2005–06 Buffalo Sabres season

The 2005–06 Buffalo Sabres season was the 36th season of operation, 35th season of play, for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on May 22, 1970.[1] The season not only saw the team qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs 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 champions, the Carolina Hurricanes.

2005–06 Buffalo Sabres
Division2nd Northeast
Conference4th Eastern
2005–06 record52–24–6
Goals for281
Goals against239
Team information
General managerDarcy Regier
CoachLindy Ruff
CaptainDaniel Briere and
Chris Drury
Alternate captainsMike Grier
Jochen Hecht
Jay McKee
ArenaHSBC Arena
Team leaders
GoalsChris Drury (30)
AssistsMaxim Afinogenov (51)
PointsMaxim Afinogenov (73)
Penalty minutesAndrew Peters (100)
WinsRyan Miller (30)
Goals against averageRyan Miller (2.60)

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 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.[2] 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 to win the Jack Adams Award 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 at home by a score of 10–1.[3] 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 at home by a score of 10–7.[4]

Season standings
Northeast Division
No. CR GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
11Ottawa Senators8252219314211113
24Buffalo Sabres8252246281239110
37Montreal Canadiens824231924324793
49Toronto Maple Leafs824133825727090
513Boston Bruins8229371623026674

[5] Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime/Shootout loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Eastern Conference[6]
R Div GP W L OTL GF GA Pts
1 Z- Ottawa SenatorsNE8252219314211113
2 Y- Carolina HurricanesSE8252228294260112
3 Y- New Jersey DevilsAT8246279242229101
4 X- Buffalo SabresNE8252246242239110
5 X- Philadelphia FlyersAT82452611267259101
6 X- New York RangersAT82442612257215100
7 X- Montreal CanadiensNE824231924324793
8 X- Tampa Bay LightningSE824333625226092
8.5
9 Toronto Maple LeafsNE824133825727090
10 Atlanta ThrashersSE824133828127590
11 Florida PanthersSE8237341124025785
12 New York IslandersAT823640623027878
13 Boston BruinsNE8229371623026674
14 Washington CapitalsSE8229411223730670
15 Pittsburgh PenguinsAT8222461424431658

Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast

Z – Clinched Conference; Y – Clinched Division; X – Clinched Playoff spot

Schedule and results

October
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
1October 5NY Islanders4 – 6BuffaloMiller15,7021–0–02
2October 7Boston1 – 4BuffaloMiller13,7712–0–04
3October 8Buffalo0 – 5OttawaMiller19,6612–1–04
4October 10Pittsburgh2 – 3BuffaloOTMiller12,0503–1–06
5October 13Buffalo4 – 3Tampa BaySOMiller20,1844–1–08
6October 15Buffalo2 – 3FloridaMiller17,4264–2–08
7October 20Buffalo4 – 3BostonMiller14,5255–2–010
8October 22NY Rangers1 – 3BuffaloMiller16,3466–2–012
9October 26Washington3 – 2BuffaloMiller8,5526–3–012
10October 28Buffalo2 – 3New JerseyMiller12,3786–4–012
11October 29Buffalo6 – 4NY IslandersBiron13,2267–4–014

November
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
12November 2Ottawa10 – 4BuffaloNoronen13,9057–5–014
13November 4Montreal3 – 2BuffaloBiron18,6907–6–014
14November 5Buffalo2 – 3MontrealBiron21,2737–7–014
15November 9Carolina5 – 3BuffaloBiron13,1067–8–014
16November 11Toronto2 – 5BuffaloBiron18,6908–8–016
17November 12Buffalo1 – 6OttawaBiron19,4148–9–016
18November 15New Jersey1 – 4BuffaloBiron13,0229–9–018
19November 17Washington5 – 8BuffaloBiron12,47110–9–020
20November 19Buffalo3 – 2BostonNoronen17,56511–9–022
21November 22NY Rangers3 – 2BuffaloSOBiron16,01811–9–123
22November 23Buffalo4 – 3NY IslandersSOBiron13,21212–9–125
23November 25Montreal1 – 3BuffaloBiron16,00913–9–127
24November 27Buffalo3 – 2WashingtonBiron11,65814–9–129
25November 29Buffalo3 – 2PittsburghBiron15,11815–9–131

December
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
26December 1Buffalo3 – 2MontrealOTBiron21,27416–9–133
27December 2San Jose5 – 0BuffaloNoronen18,00716–10–133
28December 4Buffalo6 – 4ColoradoBiron18,00717–10–135
29December 8Anaheim2 – 3BuffaloOTBiron12,50418–10–137
30December 11Buffalo3 – 2MinnesotaBiron18,56819–10–139
31December 14Dallas3 – 4BuffaloBiron16,57520–10–141
32December 16Buffalo4 – 3PittsburghOTBiron16,64821–10–143
33December 17Pittsburgh3 – 4BuffaloBiron18,69022–10–145
34December 19Buffalo2 – 1PhiladelphiaSOMiller19,57223–10–147
35December 22Buffalo1 – 4FloridaBiron17,82323–11–147
36December 23Buffalo4 – 1Tampa BayMiller21,12024–11–149
37December 26NY Islanders3 – 6BuffaloMiller18,69025–11–151
38December 29Buffalo3 – 4TorontoSOBiron19,36425–11–252
39December 30Atlanta1 – 4BuffaloMiller18,69026–11–254

