leading Senators. Despite having only two players to play all 82 games ( Ales Kotalik and Henrik Tallinder), Buffalo would finish the season with a 52–24–6 record for 110 points and a fourth-place finish heading into the playoffs. The season was the first 100–point season in 23 years and tied the 1979–80 club for the second-best point total in franchise history. The Sabres were one of five teams to reach the century mark in power-play goals during the regular season, scoring 101. The Sabres also finished with 25 road wins, another franchise record. The Sabres were recognized on June 22, 2006, at the NHL Awards Ceremony, when Lindy Ruff edged Hurricanes coach

Peter Laviolette Peter Philip Laviolette Jr. (born December 7, 1964) is an American professional ice hockey coach and former player who most recently served as the head coach for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Originally undrafted by t ...

to win the

Jack Adams Award The Jack Adams Award is awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) coach "adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success." The league's Coach of the Year award has been presented 51 times to 43 coaches. The winner is select ...

as Coach of the Year in the closest vote in the award's history. Ruff was the second Sabres coach to win the award.

Regular season

On January 14, 2006, the Sabres defeated the

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...

at home by a score of 10–1. Jochen Hecht and Jason Pominville each had hat-tricks in the game. It was the first time that the Sabres had scored 10 goals in a regular-season game since February 24, 1993, when they defeated the

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

at home by a score of 10–7.

Season standings

Playoffs

The Buffalo Sabres earned the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. Buffalo defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in the first-round of the 2006 playoffs in six games. In the second round, the Sabres defeated top-seeded Ottawa in five games. A total of three victories in the series came in overtime, including the series-clinching Game 5, which was won on a

short-handed Short-handed is a term used in ice hockey and several related sports, including water polo, and refers to having fewer players on the ice during play, as a result of a penalty. The player removed from play serves the penalty in the penalty box ...

goal by Jason Pominville to send Buffalo to the Eastern Conference Finals against the

. It was the first time in NHL history that a series had been decided on a short-handed overtime goal. Despite being without some or all of their four top defensemen ( Teppo Numminen, Dmitri Kalinin, Jay McKee and Henrik Tallinder), and their top powerplay scorer,

Tim Connolly Timothy L. Connolly (born May 7, 1981) is an American former professional ice hockey player who played 11 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Playing career Amateur ...

, who had 11 points in eight games in the playoffs, for much of the series, the Sabres fought back from a three-games-to-two deficit to force a seventh game by way of a 2–1 overtime win in Game 6. Buffalo led the Hurricanes 2–1 going into the final period of the deciding game but blew the lead early in the third and gave up two more late goals for a 4–2 final score.

Schedule and results

Regular season

, - , 1 , , October 5 , , NY Islanders , , 4 – 6 , , Buffalo , , , ,

Miller A miller is a person who operates a mill, a machine to grind a grain (for example corn or wheat) to make flour. Milling is among the oldest of human occupations. "Miller", "Milne" and other variants are common surnames, as are their equivalents ...

, , 15,702 , , 1–0–0 , , 2 , , , - , 2 , , October 7 , ,

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, , 1 – 4 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 13,771 , , 2–0–0 , , 4 , , , - , 3 , , October 8 , , Buffalo , , 0 – 5 , ,

Ottawa Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern Ontario, southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the cor ...

, , , , Miller , , 19,661 , , 2–1–0 , , 4 , , , - , 4 , , October 10 , ,

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...

, , 2 – 3 , , Buffalo , , OT , , Miller , , 12,050 , , 3–1–0 , , 6 , , , - , 5 , , October 13 , , Buffalo , , 4 – 3 , ,

Tampa Bay Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and shallow estuary connected to the Gulf of Mexico on the west-central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, McKay Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay. The largest freshwater i ...

