2005–06 New Jersey Devils season
| 2005–06 New Jersey Devils | |
|---|---|
|
Atlantic Division champions
|
|
| Division | 1st Atlantic |
| Conference | 3rd Eastern |
| 2005–06 record | 46–27–9 |
| Goals for | 242 |
| Goals against | 229 |
| Team information | |
| General Manager | Lou Lamoriello |
| Coach |
Larry Robinson (Oct–Dec) Lou Lamoriello (Dec–May) interim |
| Captain | Vacant |
| Alternate captains |
Patrik Elias (Jan-Apr) John Madden Alexander Mogilny (Oct–Jan) Colin White Brian Rafalski |
| Arena | Continental Airlines Arena |
| Average attendance | 14,230 |
| Team leaders | |
| Goals | Brian Gionta (48) |
| Assists | Scott Gomez (51) |
| Points | Brian Gionta (89) |
| Penalties in minutes |
Cam Janssen (91) Colin White (91) |
| Plus/minus | Brian Gionta (+18) |
| Wins | Martin Brodeur (43) |
| Goals against average | Martin Brodeur (2.57) |
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.
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 (RSL). 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.
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