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2005–06 Philadelphia Flyers season

The 2005–06 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Flyers' 39th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Buffalo Sabres in six games.

Off-season

The Flyers were one of the more active teams once the lockout came to an end. Replacing the high-profile names of Tony Amonte, John LeClair and Jeremy Roenick were superstar Peter Forsberg, along with defensemen Derian Hatcher and Mike Rathje, as well as several players from the Calder Cup-winning Philadelphia Phantoms. When all was said and done, the team had experienced a turnover of nearly two-thirds of the roster.

Regular season

The Flyers began the season with lofty expectations. Despite being hampered by injuries prior to and during 2005–06, the Flyers lived up to those expectations in the first half of the season, reaching the top of the league standings in early January while simultaneously holding a nine-point lead in the Atlantic Division. The Deuces Wild line of Forsberg, Simon Gagne and Mike Knuble recorded 75, 79 and 65 points respectively, while Gagne scored a career high 47 goals.

However, the injuries began to accumulate and take their toll. Keith Primeau suffered a concussion on October 25 in Montreal and missed the rest of the season and the playoffs. In late January, Hatcher was named team captain for the duration of Primeau's absence. All told, the Flyers were third in the NHL with 388-man-games lost to injury, tops amongst playoff teams. The second half of the regular season was defined by a record hovering around .500, sending the Flyers on a steady slide in the standings. The Flyers fell short of an Atlantic Division title finishing second by the wins tie-breaker to the New Jersey Devils and drawing the 5th seed and a first round match-up with the Buffalo Sabres.

Season standings

Playoffs

The Flyers lost to Buffalo in six games in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

Schedule and results

Preseason

|- | 1 || September 17 || 8–6 || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers || Esche || 1–0–0 || W |- | 2 || September 21 || 2–1 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Niittymaki || 2–0–0 || |- | 3 || September 24 || 5–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Esche || 3–0–0 || |- | 4 || September 27 || 5–3 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Niittymaki || 4–0–0 || |- | 5 || September 29 || 3–2 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Esche || 5–0–0 || |- | 6 || September 30 || 3–5 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Niittymaki || 5–1–0 || |- | 7 || October 1 || 7–6 SO || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Niittymaki || 6–1–0 || |- | colspan="7" style="text-align:center;"| Notes:<br> Game played at John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario.<br> Game played at Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, New Jersey. |-

|- | Legend:

Regular season

|- | 1 || October 5 || 3–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Esche || 19,821 || 0–1–0 || 0 || |- | 2 || October 7 || 5–2 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Niittymaki || 19,590 || 1–1–0 || 2 || |- | 3 || October 11 || 2–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs || Esche || 19,391 || 1–2–0 || 2 || |- | 4 || October 14 || 6–5 OT || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Niittymaki || 19,566 || 2–2–0 || 4 || |- | 5 || October 15 || 5–1 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Esche || 19,543 || 3–2–0 || 6 || |- | 6 || October 22 || 5–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs || Esche || 19,391 || 4–2–0 || 8 || |- | 7 || October 25 || 2–3 OT || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens || Esche || 21,273 || 4–2–1 || 9 || |- | 8 || October 27 || 5–4 OT || align="left"| Florida Panthers || Esche || 19,533 || 5–2–1 || 11 || |- | 9 || October 28 || 6–8 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes || Niittymaki || 18,165 || 5–3–1 || 11 || |- | 10 || October 30 || 5–3 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators || Esche || 19,335 || 6–3–1 || 13 || |-

|- | 11 || November 3 || 8–1 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Esche || 19,253 || 7–3–1 || 15 || |- | 12 || November 5 || 4–3 || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers || Esche || 19,587 || 8–3–1 || 17 || |- | 13 || November 8 || 4–3 OT || align="left"| Boston Bruins || Esche || 19,587 || 9–3–1 || 19 || |- | 14 || November 10 || 3–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Niittymaki || 19,601 || 10–3–1 || 21 || |- | 15 || November 12 || 5–4 || align="left"| Florida Panthers || Esche || 19,654 || 11–3–1 || 23 || |- | 16 || November 14 || 2–5 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning || Esche || 20,020 || 11–4–1 || 23 || |- | 17 || November 16 || 2–3 OT || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Niittymaki || 19,687 || 11–4–2 || 24 || |- | 18 || November 18 || 5–6 OT || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers || Esche || 19,533 || 11–4–3 || 25 || |- | 19 || November 19 || 6–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Niittymaki || 17,132 || 12–4–3 || 27 || |- | 20 || November 22 || 2–4 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning || Esche || 19,567 || 12–5–3 || 27 || |- | 21 || November 25 || 5–3 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Niittymaki || 17,565 || 13–5–3 || 29 || |- | 22 || November 26 || 2–4 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Niittymaki || 19,780 || 13–6–3 || 29 || |- | 23 || November 29 || 4–2 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Esche || 12,354 || 14–6–3 || 31 || |- | 24 || November 30 || 2–1 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Esche || 19,573 || 15–6–3 || 33 || |-