, , SO , , Miller , , 20,184 , , 4–1–0 , , 8 , , , - , 6 , , October 15 , , Buffalo , , 2 – 3 , ,

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

, , , , Miller , , 17,426 , , 4–2–0 , , 8 , , , - , 7 , , October 20 , , Buffalo , , 4 – 3 , ,

, , , , Miller , , 14,525 , , 5–2–0 , , 10 , , , - , 8 , , October 22 , , NY Rangers , , 1 – 3 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 16,346 , , 6–2–0 , , 12 , , , - , 9 , , October 26 , , Washington , , 3 – 2 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 8,552 , , 6–3–0 , , 12 , , , - , 10 , , October 28 , , Buffalo , , 2 – 3 , ,

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

, , , , Miller , , 12,378 , , 6–4–0 , , 12 , , , - , 11 , , October 29 , , Buffalo , , 6 – 4 , , NY Islanders , , , , Biron , , 13,226 , , 7–4–0 , , 14 , , , - , - , 12 , , November 2 , ,

, , 10 – 4 , , Buffalo , , , , Noronen , , 13,905 , , 7–5–0 , , 14 , , , - , 13 , , November 4 , ,

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

, , 3 – 2 , , Buffalo , , , , Biron , , 18,690 , , 7–6–0 , , 14 , , , - , 14 , , November 5 , , Buffalo , , 2 – 3 , ,

, , , , Biron , , 21,273 , , 7–7–0 , , 14 , , , - , 15 , , November 9 , , Carolina , , 5 – 3 , , Buffalo , , , , Biron , , 13,106 , , 7–8–0 , , 14 , , , - , 16 , , November 11 , ,

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

, , 2 – 5 , , Buffalo , , , , Biron , , 18,690 , , 8–8–0 , , 16 , , , - , 17 , , November 12 , , Buffalo , , 1 – 6 , ,

, , , , Biron , , 19,414 , , 8–9–0 , , 16 , , , - , 18 , , November 15 , ,

, , 1 – 4 , , Buffalo , , , , Biron , , 13,022 , , 9–9–0 , , 18 , , , - , 19 , , November 17 , , Washington , , 5 – 8 , , Buffalo , , , , Biron , , 12,471 , , 10–9–0 , , 20 , , , - , 20 , , November 19 , , Buffalo , , 3 – 2 , ,

, , , , Noronen , , 17,565 , , 11–9–0 , , 22 , , , - , 21 , , November 22 , , NY Rangers , , 3 – 2 , , Buffalo , , SO , , Biron , , 16,018 , , 11–9–1 , , 23 , , , - , 22 , , November 23 , , Buffalo , , 4 – 3 , , NY Islanders , , SO , , Biron , , 13,212 , , 12–9–1 , , 25 , , , - , 23 , , November 25 , ,

, , 1 – 3 , , Buffalo , , , , Biron , , 16,009 , , 13–9–1 , , 27 , , , - , 24 , , November 27 , , Buffalo , , 3 – 2 , , Washington , , , , Biron , , 11,658 , , 14–9–1 , , 29 , , , - , 25 , , November 29 , , Buffalo , , 3 – 2 , ,

, , , , Biron , , 15,118 , , 15–9–1 , , 31 , , , - , - , 26 , , December 1 , , Buffalo , , 3 – 2 , ,

, , OT , , Biron , , 21,274 , , 16–9–1 , , 33 , , , - , 27 , , December 2 , , San Jose , , 5 – 0 , , Buffalo , , , , Noronen , , 18,007 , , 16–10–1 , , 33 , , , - , 28 , , December 4 , , Buffalo , , 6 – 4 , ,

Colorado Colorado is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas ...

, , , , Biron , , 18,007 , , 17–10–1 , , 35 , , , - , 29 , , December 8 , ,

Anaheim Anaheim ( ) is a city in northern Orange County, California, United States, part of the Greater Los Angeles area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 346,824, making it the most populous city in Orange County, the tenth-most ...