January
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
40January 1Florida2 – 1BuffaloMiller18,69026–12–254
41January 5Tampa Bay1 – 3BuffaloMiller18,03227–12–256
42January 7New Jersey3 – 2BuffaloMiller18,69027–13–256
43January 12Phoenix2 – 1BuffaloSOBiron18,69027–13–357
44January 14Los Angeles1 – 10BuffaloMiller18,69028–13–359
45January 16Buffalo3 – 1EdmontonMiller16,83929–13–361
46January 19Buffalo1 – 4VancouverMiller18,63029–14–361
47January 21Buffalo1 – 4CalgaryBiron19,28929–15–361
48January 24Buffalo2 – 1NY RangersMiller18,20030–15–363
49January 26Buffalo8 – 4TorontoMiller19,47731–15–365
50January 31Buffalo5 – 2AtlantaMiller14,02132–15–367

February
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
51February 2Philadelphia2 – 4BuffaloMiller18,69033–15–369
52February 4Ottawa1 – 2BuffaloSOMiller17,45134–15–371
53February 7Buffalo3 – 2MontrealOTMiller21,27335–15–373
54February 9Montreal3 – 2BuffaloOTMiller17,34435–15–474
55February 11Florida3 – 5BuffaloMiller18,69036–15–476
56February 12Buffalo3 – 4CarolinaSOMiller18,73036–15–577

March
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
57March 1Atlanta4 – 2BuffaloMiller18,69036–16–577
58March 3Toronto2 – 6BuffaloMiller18,69037–16–579
59March 4Buffalo3 – 2BostonBiron16,06538–16–581
60March 7Boston2 – 3BuffaloMiller18,11739–16–583
61March 9Tampa Bay5 – 8BuffaloMiller17,93440–16–585
62March 11Buffalo6 – 5PhiladelphiaBiron19,71741–16–587
63March 12Boston2 – 6BuffaloBiron18,69042–16–589
64March 14Buffalo6 – 4WashingtonMiller14,38643–16–591
65March 16Toronto1 – 3BuffaloMiller18,69044–16–593
66March 18Buffalo2 – 4OttawaMiller19,94744–17–593
67March 20Buffalo0 – 5AtlantaBiron14,13344–18–593
68March 22Carolina4 – 3BuffaloMiller18,69044–19–593
69March 24Ottawa3 – 1BuffaloMiller18,69044–20–593
70March 25Buffalo4 – 5BostonMiller15,71044–21–593
71March 27Buffalo4 – 5NY RangersSOMiller18,20044–21–694
72March 29Boston3 – 4BuffaloMiller16,26145–21–696
73March 30Buffalo1 – 3New JerseyBiron12,42545–22–696

April
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
74April 1Buffalo0 – 7TorontoMiller19,43445–23–696
75April 3Buffalo3 – 2TorontoSOBiron19,32046–23–698
76April 5Ottawa4 – 5BuffaloOTBiron17,62247–23–6100
77April 7Philadelphia4 – 2BuffaloMiller16,90947–24–6100
78April 8Buffalo6 – 2OttawaMiller19,57548–24–6102
79April 12Montreal1 – 3BuffaloMiller18,20149–24–6104
80April 15Buffalo4 – 2MontrealMiller21,27350–24–6106
81April 16Toronto0 – 6BuffaloMiller18,69051–24–6108
82April 18Buffalo4 – 0CarolinaBiron18,73052–24–6110

Playoffs
Main article: 2006 Stanley Cup 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 goal by Jason Pominville to send Buffalo to the Eastern Conference Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes. 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, 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.

Eastern Conference quarter-finals: vs. (5) Philadelphia Flyers

The Sabres faced the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the playoffs.

#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceSeries
1April 22Philadelphia2 – 3Buffalo2OTMiller18,690Sabres lead 1–0
2April 24Philadelphia2 – 8BuffaloMiller18,690Sabres lead 2–0
3April 26Buffalo2 – 4PhiladelphiaMiller19,984Sabres lead 2–1
4April 28Buffalo4 – 5PhiladelphiaMiller20,092tied 2–2
5April 30Philadelphia0 – 3BuffaloMiller18,690Sabres lead 3–2
6May 2Buffalo7 – 1PhiladelphiaMiller19,967Sabres win 4–2

Eastern Conference semi-finals: vs. (1) Ottawa Senators

After disposing of the Flyers, the Sabres advanced to play the #1 seed in the Conference, their Northeast Division rivals, the Ottawa Senators.

