The 2005–06 Calgary Flames season was the team's 26th season in the National Hockey League (NHL) in Calgary while the team celebrated its 25th season of play.
During the off-season following the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Flames general manager Darryl Sutter announced that he would not re-sign free agent Martin Gelinas for the 2005–06 season. Instead, Sutter brought in three ageing veterans, Bryan Marchment, Tony Amonte and Darren McCarty, as free agent reclamation projects to start the season.The Calgary Sun, April 11, 2010, Sports Pullout, p.9 Nonetheless, the season began with high expectations following Calgary's 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 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
However, during the playoffs, Calgary was eliminated by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the first round in seven games.
Star goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff led 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 His 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 Memorial Trophy.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 NHL record of 23 set in 1988–89.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 represented Canada, while Jordan Leopold represented the United States.Jordan Leopold , usolympicteam.com, accessed January 22, 2007 Kiprusoff had also been named to the Finnish team, but declined to participate due to an injury.Kiprusoff bows out of Olympics, cbc sports, December 23, 2005, accessed January 22, 2007
Regular season The Flames finished first in the NHL in shutouts for with 10 and allowed the fewest goals in the NHL with 193 (excluding shootout goals allowed).
Season standings
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.
Schedule and results
Regular season
| 1 || October 5 || Calgary || 3 – 6 || Minnesota || || Kiprusoff || 19,398 || 0–1–0 || 0 ||
| 2 || October 7 || Calgary || 3 – 1 || Columbus || || Kiprusoff || 18,136 || 1–1–0 || 2 ||
| 3 || October 9 || Calgary || 3 – 6 || Detroit || || Kiprusoff || 20,066 || 1–2–0 || 2 ||
| 4 || October 10 || Calgary || 3 – 7 || Colorado || || Kiprusoff || 18,007 || 1–3–0 || 2 ||
| 5 || October 13 || Dallas || 3 – 2 || Calgary || OT || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 1–3–1 || 3 ||
| 6 || October 15 || Edmonton || 0 – 3 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 2–3–1 || 5 ||
| 7 || October 17 || Phoenix || 2 – 0 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 2–4–1 || 5 ||
| 8 || October 20 || Edmonton || 1 – 3 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 3–4–1 || 7 ||
| 9 || October 22 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Dallas || || Kiprusoff || 18,357 || 3–5–1 || 7 ||
| 10 || October 23 || Calgary || 3 – 2 || Los Angeles || || Kiprusoff || 18,118 || 4–5–1 || 9 ||
| 11 || October 26 || Calgary || 1 – 4 || Anaheim || || Kiprusoff || 11,774 || 4–6–1 || 9 ||
| 12 || October 27 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || Phoenix || || Sauve || 13,459 || 4–7–1 || 9 ||
| 13 || October 29 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || San Jose || SO || Kiprusoff || 17,496 || 4–7–2 || 10 ||
| 14 || November 1 || Minnesota || 0 – 3 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 5–7–2 || 12 ||
| 15 || November 3 || Columbus || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 6–7–2 || 14 ||
| 16 || November 5 || Vancouver || 0 – 1 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 7–7–2 || 16 ||
| 17 || November 7 || Vancouver || 3 – 4 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 8–7–2 || 18 ||
| 18 || November 10 || Calgary || 4 – 3 || Phoenix || || Sauve || 14,493 || 9–7–2 || 20 ||
| 19 || November 12 || Colorado || 3 – 5 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 10–7–2 || 22 ||