, , 2 – 3 , , Buffalo , , OT , , Biron , , 12,504 , , 18–10–1 , , 37 , , , - , 30 , , December 11 , , Buffalo , , 3 – 2 , ,

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

, , , , Biron , , 18,568 , , 19–10–1 , , 39 , , , - , 31 , , December 14 , ,

Dallas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

, , 3 – 4 , , Buffalo , , , , Biron , , 16,575 , , 20–10–1 , , 41 , , , - , 32 , , December 16 , , Buffalo , , 4 – 3 , ,

, , OT , , Biron , , 16,648 , , 21–10–1 , , 43 , , , - , 33 , , December 17 , ,

, , 3 – 4 , , Buffalo , , , , Biron , , 18,690 , , 22–10–1 , , 45 , , , - , 34 , , December 19 , , Buffalo , , 2 – 1 , ,

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

, , SO , , Miller , , 19,572 , , 23–10–1 , , 47 , , , - , 35 , , December 22 , , Buffalo , , 1 – 4 , ,

, , , , Biron , , 17,823 , , 23–11–1 , , 47 , , , - , 36 , , December 23 , , Buffalo , , 4 – 1 , ,

, , , , Miller , , 21,120 , , 24–11–1 , , 49 , , , - , 37 , , December 26 , , NY Islanders , , 3 – 6 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 18,690 , , 25–11–1 , , 51 , , , - , 38 , , December 29 , , Buffalo , , 3 – 4 , ,

, , SO , , Biron , , 19,364 , , 25–11–2 , , 52 , , , - , 39 , , December 30 , ,

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

, , 1 – 4 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 18,690 , , 26–11–2 , , 54 , , , - , - , 40 , , January 1 , ,

, , 2 – 1 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 18,690 , , 26–12–2 , , 54 , , , - , 41 , , January 5 , ,

, , 1 – 3 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 18,032 , , 27–12–2 , , 56 , , , - , 42 , , January 7 , ,

, , 3 – 2 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 18,690 , , 27–13–2 , , 56 , , , - , 43 , , January 12 , , Phoenix , , 2 – 1 , , Buffalo , , SO , , Biron , , 18,690 , , 27–13–3 , , 57 , , , - , 44 , , January 14 , ,

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, , 1 – 10 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 18,690 , , 28–13–3 , , 59 , , , - , 45 , , January 16 , , Buffalo , , 3 – 1 , ,

Edmonton Edmonton is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Central Alberta ...

, , , , Miller , , 16,839 , , 29–13–3 , , 61 , , , - , 46 , , January 19 , , Buffalo , , 1 – 4 , ,

Vancouver Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...

, , , , Miller , , 18,630 , , 29–14–3 , , 61 , , , - , 47 , , January 21 , , Buffalo , , 1 – 4 , ,

Calgary Calgary () is a major city in the Canadian province of Alberta. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806 making it the third-largest city and fifth-largest metropolitan area in C ...

, , , , Biron , , 19,289 , , 29–15–3 , , 61 , , , - , 48 , , January 24 , , Buffalo , , 2 – 1 , , NY Rangers , , , , Miller , , 18,200 , , 30–15–3 , , 63 , , , - , 49 , , January 26 , , Buffalo , , 8 – 4 , ,

, , , , Miller , , 19,477 , , 31–15–3 , , 65 , , , - , 50 , , January 31 , , Buffalo , , 5 – 2 , ,

, , , , Miller , , 14,021 , , 32–15–3 , , 67 , , , - , - , 51 , , February 2 , ,

, , 2 – 4 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 18,690 , , 33–15–3 , , 69 , , , - , 52 , , February 4 , ,

, , 1 – 2 , , Buffalo , , SO , , Miller , , 17,451 , , 34–15–3 , , 71 , , , - , 53 , , February 7 , , Buffalo , , 3 – 2 , ,

, , OT , , Miller , , 21,273 , , 35–15–3 , , 73 , , , - , 54 , , February 9 , ,

, , 3 – 2 , , Buffalo , , OT , , Miller , , 17,344 , , 35–15–4 , , 74 , , , - , 55 , , February 11 , ,

, , 3 – 5 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 18,690 , , 36–15–4 , , 76 , , , - , 56 , , February 12 , , Buffalo , , 3 – 4 , , Carolina , , SO , , Miller , , 18,730 , , 36–15–5 , , 77 , , , - , - , 57 , , March 1 , ,

, , 4 – 2 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 18,690 , , 36–16–5 , , 77 , , , - , 58 , , March 3 , ,