|- | 25 || December 3 || 3–4 SO || align="left"| @ Nashville Predators || Niittymaki || 16,116 || 15–6–4 || 34 || |- | 26 || December 6 || 1–0 SO || align="left"| Calgary Flames || Niittymaki || 19,542 || 16–6–4 || 36 || |- | 27 || December 8 || 2–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers || Niittymaki || 19,411 || 16–7–4 || 36 || |- | 28 || December 10 || 3–2 || align="left"| Minnesota Wild || Niittymaki || 19,592 || 17–7–4 || 38 || |- | 29 || December 13 || 3–1 || align="left"| @ Columbus Blue Jackets || Esche || 16,263 || 18–7–4 || 40 || |- | 30 || December 15 || 4–5 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks || Esche || 19,549 || 18–8–4 || 40 || |- | 31 || December 17 || 5–2 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues || Niittymaki || 15,299 || 19–8–4 || 42 || |- | 32 || December 19 || 1–2 SO || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Niittymaki || 19,572 || 19–8–5 || 43 || |- | 33 || December 22 || 4–3 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators || Niittymaki || 19,817 || 20–8–5 || 45 || |- | 34 || December 23 || 5–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Niittymaki || 17,132 || 21–8–5 || 47 || |- | 35 || December 26 || 3–2 SO || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers || Niittymaki || 18,791 || 22–8–5 || 49 || |- | 36 || December 28 || 4–3 OT || align="left"| @ Atlanta Thrashers || Niittymaki || 18,545 || 23–8–5 || 51 || |- | 37 || December 29 || 4–3 OT || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes || Niittymaki || 18,730 || 24–8–5 || 53 || |- | 38 || December 31 || 3–4 SO || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Niittymaki || 16,492 || 24–8–6 || 54 || |-

|- | 39 || January 2 || 1–0 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins || Niittymaki || 16,980 || 25–8–6 || 56 || |- | 40 || January 5 || 4–3 OT || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Niittymaki || 18,200 || 26–8–6 || 58 || |- | 41 || January 6 || 3–1 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals || Niittymaki || 16,876 || 27–8–6 || 60 || |- | 42 || January 9 || 0–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Niittymaki || 16,015 || 27–9–6 || 60 || |- | 43 || January 11 || 5–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks || Niittymaki || 12,003 || 28–9–6 || 62 || |- | 44 || January 12 || 3–6 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings || Niittymaki || 20,066 || 28–10–6 || 62 || |- | 45 || January 14 || 3–4 OT || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche || Niittymaki || 19,953 || 28–10–7 || 63 || |- | 46 || January 17 || 3–4 SO || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes || Niittymaki || 19,572 || 28–10–8 || 64 || |- | 47 || January 19 || 2–5 || align="left"| Boston Bruins || Niittymaki || 19,618 || 28–11–8 || 64 || |- | 48 || January 21 || 2–1 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Esche || 17,132 || 29–11–8 || 66 || |- | 49 || January 23 || 4–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Niittymaki || 19,726 || 30–11–8 || 68 || |- | 50 || January 25 || 3–5 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens || Esche || 19,711 || 30–12–8 || 68 || |- | 51 || January 28 || 0–6 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning || Niittymaki || 19,789 || 30–13–8 || 68 || |- | 52 || January 30 || 3–2 OT || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Esche || 18,200 || 31–13–8 || 70 || |-

|- | 53 || February 2 || 2–4 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Esche || 18,690 || 31–14–8 || 70 || |- | 54 || February 4 || 3–4 OT || align="left"| New York Rangers || Esche || 19,801 || 31–14–9 || 71 || |- | 55 || February 5 || 0–5 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens || Niittymaki || 21,273 || 31–15–9 || 71 || |- | 56 || February 8 || 5–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders || Esche || 19,603 || 32–15–9 || 73 || |- | 57 || February 10 || 5–4 || align="left"| Washington Capitals || Esche || 19,692 || 33–15–9 || 75 || |- | 58 || February 11 || 2–3 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators || Niittymaki || 19,834 || 33–16–9 || 75 || |-

