2005–06 Calgary Flames season

NHLTeamSeason
Season=2005–06
Team=Calgary Flames
Conference=Western
ConferenceRank=3rd
Division=Northwest
DivisionRank=1st
Record=46–25–11
HomeRecord=30–7–4
RoadRecord=16–18–7
GoalsFor=218 (28th)
GoalsAgainst=200 (1st)
GeneralManager=Darryl Sutter
Coach=Darryl Sutter
Captain=Jarome Iginla
AltCaptain=Robyn Regehr
Rhett Warrener
Arena=Pengrowth Saddledome
Attendance=19,289
GoalsLeader=Jarome Iginla (35)
AssistsLeader=Daymond Langkow (34)
PointsLeader=Jarome Iginla (67)
PIMLeader=Darren McCarty (117)
WinsLeader=Miikka Kiprusoff (42)
GAALeader=Miikka Kiprusoff (2.07)
DivisionWin=YesThe 2005–06 Calgary Flames season was the 25th NHL season in Calgary. It began with high expectations following their surprising run to the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals. The season opened with a disappointing October, as the Flames started 4–7–2 before an eight game November winning streak propelled Calgary back into contention in the National Hockey League's Northwest Division. The Flames would battle the Colorado Avalanche down the stretch, ultimately finishing eight points ahead of both Colorado and the Edmonton Oilers to capture the team's sixth division crown in franchise history.Calgary Flames Media Guide - 2005–06 NHL statistics, pg. 146]

The playoffs would prove to be disappointing for the Flames, as they fell in the first round to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in seven games.

Star goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff proved that 2003–04 was no fluke, leading the NHL in shutouts and goals against average while setting a franchise record for wins with 42. [Calgary Flames Media Guide - Individual records, pg. 214] Kiprusoff's exploits would win him the Vezina Trophy and William M. Jennings Trophy, along with being named a first team all-star. Kiprusoff was also a finalist for the Hart Trophy. [ [http://www.nhl.com/trophies/index.html 2006 Award Winners] , nhl.com, accessed November 27, 2006]

Rookie phenom Dion Phaneuf earned a nomination for the Calder Memorial Trophy after his 20 goal campaign set a franchise record for goals by a rookie defenceman, and fell just three shy of Brian Leetch's league record of 23, set in 1988–89. [ [http://www.nhl.com/news/2006/05/271296.html NHL announces trophy finalists] , nhl.com, accessed November 27, 2006]

The Flames sold out all 45 home games in 2005–06 as 19,289 fans packed the Pengrowth Saddledome for every regular season and playoff game played in Calgary.

At the 2006 Winter Olympics, three Flames players represented their countries. Jarome Iginla and Robyn Regehr both represented Canada, [ [http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/athletes/athletesbysport.shtml?Ice%20Hockey Meet the atheletes: ice hockey] , cbc sports, accessed January 22m 2007] while Jordan Leopold represented the United States. [ [http://www.usoc.org/26_43552.htm Jordan Leopold] , usolympicteam.com, accessed January 22, 2007] Miikka Kiprusoff was also named to the Finnish team, however declined to go citing an injury. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/sports/icehockey/stories/index.shtml?/story/olympics/national/2005/12/22/Sports/kiprusoff_finland.html Kiprusoff bows out of Olympics] , cbc sports, December 23, 2005, accessed January 22, 2007]

Regular season

eason standings

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Playoffs

The Flames entered the playoffs as the Northwest Division champions, and the third seed in the Western Conference. They met the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the first round in a hard fought seven game series. The goaltending of Ilya Bryzgalov would prove the turning point in the series after he replaced the ineffective starter Jean-Sebastien Giguere after game 3 and would stonewall the Flames for the rest of the series.

Player stats

katers

"Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty Minutes"

Free Agents

Draft picks

Calgary's picks at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. [ [http://www.nhl.com/draft/2005/round1.html 2005 NHL Entry Draft results] , nhl.com, accessed November 27, 2006] Due to the cancellation of the 2004–05 NHL season, the 2005 draft order was determined by a random draw, with each team gaining one to three "balls" based on recent performance. Each team started with three balls, and lost one for each time they made the post-season in the previous three years, with a minimum of one ball per team. The Flames had two balls in the lottery, however were very unlucky, ending up with the 26th overall pick. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/cba/features/2005draft.html The Sidney Crosby era Begins] , cbc.ca, accessed November 27, 2006]

Farm teams

Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights

The Flames returned to having their own American Hockey League affiliate in 2005–06 with the debut of the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights in Omaha, Nebraska. This ended a two year relationship with the Lowell Lockmonsters, whom the Flames shared the affiliation with the Carolina Hurricanes. 2005–06 marked the first season the Flames had a full affiliate since suspending the Saint John Flames franchse in 2003. The team is co-owned by the Calgary Flames, and the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben, a philanthopist organization in Omaha. [ [http://www.aksarben.org/knights/AHL%20Press%20Release.pdf Calgary Flames announce the return of professional hockey to Omaha] , Calgary Flames/Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben press release, accessed November 27, 2006]

The Knights had a disappointing inaugural season, finishing sixth in the Western Division, and out of the playoffs, with a record of 35–31–3–11. Carsen Germyn led the team in goals with 24, while Mark Giordano led in assists, 42, and points, 58. Brent Krahn led the way in goal with 26 wins, while both he and Curtis McElhinney finished with three shutouts each. [2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide - Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights stats, pg.249]

Las Vegas Wranglers

2005–06 marked the third season the ECHL's Las Vegas Wranglers were affiliated with the Flames. The Wranglers iced a strong team in 2005–06, setting franchise records for wins, 56, goals for, 267, and fewest goals against, 176. [ [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/teamseasons.php?tid=3256 Las Vegas Wranglers all time record] , hockeydb.com, accessed November 27, 2006] Despite their 56–13–6 record, the Wranglers only finished 2nd in the West Division, one point back of the Alaska Aces. Their point total of 112 was second best in the league, behind only the Aces. The Wranglers needed seven games to defeat the Idaho Steelheads in the West Division semi-finals before being knocked out of the playoffs by the eventual Kelly Cup champion Aces in five games. [ [http://www.echl.com/cgi-bin/mpublic.cgi?action=show_news&cat=1&id=8001 Alaska wins 2006 Kelly Cup championship] , echl.com, accessed November 27, 2006]

ee also

*2005–06 NHL season

References

*Player stats: 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide - 2005–06 stats, pg. 107.
*Game log: [http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/teams/schedule?team=cgy&season=2006 2005–06 Calgary Flames game log] on espn.com
*Team standings: 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide - 2005–06 standings, pg. 146.
*Team records: 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide - Flames all time team & individual records, pp. 211–214
*Previous team records: 2005–06 Calgary Flames Media Guide - Flames all time team & individual records, pp. 209–212