#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceSeries
1May 5Buffalo7 – 6OttawaOTMiller19,544Sabres lead 1–0
2May 8Buffalo2 – 1OttawaMiller19,816Sabres lead 2–0
3May 10Ottawa2 – 3BuffaloOTMiller18,690Sabres lead 3–0
4May 11Ottawa2 – 1BuffaloMiller18,690Sabres lead 3–1
5May 13Buffalo3 – 2OttawaOTMiller20,024Sabres win 4–1

Eastern Conference finals: vs. (2) Carolina Hurricanes

The right to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals was on the line as the Sabres squared off with Southeast Division champion Carolina.

#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceSeries
1May 20Buffalo3 – 2CarolinaMiller18,730Sabres lead 1–0
2May 22Buffalo3 – 4CarolinaMiller18,730tied 1–1
3May 24Carolina3 – 4BuffaloMiller18,690Sabres lead 2–1
4May 26Carolina4 – 0BuffaloMiller18,690tied 2–2
5May 28Buffalo3 – 4CarolinaOTMiller18,730Hurricanes lead 3–2
6May 30Carolina1 – 2BuffaloOTMiller18,690tied 3–3
7June 1Buffalo2 – 4CarolinaMiller18,730Hurricanes win 4–3

Season stats

Scoring leaders

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

Player#GPGAPts+/-PIM
Maxim Afinogenov6177225173+684
Chris Drury2381303767-1132
Ales Kotalik1282253762-362
Daniel Briere4848253358+348
Tim Connolly1963163955+528
Thomas Vanek2681252348-1172
Derek Roy970182846+157
Brian Campbell5179123244-1416
Jochen Hecht5564182442+1034
Jean-Pierre Dumont1754202040-138
Teppo Numminen277523840+636
Jason Pominville2957181230-422
Paul Gaustad287891524+465
Mike Grier258171623-728
Henrik Tallinder108261521+1074
Dmitri Kalinin455521618+1454
Toni Lydman57511617+982
Jay McKee747551116057
Taylor Pyatt24416612-133
Rory Fitzpatrick856459-1850
Adam Mair2240257-247
Jiri Novotny1314213-50
Daniel Paille2014123+52
Ryan Miller3048022N/A0
Nathan Paetsch381011-10
Chris Thorburn472011-17
Martin Biron4335011N/A10
Jeff Jillson34200004
Mika Noronen354000N/A2
Andrew Peters7628000-2100
  • Note: Goaltenders are not assessed plus-minus ratings.

Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Player#GPMinWLOTLGASOSv%GAA
Ryan Miller30482862301431241.9142.60
Martin Biron433519342183931.9052.88
*Mika Noronen354169120120.8444.27

*Mika Noronen was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on March 9. Stats reflect games played with Buffalo only.

Transactions

Trades
August 25, 2005 To Calgary Flames
Third-round pick in 2006		 To Buffalo Sabres
Toni Lydman
October 4, 2005 To Chicago Blackhawks
Milan Bartovic		 To Buffalo Sabres
Michael Leighton
March 9, 2006 To Vancouver Canucks
Mika Noronen		 To Buffalo Sabres
Second-round pick in 2006

Free agents acquired
PlayerFormer Team
D Teppo NumminenDallas Stars

Free agents lost
PlayerNew Team
D Alexei ZhitnikNew York Islanders
F Miroslav SatanNew York Islanders
D Brad BrownToronto Maple Leafs
D Andy DelmoreColumbus Blue Jackets

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 Ottawa, Ontario:

Round # Player Nationality NHL team College/junior/club team (league)
1 13 Marek Zagrapan (C)  Slovakia Buffalo Sabres Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)
2 48 Philipp Gogulla (W)  Germany Buffalo Sabres Kolner Haie (DEL)
3 87 Marc-Andre Gragnani (D)  Canada Buffalo Sabres
(from Calgary Flames)		 P.E.I. Rocket (QMJHL)
4 96 Chris Butler (D)  United States Buffalo Sabres
(from Calgary Flames)		 Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
5 142 Nathan Gerbe (C)  United States Buffalo Sabres US National Team Development Program
6 182 Adam Dennis (G)  Canada Buffalo Sabres London Knights (OHL)
6 191 Vyacheslav Buravchikov (D)  Russia Buffalo Sabres
(from Minnesota Wild)		 Krylia (Russia 2)
7 208 Matt Generous (D)  United States Buffalo Sabres New England Junior Falcons (EJHL)
7 227 Andrew Orpik (D)  United States Buffalo Sabres Thayer Academy (USHS)

Roster
2005–06 Buffalo Sabres Roster
Goaltenders

Defensemen

Wingers

Centers

See also

References
  1. National Hockey League (2010). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011. Triumph Books. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-60078-422-4.
  2. https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2006.html
  3. https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/200601140BUF.html
  4. https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/199302240BUF.html
  5. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2009). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2010. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 162.
  6. "2005–2006 Standings by Conference". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.