|- | 59 || March 1 || 1–2 SO || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Esche || 16,067 || 33–16–10 || 76 || |- | 60 || March 2 || 1–6 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Esche || 19,682|| 33–17–10 || 76 || |- | 61 || March 4 || 2–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Niittymaki || 16,234|| 33–18–10 || 76 || |- | 62 || March 6 || 5–4 SO || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens || Esche || 19,561|| 34–18–10 || 78 || |- | 63 || March 8 || 3–2 SO || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes || Niittymaki || 19,644|| 35–18–10 || 80 || |- | 64 || March 11 || 5–6 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Niittymaki || 19,717|| 35–19–10 || 80 || |- | 65 || March 12 || 0–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins || Esche || 14,904|| 35–20–10 || 80 || |- | 66 || March 15 || 4–0 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers || Esche || 15,614|| 36–20–10 || 82 || |- | 67 || March 17 || 3–6 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning || Esche || 20,834|| 36–21–10 || 82 || |- | 68 || March 18 || 4–2 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Thrashers || Niittymaki || 18,612|| 37–21–10 || 84 || |- | 69 || March 21 || 2–1 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Niittymaki || 19,777|| 38–21–10 || 86 || |- | 70 || March 22 || 6–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Esche || 18,200|| 39–21–10 || 88 || |- | 71 || March 25 || 6–3 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators || Niittymaki || 19,869|| 40–21–10 || 90 || |- | 72 || March 28 || 2–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs || Niittymaki || 19,651|| 40–22–10 || 90 || |-

|- | 73 || April 1 || 1–4 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils || Niittymaki || 19,710|| 40–23–10 || 90 || |- | 74 || April 2 || 4–1 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Esche || 12,125|| 41–23–10 || 92 || |- | 75 || April 4 || 2–3 SO || align="left"| @ New York Rangers || Esche || 18,200|| 41–23–11 || 93 || |- | 76 || April 7 || 4–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Esche || 16,909|| 42–23–11 || 95 || |- | 77 || April 8 || 2–5 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs || Niittymaki || 19,783|| 42–24–11 || 95 || |- | 78 || April 11 || 4–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins || Esche || 19,756|| 43–24–11 || 97 || |- | 79 || April 13 || 1–4 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Esche || 15,628|| 43–25–11 || 97 || |- | 80 || April 15 || 4–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers || Niittymaki || 19,810|| 44–25–11 || 99 || |- | 81 || April 16 || 1–5 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils || Esche || 15,981|| 44–26–11 || 99 || |- | 82 || April 18 || 4–1 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders || Esche || 10,524 || 45–26–11 || 101 || |-

|- | Legend:

Playoffs

|- | 1 || April 22 || 2–3 2OT || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Esche || 18,690 || Sabres lead 1–0 || |- | 2 || April 24 || 2–8 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Esche || 18,690 || Sabres lead 2–0 || |- | 3 || April 26 || 4–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Esche || 19,984 || Sabres lead 2–1 || |- | 4 || April 28 || 5–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Esche || 20,092 || Series tied 2–2 || |- | 5 || April 30 || 0–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres || Esche || 18,690 || Sabres lead 3–2 || |- | 6 || May 2 || 1–7 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres || Esche || 19,967 || Sabres win 4–2 || |-

|- | Legend:

Player statistics

Scoring

  • <small>Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing</small>
  • <small> = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.</small>
  • <small> = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.</small>

Goaltending

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Among the team records set during the 2005–06 season was Simon Gagne taking seven seconds to score the fastest overtime goal in team history on January 6 against the New York Rangers. On February 8, rookie Mike Richards tied the team record for most shorthanded goals scored in a single game (2).

Milestones

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from February 17, 2005, the day after the season was officially canceled, through June 19, 2006, the day of the deciding game of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals.

Trades

Players acquired

Players lost

Signings

Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 2005 NHL entry draft, which was held at the Westin Hotel Ottawa in Ottawa, Ontario on July 30, 2005. The Flyers traded their originally allotted second, third, and fourth-round picks in three separate trades.

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL and the Trenton Titans of the ECHL.

Notes

References