| 20 || November 14 || Minnesota || 2 – 3 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 11–7–2 || 24 ||
| 21 || November 16 || Detroit || 1 – 3 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 12–7–2 || 26 ||
| 22 || November 18 || Chicago || 5 – 2 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 12–8–2 || 26 ||
| 23 || November 21 || Calgary || 3 – 2 || Colorado || SO || Sauve || 18,007 || 13–8–2 || 28 ||
| 24 || November 23 || San Jose || 2 – 3 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 14–8–2 || 30 ||
| 25 || November 25 || Edmonton || 2 – 1 || Calgary || SO || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 14–8–3 || 31 ||
| 26 || November 29 || Calgary || 0 – 2 || Nashville || || Kiprusoff || 12,797 || 14–9–3 || 31 ||
| 27 || December 1 || Calgary || 3 – 2 || Detroit || || Kiprusoff || 20,066 || 15–9–3 || 33 ||
| 28 || December 3 || Calgary || 3 – 2 || Pittsburgh || || Kiprusoff || 16,626 || 16–9–3 || 35 ||
| 29 || December 6 || Calgary || 0 – 1 || Philadelphia || SO || Kiprusoff || 19,542 || 16–9–4 || 36 ||
| 30 || December 7 || Calgary || 4 – 1 || New Jersey || || Sauve || 13,332 || 17–9–4 || 38 ||
| 31 || December 10 || Ottawa || 1 – 2 || Calgary || OT || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 18–9–4 || 40 ||
| 32 || December 17 || Boston || 0 – 3 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 19–9–4 || 42 ||
| 33 || December 19 || Calgary || 4 – 5 || Edmonton || || Kiprusoff || 16,839 || 19–10–4 || 42 ||
| 34 || December 21 || Los Angeles || 5 – 2 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 19–11–4 || 42 ||
| 35 || December 23 || Calgary || 6 – 5 || Vancouver || SO || Kiprusoff || 18,630 || 20–11–4 || 44 ||
| 36 || December 26 || Calgary || 2 – 1 || Vancouver || || Kiprusoff || 18,630 || 21–11–4 || 46 ||
| 37 || December 27 || Nashville || 4 – 3 || Calgary || || Sauve || 19,289 || 21–12–4 || 46 ||
| 38 || December 29 || Minnesota || 2 – 4 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 22–12–4 || 48 ||
| 39 || December 31 || Edmonton || 5 – 6 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 23–12–4 || 50 ||
| 40 || January 2 || Chicago || 2 – 3 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 24–12–4 || 52 ||
| 41 || January 6 || Toronto || 0 – 1 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 25–12–4 || 54 ||
| 42 || January 7 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Vancouver || OT || Kiprusoff || 18,630 || 25–12–5 || 55 ||
| 43 || January 10 || Calgary || 2 – 4 || NY Rangers || || Kiprusoff || 18,200 || 25–13–5 || 55 ||
| 44 || January 12 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || NY Islanders || || Kiprusoff || 10,315 || 25–14–5 || 55 ||
| 45 || January 14 || Calgary || 4 – 1 || Minnesota || || Kiprusoff || 18,568 || 26–14–5 || 57 ||
| 46 || January 19 || Montreal || 2 – 3 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 27–14–5 || 59 ||
| 47 || January 21 || Buffalo || 1 – 4 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 28–14–5 || 61 ||
| 48 || January 23 || Calgary || 3 – 1 || Edmonton || || Kiprusoff || 16,839 || 29–14–5 || 63 ||
| 49 || January 24 || Calgary || 4 – 7 || Colorado || || Sauve || 18,007 || 29–15–5 || 63 ||
| 50 || January 26 || Calgary || 0 – 2 || Chicago || || Kiprusoff || 10,486 || 29–16–5 || 63 ||
| 51 || January 29 || Calgary || 5 – 3 || Chicago || || Kiprusoff || 15,748 || 30–16–5 || 65 ||
| 52 || January 30 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || St. Louis || SO || Kiprusoff || 13,310 || 30–16–6 || 66 ||
| 53 || February 1 || Columbus || 2 – 1 || Calgary || SO || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 30–16–7 || 67 ||
| 54 || February 3 || Vancouver || 3 – 1 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 30–17–7 || 67 ||
| 55 || February 6 || Calgary || 4 – 3 || San Jose || || Kiprusoff || 15,242 || 31–17–7 || 69 ||
