2005–06 Calgary Flames
Northwest Division Champions
Division	1st Northwest
Conference	3rd Western
2005–06 record	46–25–11
Home record	30–7–4
Road record	16–18–7
Goals for	218 (28th)
Goals against	200 (1st)
General Manager	Darryl Sutter
Coach	Darryl Sutter
Captain	Jarome Iginla
Alternate captains	Robyn Regehr Rhett Warrener
Arena	Pengrowth Saddledome
Average attendance	19,289
Team leaders
Goals	Jarome Iginla (35)
Assists	Daymond Langkow (34)
Points	Jarome Iginla (67)
Penalties in minutes	Darren McCarty (117)
Wins	Miikka Kiprusoff (42)
Goals against average	Miikka Kiprusoff (2.07)

Calgary Flames 25th anniversary logo

The 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.^[1]

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.^[2] 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.^[3]

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.^[4]

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,^[5] while Jordan Leopold represented the United States.^[6] Miikka Kiprusoff was also named to the Finnish team, however declined to go citing an injury.^[7]

Regular season

Season standings

Game log

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

Skaters

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

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Calgary. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.

Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games Played; TOI = Time On Ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/Shootout Losses; GA = Goals Against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save Percentage; GAA = Goals Against Average

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Calgary. Stats reflect time with the Flames only.
^‡Traded mid-season
Bold text denotes league leader
Italics denotes franchise record

Awards and records

Trophies and awards

• Vezina Trophy: Miikka Kiprusoff
• William Jennings Trophy: Miikka Kiprusoff
• Molson Cup: Miikka Kiprusoff
• Scurfield Humanitarian Award: Rhett Warrener
• J. R. McCaig Memorial Award: Robyn Regehr & Mark Stiles

Records achieved in the season

Flames team records

• Fewest home goals against in one season: (73) - previous record was 85 in the 2003–04 season
• Tied record for most shots for in one period: 3rd period, November 14, 2005 against the Minnesota Wild (25)
• Longest consecutive shutout minutes, for: April 8, 2006, 2:27 overtime at Vancouver Canucks; April 11 vs. Anaheim Mighty Ducks to April 15, 3rd period at Los Angeles Kings (161:11) - previous record was 160:07 in the 2000–01 season
• Set a new record for fastest goal to start a period when Daymond Langkow scored five seconds into the third period against Anaheim on March 11.

Flames individual records

• Most wins in a season: Miikka Kiprusoff (42) - previous record was 39, held by Mike Vernon in the 1987–88 season
• Most shutouts in a season: Miikka Kiprusoff (10) - Four Flames were tied with the previous record of 5: Dan Bouchard, Phil Myre, Fred Brathwaite, & Roman Turek
• Most goals, rookie defenceman: Dion Phaneuf (20) - previous record was 18, held by Gary Suter in the 1985–86 season

Milestones

• 400 career goals: Tony Amonte (December 10 vs. Ottawa)

Transactions

The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 2005–06 season.^[8]

Trades

Free Agents

Draft picks

Calgary's picks at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.^[9] 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.^[10]

Round	#	Player	Nationality	NHL Team	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1	26	Matt Pelech (D)	Canada	Calgary Flames	Sarnia Sting (OHL)
3	69	Gord Baldwin (D)	Canada	Calgary Flames (from Atlanta Thrashers)	Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
3	74	Dan Ryder (C)	Canada	Calgary Flames (from Buffalo Sabres)	Peterborough Petes (OHL)
4	111	J.D. Watt (RW)	Canada	Calgary Flames	Vancouver Giants (WHL)
5	128	Kevin Lalande (G)	Canada	Calgary Flames (from Carolina Hurricanes)	Belleville Bulls (OHL)
5	158	Matt Keetley (G)	Canada	Calgary Flames	Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
6	179	Brett Sutter (C/LW)	Canada	Calgary Flames	Kootenay Ice (WHL)
7	221	Myles Rumsey (D)	Canada	Calgary Flames	Swift Current Broncos (WHL)

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.^[11]

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.^[12]

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.^[13] 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.^[14]

See also

• 2005–06 NHL season

References