2005–06 New Jersey Devils season


The 2005–06 New Jersey Devils season was the team's 24th in the National Hockey League since the franchise moved to New Jersey. It was the team's first season back after the NHL canceled the previous season, due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout. The Devils rallied from a poor first half of the season to win the Atlantic Division title on the last day of the season. For the first time, the Devils defeated the New York Rangers in a playoff series, sweeping their rivals in their opening-round matchup.

Season overview

Many of the Devils' players had played in other leagues while the NHL was inactive due to the lockout. Most notably was Patrik Elias, who missed the first 39 games of the season due to catching Hepatitis A while playing for the Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Russian Superleague. With many new rule changes for the 2005–06 season, the Devils had to change their style of play. Martin Brodeur, one of the best puck-handling goalies, could no longer use this to his advantage as before, since restrictions were placed on where goalies could handle the puck. The Devils also lost long-time captain Scott Stevens and his physically punishing style of play to retirement, as well as another longtime defenseman, Scott Niedermayer, to free agency.
In July 2005, the team announced that Head Coach Pat Burns would not return for the season after being diagnosed with cancer for the second time in little more than a year. Assistant Coach Larry Robinson, the team's head coach from 2000 to 2002, was promoted to start the season.
The Devils struggled early in the 2005–06 season, ending the 2005 calendar year with a 16–18–5 record. Robinson resigned as head coach on December 19, and Lamoriello moved down to the bench. Once Elias returned from his bout with hepatitis, the team quickly turned around with a nine-game winning streak, finishing 46–27–9 after a season-ending 11-game winning streak capped with a dramatic 4–3 win over the Montreal Canadiens. During that final victory, which clinched the Devils' sixth division title, Brian Gionta set a new team record for goals in a season with 48, topping Pat Verbeek's 46. The win streak to close the year was also an NHL record.
On April 29, 2006, the Devils won their first round Stanley Cup playoff series against the New York Rangers four games to none, extending their winning streak to 15 games and marking the first time the Devils defeated their cross-river rival in a playoff series. The team's season ended in the next round with a 4–1 Game 5 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, who eventually won the Stanley Cup.

Regular season

The Devils were the most disciplined team in the League, with just 349 power-play opportunities against. They also scored the fewest short-handed goals in the League, with just 3.

Season standings

Schedule and results

Playoffs

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

(E3) New Jersey Devils vs. (E6) New York Rangers

The first two games of the series were held at Continental Airlines Arena in New Jersey. The Devils took commanding victories in Games 1 and 2, 6–1 and 4–1, respectively. Games 3 and 4 were held at Madison Square Garden. The Devils won Game 3 and swept the series in Game 4 by a score of 4–2.

Eastern Conference Semifinals

(E3) New Jersey Devils vs. (E2) Carolina Hurricanes

The series opened at RBC Center in Raleigh. The Hurricanes won Game 1, 6–0, and Game 2, 3–2, in overtime. Games 3 and 4 shifted to Continental Airlines Arena. The Hurricanes took a 3–2 win in Game 3, but the Devils won 5–1 in Game 4. Game 5 shifted back to Raleigh and Carolina beat New Jersey 4–1, winning the series 4–1.

Media

Television broadcasts were now under the Fox Sports Networks with Mike Emrick and Chico Resch commentating the play-by-play and Matt Loughlin serving as color commentator. Radio broadcasts were now on WFAN 660 still called John Hennessy as play-by-play commentator with Randy Velischek as color commentator. This was Hennessy's final season as a radio play-by-play commentator for the Devils, as Loughlin took his place the following season in 2006-07. This was also Velischek's final season as a radio color commentator as Sherry Ross would return the following year.

Player statistics

Regular season

;Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIM+/-PPGSHGGWG
RW82484189461824110
C82335184428905
RW8019345374−1811
D8264349360302
LW381629452011603
LW8215223746−4403
D8053237321300
C8216203636−7010
LW8114183228−1205
C69121325160201
RW341213256−7703
RW768172570−18403
LW82101020162000
D733141791−2101
D351111227−14000
D6211011402000
LW/C67551032−4100
D2945926−9300
D1817883000
D3606624000
D2706636−5000
D38044215000
G7303340000
LW1111210−1000
RW101122−2000
RW11010−2100
C1610138−1000
LW1401122−3000
G1300000000
RW4700091−3000
D1800014−3000
LW30000−2000
C120004−6000
LW80002−1000

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLT/OTGAGAASOSASVSV%
436573432371872.57521051918.911
62713342353.350295260.881
Team:499282462792222.67524002178.908

Playoffs

;Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIMPPGSHGGWG
LW9610164400
RW93101316101
C95496401
D91892100
RW93472112
C94158020
LW91450011
LW91232000
D90334000
LW92022000
D802212000
D61016000
RW70118000
D20002000
G90002000
G10000000
RW900026000
C30000000
D90004000
D70004000
LW/C90008000
D40004000
C800016000

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLGAGAASOSASVSV%
533954202.251261241.923
710000.000331.000
Team:540954202.221264244.924

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T/OT = Ties/overtime losses; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Awards and records

Awards

Nominations

Transactions

Draft picks

New Jersey's picks at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft at The Westin Ottawa in Ottawa, Ottawa.
Rd #Pick #PlayerNatPosTeam Notes
123Nicklas BergforsSWERWSödertälje SK
238Jeff FrazeeUnited StatesGUS National Team Development Program
384Mark FraserCANDKitchener Rangers
499Patrick DavisUnited StatesLWKitchener Rangers
5155Mark FayneUnited StatesDNoble and Greenough School
6170Sean ZimmermanUnited StatesDSpokane Chiefs
7218Alexander SundstromSWECIF Björklöven