| 56 || February 8 || Anaheim || 1 – 3 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 32–17–7 || 71 ||
| 57 || February 10 || St. Louis || 2 – 3 || Calgary || OT || Boucher || 19,289 || 33–17–7 || 73 ||
| 58 || February 28 || Vancouver || 2 – 1 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 33–18–7 || 73 ||
| 59 || March 2 || St. Louis || 1 – 3 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 34–18–7 || 75 ||
| 60 || March 4 || San Jose || 0 – 2 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 35–18–7 || 77 ||
| 61 || March 7 || Nashville || 3 – 2 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 35–19–7 || 77 ||
| 62 || March 9 || Dallas || 0 – 1 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 36–19–7 || 79 ||
| 63 || March 12 || Calgary || 0 – 3 || Colorado || || Kiprusoff || 18,007 || 36–20–7 || 79 ||
| 64 || March 13 || Colorado || 3 – 4 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 37–20–7 || 81 ||
| 65 || March 16 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || Edmonton || OT || Kiprusoff || 16,839 || 37–20–8 || 82 ||
| 66 || March 18 || Calgary || 4 – 9 || Nashville || || Boucher || 17,113 || 37–21–8 || 82 ||
| 67 || March 19 || Calgary || 3 – 2 || Minnesota || || Kiprusoff || 18,568 || 38–21–8 || 84 ||
| 68 || March 21 || Calgary || 1 – 3 || Minnesota || || Kiprusoff || 18,568 || 38–22–8 || 84 ||
| 69 || March 23 || Calgary || 7 – 2 || St. Louis || || Kiprusoff || 14,706 || 39–22–8 || 86 ||
| 70 || March 24 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || Columbus || || Kiprusoff || 17,041 || 39–23–8 || 86 ||
| 71 || March 26 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || Dallas || || Kiprusoff || 18,584 || 39–24–8 || 86 ||
| 72 || March 29 || Los Angeles || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 40–24–8 || 88 ||
| 73 || March 31 || Colorado || 3 – 6 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 41–24–8 || 90 ||
| 74 || April 1 || Calgary || 4 – 1 || Edmonton || || Kiprusoff || 16,839 || 42–24–8 || 92 ||
| 75 || April 3 || Detroit || 2 – 1 || Calgary || SO || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 42–24–9 || 93 ||
| 76 || April 5 || Phoenix || 2 – 5 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 43–24–9 || 95 ||
| 77 || April 7 || Minnesota || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 44–24–9 || 97 ||
| 78 || April 8 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || Vancouver || OT || Kiprusoff || 18,630 || 44–24–10 || 98 ||
| 79 || April 11 || Anaheim || 0 – 3 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 45–24–10 || 100 ||
| 80 || April 13 || Colorado || 0 – 2 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || 46–24–10 || 102 ||
| 81 || April 15 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Los Angeles || SO || Kiprusoff || 18,118 || 46–24–11 || 103 ||
| 82 || April 17 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Anaheim || || Boucher || 17,174 || 46–25–11 || 103 ||
Legend:
Playoffs
| 1 || April 21 || Anaheim || 1 – 2 || Calgary || OT || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || Calgary leads 1–0 ||
| 2 || April 23 || Anaheim || 4 – 3 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || Series tied 1–1 ||
| 3 || April 25 || Calgary || 5 – 2 || Anaheim || || Kiprusoff || 17,174 || Calgary leads 2–1 ||
| 4 || April 27 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || Anaheim || OT || Kiprusoff || 17,174 || Series tied 2–2 ||
| 5 || April 29 || Anaheim || 2 – 3 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || Calgary leads 3–2 ||
| 6 || May 1 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Anaheim || || Kiprusoff || 16,594 || Series tied 3–3 ||
| 7 || May 3 || Anaheim || 3 – 0 || Calgary || || Kiprusoff || 19,289 || Anaheim wins 4–3 ||
Legend:
Player statistics