, , 2 – 6 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 18,690 , , 37–16–5 , , 79 , , , - , 59 , , March 4 , , Buffalo , , 3 – 2 , ,

, , , , Biron , , 16,065 , , 38–16–5 , , 81 , , , - , 60 , , March 7 , ,

, , 2 – 3 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 18,117 , , 39–16–5 , , 83 , , , - , 61 , , March 9 , ,

, , 5 – 8 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 17,934 , , 40–16–5 , , 85 , , , - , 62 , , March 11 , , Buffalo , , 6 – 5 , ,

, , , , Biron , , 19,717 , , 41–16–5 , , 87 , , , - , 63 , , March 12 , ,

, , 2 – 6 , , Buffalo , , , , Biron , , 18,690 , , 42–16–5 , , 89 , , , - , 64 , , March 14 , , Buffalo , , 6 – 4 , , Washington , , , , Miller , , 14,386 , , 43–16–5 , , 91 , , , - , 65 , , March 16 , ,

, , 1 – 3 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 18,690 , , 44–16–5 , , 93 , , , - , 66 , , March 18 , , Buffalo , , 2 – 4 , ,

, , , , Miller , , 19,947 , , 44–17–5 , , 93 , , , - , 67 , , March 20 , , Buffalo , , 0 – 5 , ,

, , , , Biron , , 14,133 , , 44–18–5 , , 93 , , , - , 68 , , March 22 , , Carolina , , 4 – 3 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 18,690 , , 44–19–5 , , 93 , , , - , 69 , , March 24 , ,

, , 3 – 1 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 18,690 , , 44–20–5 , , 93 , , , - , 70 , , March 25 , , Buffalo , , 4 – 5 , ,

, , , , Miller , , 15,710 , , 44–21–5 , , 93 , , , - , 71 , , March 27 , , Buffalo , , 4 – 5 , , NY Rangers , , SO , , Miller , , 18,200 , , 44–21–6 , , 94 , , , - , 72 , , March 29 , ,

, , 3 – 4 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 16,261 , , 45–21–6 , , 96 , , , - , 73 , , March 30 , , Buffalo , , 1 – 3 , ,

, , , , Biron , , 12,425 , , 45–22–6 , , 96 , , , - , - , 74 , , April 1 , , Buffalo , , 0 – 7 , ,

, , , , Miller , , 19,434 , , 45–23–6 , , 96 , , , - , 75 , , April 3 , , Buffalo , , 3 – 2 , ,

, , SO , , Biron , , 19,320 , , 46–23–6 , , 98 , , , - , 76 , , April 5 , ,

, , 4 – 5 , , Buffalo , , OT , , Biron , , 17,622 , , 47–23–6 , , 100 , , , - , 77 , , April 7 , ,

, , 4 – 2 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 16,909 , , 47–24–6 , , 100 , , , - , 78 , , April 8 , , Buffalo , , 6 – 2 , ,

, , , , Miller , , 19,575 , , 48–24–6 , , 102 , , , - , 79 , , April 12 , ,

, , 1 – 3 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 18,201 , , 49–24–6 , , 104 , , , - , 80 , , April 15 , , Buffalo , , 4 – 2 , ,

, , , , Miller , , 21,273 , , 50–24–6 , , 106 , , , - , 81 , , April 16 , ,

, , 0 – 6 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 18,690 , , 51–24–6 , , 108 , , , - , 82 , , April 18 , , Buffalo , , 4 – 0 , , Carolina , , , , Biron , , 18,730 , , 52–24–6 , , 110 , , , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

, - , 1 , , April 22 , ,

, , 2 – 3 , , Buffalo , , 2OT , , Miller , , 18,690 , , Sabres lead 1–0 , , , - , 2 , , April 24 , , Philadelphia , , 2 – 8 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 18,690 , , Sabres lead 2–0 , , , - , 3 , , April 26 , , Buffalo , , 2 – 4 , , Philadelphia , , , , Miller , , 19,984 , , Sabres lead 2–1 , , , - , 4 , , April 28 , , Buffalo , , 4 – 5 , , Philadelphia , , , , Miller , , 20,092 , , Series tied 2–2 , , , - , 5 , , April 30 , , Philadelphia , , 0 – 3 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 18,690 , , Sabres lead 3–2 , , , - , 6 , , May 2 , , Buffalo , , 7 – 1 , , Philadelphia , , , , Miller , , 19,967 , , Sabres win 4–2 , , , - , - , 1 , , May 5 , , Buffalo , , 7 – 6 , ,

