The 2005–06 Montreal Canadiens season was the team's 97th

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 ...

, 89th in 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 ...

(NHL). The Canadiens would qualify for the 2006 playoffs, eventually being eliminated in the conference quarterfinals by the eventual Stanley Cup champion

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 ...

in six games.

Offseason

Regular season

Claude Julien started the season as coach but was fired and replaced on an interim basis by general manager

Bob Gainey Robert Michael Gainey (born December 13, 1953) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Canadiens from 1973 until 1989. After retiring from active play, he became a hockey coach and later an executive with ...

on January 14. The Canadiens's number one goaltender Jose Theodore was traded to the

Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. The Avalanche compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Con ...

. His place was taken by Cristobal Huet. Huet would lead the league in save percentage of 92.9% and placed fourth overall in goals against average of 2.20.

Final standings

Schedule and results

Regular season

, - , 1, , October 5, 2005, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

( 2005–06) , , 1–0–0 , , , - , 2, , October 6, 2005, , 4–3 OT , , align="left", @

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...

( 2005–06) , , 2–0–0 , , , - , 3, , October 8, 2005, , 5–4 , , align="left", @

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

( 2005–06) , , 3–0–0 , , , - , 4, , October 11, 2005, , 2–4 , , align="left",

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 ...

( 2005–06) , , 3–1–0 , , , - , 5, , October 12, 2005, , 2–0 , , align="left", @

Atlanta Thrashers The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL) on June 25, 1997, and became the League's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL sea ...

( 2005–06) , , 4–1–0 , , , - , 6, , October 15, 2005, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 4–2–0 , , , - , 7, , October 18, 2005, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 5–2–0 , , , - , 8, , October 22, 2005, , 4–3 , , align="left",

New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...

( 2005–06) , , 6–2–0 , , , - , 9, , October 25, 2005, , 3–2 OT, , align="left",

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

( 2005–06) , , 7–2–0 , , , - , 10, , October 27, 2005, , 3–4 OT, , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 7–2–1 , , , - , 11, , October 29, 2005, , 2–5 , , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 7–3–1 , , , - , 12, , October 31, 2005, , 4–1 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 8–3–1 , , , - , - , 13, , November 1, 2005, , 5–4 OT, , align="left",

Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Panthers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team initially played it ...

( 2005–06) , , 9–3–1 , , , - , 14, , November 4, 2005, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

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 ...

( 2005–06) , , 10–3–1 , , , - , 15, , November 5, 2005, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 11–3–1 , , , - , 16, , November 8, 2005, , 3–2 , , align="left",

Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning (colloquially known as the Bolts) are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the ...

( 2005–06) , , 12–3–1 , , , - , 17, , November 10, 2005, , 2–3 SO, , align="left", @

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...

( 2005–06) , , 12–3–2 , , , - , 18, , November 12, 2005, , 4–5 OT, , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 12–3–3 , , , - , 19, , November 15, 2005, , 4–3 OT, , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 13–3–3 , , , - , 20, , November 18, 2005, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The club w ...

( 2005–06) , , 13–4–3 , , , - , 21, , November 19, 2005, , 1–5 , , align="left",

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...

( 2005–06) , , 13–5–3 , , , - , 22, , November 22, 2005, , 3–2 SO, , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 14–5–3 , , , - , 23, , November 25, 2005, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 14–6–3 , , , - , 24, , November 26, 2005, , 3–4 OT, , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 14–6–4 , , , - , 25, , November 29, 2005, , 0–4 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 14–7–4 , , , - , - , 26, , December 1, 2005, , 2–3 OT, , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 14–7–5 , , , - , 27, , December 3, 2005, , 3–2 , , align="left",

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. ...

( 2005–06) , , 15–7–5 , , , - , 28, , December 10, 2005, , 3–5 , , align="left",

Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Mighty may refer to: Businesses *Mighty Audio, an American company known for its product ''Mighty'', a portable audio player *Mighty Animation, an animation studio based in Guadalajara, Mexico Films *''The Mighty'', a 1998 comedy–drama * ''The ...

( 2005–06) , , 15–8–5 , , , - , 29, , December 13, 2005, , 5–2 , , align="left",

Phoenix Coyotes The Arizona Coyotes are an inactive professional ice hockey team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. They competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division (1996–1998, 2021–2024) and ...

( 2005–06) , , 16–8–5 , , , - , 30, , December 15, 2005, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

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

( 2005–06) , , 16–9–5 , , , - , 31, , December 17, 2005, , 3–4 OT, , align="left", @

Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Confer ...

( 2005–06) , , 16–9–6 , , , - , 32, , December 20, 2005, , 4–3 SO, , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 17–9–6 , , , - , 33, , December 23, 2005, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 17–10–6 , , , - , 34, , December 26, 2005, , 0–4 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 17–11–6 , , , - , 35, , December 28, 2005, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 18–11–6 , , , - , 36, , December 30, 2005, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 18–12–6 , , , - , 37, , December 31, 2005, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 18–13–6 , , , - , - , 38, , January 3, 2006, , 4–6 , , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 18–14–6 , , , - , 39, , January 5, 2006, , 4–5 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 18–15–6 , , , - , 40, , January 7, 2006, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 19–15–6 , , , - , 41, , January 11, 2006, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 19–16–6 , , , - , 42, , January 14, 2006, , 6–2 , , align="left",

San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. The Sharks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Con ...

( 2005–06) , , 20–16–6 , , , - , 43, , January 16, 2006, , 4–2 , , align="left",

Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas. The Stars compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The Stars ...

( 2005–06) , , 21–16–6 , , , - , 44, , January 19, 2006, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

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

( 2005–06) , , 21–17–6 , , , - , 45, , January 21, 2006, , 2–6 , , align="left", @

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

( 2005–06) , , 21–18–6 , , , - , 46, , January 23, 2006, , 3–7 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 21–19–6 , , , - , 47, , January 25, 2006, , 5–3 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 22–19–6 , , , - , 48, , January 26, 2006, , 0–3 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 22–20–6 , , , - , 49, , January 28, 2006, , 4–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 23–20–6 , , , - , 50, , January 31, 2006, , 2–8 , , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 23–21–6 , , , - , - , 51, , February 2, 2006, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 23–22–6 , , , - , 52, , February 4, 2006, , 2–0 , , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 24–22–6 , , , - , 53, , February 5, 2006, , 5–0 , , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 25–22–6 , , , - , 54, , February 7, 2006, , 2–3 OT, , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 25–22–7 , , , - , 55, , February 9, 2006, , 3–2 OT, , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 26–22–7 , , , - , 56, , February 11, 2006, , 1–2 SO, , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 26–22–8 , , , - , 57, , February 28, 2006, , 5–3 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 27–22–8 , , , - , - , 58, , March 2, 2006, , 1–0 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 28–22–8 , , , - , 59, , March 4, 2006, , 6–2 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 29–22–8 , , , - , 60, , March 6, 2006, , 4–5 SO, , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 29–22–9 , , , - , 61, , March 7, 2006, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 29–23–9 , , , - , 62, , March 9, 2006, , 3–0 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 30–23–9 , , , - , 63, , March 11, 2006, , 1–0 , , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 31–23–9 , , , - , 64, , March 13, 2006, , 1–2 , , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 31–24–9 , , , - , 65, , March 16, 2006, , 1–5 , , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 31–25–9 , , , - , 66, , March 18, 2006, , 4–5 , , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 31–26–9 , , , - , 67, , March 20, 2006, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 32–26–9 , , , - , 68, , March 21, 2006, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 32–27–9 , , , - , 69, , March 23, 2006, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 33–27–9 , , , - , 70, , March 25, 2006, , 6–2 , , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 34–27–9 , , , - , 71, , March 26, 2006, , 6–5 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 35–27–9 , , , - , 72, , March 28, 2006, , 2–0 , , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 36–27–9 , , , - , 73, , March 30, 2006, , 3–2 OT, , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 37–27–9 , , , - , - , 74, , April 1, 2006, , 2–0 , , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 38–27–9 , , , - , 75, , April 4, 2006, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 39–27–9 , , , - , 76, , April 6, 2006, , 5–3 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 40–27–9 , , , - , 77, , April 8, 2006, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 40–28–9 , , , - , 78, , April 10, 2006, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 41–28–9 , , , - , 79, , April 12, 2006, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 41–29–9 , , , - , 80, , April 13, 2006, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