, , OT , , Miller , , 19,544 , , Sabres lead 1–0 , , , - , 2 , , May 8 , , Buffalo , , 2 – 1 , , Ottawa , , , , Miller , , 19,816 , , Sabres lead 2–0 , , , - , 3 , , May 10 , , Ottawa , , 2 – 3 , , Buffalo , , OT , , Miller , , 18,690 , , Sabres lead 3–0 , , , - , 4 , , May 11 , , Ottawa , , 2 – 1 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 18,690 , , Sabres lead 3–1 , , , - , 5 , , May 13 , , Buffalo , , 3 – 2 , , Ottawa , , OT , , Miller , , 20,024 , , Sabres win 4–1 , , , - , - , 1 , , May 20 , , Buffalo , , 3 – 2 , , Carolina , , , , Miller , , 18,730 , , Sabres lead 1–0 , , , - , 2 , , May 22 , , Buffalo , , 3 – 4 , , Carolina , , , , Miller , , 18,730 , , Series tied 1–1 , , , - , 3 , , May 24 , , Carolina , , 3 – 4 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 18,690 , , Sabres lead 2–1 , , , - , 4 , , May 26 , , Carolina , , 4 – 0 , , Buffalo , , , , Miller , , 18,690 , , Series tied 2–2 , , , - , 5 , , May 28 , , Buffalo , , 3 – 4 , , Carolina , , OT , , Miller , , 18,730 , , Hurricanes lead 3–2 , , , - , 6 , , May 30 , , Carolina , , 1 – 2 , , Buffalo , , OT , , Miller , , 18,690 , , Series tied 3–3 , , , - , 7 , , June 1 , , Buffalo , , 2 – 4 , , Carolina , , , , Miller , , 18,730 , , Hurricanes win 4–3 , , , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Scoring

* ''Position abbreviations: C = Center; D =

Defense Defense or defence may refer to: Tactical, martial, and political acts or groups * Defense (military), forces primarily intended for warfare * Civil defense, the organizing of civilians to deal with emergencies or enemy attacks * Defense industr ...

; G =

Goaltender In ice hockey, the goaltender (commonly referred to as goalie or netminder) is the player responsible for preventing the hockey puck from entering their own team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring. The goaltender mostly plays ...

; LW = Left wing; RW =

Right wing Right-wing politics is the range of Ideology#Political ideologies, political ideologies that view certain social orders and Social stratification, hierarchies as inevitable, natural, normal, or desirable, typically supporting this position b ...

'' * '' = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sabres only.''

Goaltending

* '' = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Sabres only.''

Awards and records

Awards

Milestones

Transactions

The Sabres were involved in the following transactions from February 17, 2005, the day after the 2004–05 NHL season was officially cancelled, through June 19, 2006, the day of the deciding game of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals.

Trades

Players acquired

Players lost

Signings

Draft picks

As there was no 2004–05 season to set the order for the draft, a lottery was held in which teams were assigned a number of balls, between one and three, based on the number of playoff appearances the team had had in the past three seasons. As the Sabres had missed the playoffs three consecutive seasons, they were one of only four teams which had the full allotment of three balls in the lottery. Despite this advantage, the Sabres only ended up with the 13th overall pick. Buffalo's picks at the 2005 NHL entry draft in

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

Notes

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:2005-06 Buffalo Sabres season Buff Buffalo Sabres seasons Buffalo Buffalo

Regular season

Season standings

Playoffs

Schedule and results

Regular season

Playoffs

Player statistics

Scoring

Goaltending

Awards and records

Awards

Milestones

Transactions

Trades

Players acquired

Players lost

Signings

Draft picks

See also

Notes

References