( 2005–06) , , 42–29–9 , , , - , 81, , April 15, 2006, , 2–4 , , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 42–30–9 , , , - , 82, , April 18, 2006, , 3–4 , , align="left",

( 2005–06) , , 42–31–9 , , , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

The Canadiens placed 3rd in the Northeast division, and seventh in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens played 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 ...

champion

in the first round and lost four games to two. The Canadiens were winning 2–0 in the series when Saku Koivu sustained a serious injury to his left eye. Hurricanes forward

Justin Williams Justin Craig Williams (born October 4, 1981) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings, and Washington Capitals ...

attempted to lift Koivu's stick but instead struck him in the eye. Koivu was rushed to the hospital, where he would remain overnight and for the remainder of the playoffs. Koivu remained out of the lineup for the rest of the series and underwent surgery to repair a detached retina during the off-season.

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals: vs. (2) Carolina Hurricanes

, - , 1, , April 22, 2006, , 6–1 , , align="left", @

, , Canadiens lead 1–0 , , , - , 2, , April 24, 2006, , 6–5 OT , , align="left", @ Carolina Hurricanes , , Canadiens lead 2–0 , , , - , 3, , April 26, 2006, , 1–2 OT , , align="left", Carolina Hurricanes , , Canadiens lead 2–1 , , , - , 4, , April 28, 2006, , 2–3 , , align="left", Carolina Hurricanes , , Series tied 2–2 , , , - , 5, , April 30, 2006, , 1–2 , , align="left", @ Carolina Hurricanes , , Hurricanes lead 3–2 , , , - , 6, , May 2, 2006, , 1–2 OT , , align="left", Carolina Hurricanes , , Hurricanes win 4–2 , , , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Scoring

* ''Position abbreviations: C =

Centre Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics *Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentricity ...

; D = Defence; 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 Left-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that support and seek to achieve social equality and egalitarianism, often in opposition to social hierarchy either as a whole or of certain social hierarchies. Left-wing politic ...

; 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 ...

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

Goaltending

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

Awards and records

Awards

Milestones

Transactions

The Canadiens were involved in the following transactions from February 17, 2005, the day after the

2004–05 NHL season The 2004–05 NHL season would have been the National Hockey League's 88th season of play. The entire 1,230-game schedule, that was set to begin in October, was officially canceled on February 16, 2005, due to an unresolved lockout that began ...

was officially cancelled, through June 19, 2006, the day of the deciding game of the

2006 Stanley Cup Finals The 2006 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2005–06 season, and the culmination of the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs. The first Stanley Cup Finals since 2004 after a lockout canceled the entirety ...

Trades

Players acquired

Players lost

Signings

Draft picks

Montreal's draft picks at the 2005 NHL entry draft held at the Westin Hotel in

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 ...

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 Montreal Canadiens season Montreal Canadiens seasons Montreal Canadiens season, 2005-06

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 ...

2005 in sports in Quebec 2006 in sports in Quebec 2005 in Montreal 2006 in Montreal

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

Schedule and results

Regular season

Playoffs

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals: vs. (2) Carolina Hurricanes

Player statistics

Scoring

Goaltending

Awards and records

Awards

Milestones

Transactions

Trades

Players acquired

Players lost

Signings

Draft picks

See also

Notes

References