2005–06 New York Islanders season

The 2005–06 New York Islanders season was the 34th season in the franchise's history. On March 14, 2006, the Islanders trailed the Montreal Canadiens by five points for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but won only five of their final 18 games to finish 12th in the East. Their 12th place finish meant that, for the first time since the 2000–01 season, the team would not qualify for the playoffs.

Offseason Forward Alexei Yashin was named team captain, replacing the traded Michael Peca.

Regular season After having lost eight of their previous nine games, the Islanders fired head coach Steve Stirling on January 12 and replaced him on an interim basis with assistant coach Brad Shaw. It was also announced that general manager Mike Milbury would step away from that position once a successor was hired.

March 4, 2006 - The Islanders held a special ceremony before the game commemorating the 25th anniversary of the team's first Stanley Cup victory. The Islanders coincidentally played the Flyers, the team that they faced back in 1980 and defeated them that night by a score of 4-2.

Final standings

Schedule and results

|1||October 5, 2005||4–6 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (2005–06) ||0–1–0 ||

|2||October 8, 2005||3–2 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes (2005–06) ||1–1–0 ||

|3||October 10, 2005||1–3 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (2005–06) ||1–2–0 ||

|4||October 13, 2005||5–3 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (2005–06) ||2–2–0 ||

|5||October 15, 2005||1–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (2005–06) ||2–3–0 ||

|6||October 19, 2005||3–2 SO|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (2005–06) ||3–3–0 ||

|7||October 20, 2005||5–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers (2005–06) ||4–3–0 ||

|8||October 22, 2005||3–4 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (2005–06) ||4–4–0 ||

|9||October 25, 2005||4–3 || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers (2005–06) ||5–4–0 ||

|10||October 27, 2005||1–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (2005–06) ||5–5–0 ||

|11||October 29, 2005||4–6 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (2005–06) ||5–6–0 ||

|12||November 1, 2005||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Boston Bruins (2005–06) ||6–6–0 ||

|13||November 3, 2005||1–5 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (2005–06) ||6–7–0 ||

|14||November 5, 2005||0–6 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (2005–06) ||6–8–0 ||

|15||November 8, 2005||4–1 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (2005–06) ||7–8–0 ||

|16||November 10, 2005||2–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (2005–06) ||7–9–0 ||

|17||November 12, 2005||5–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (2005–06) ||8–9–0 ||

|18||November 14, 2005||3–2 SO|| align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2005–06) ||9–9–0 ||

|19||November 16, 2005||7–3 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Thrashers (2005–06) ||10–9–0 ||

|20||November 17, 2005||2–3 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2005–06) ||10–10–0 ||

|21||November 19, 2005||5–3 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (2005–06) ||11–10–0 ||

|22||November 23, 2005||3–4 SO|| align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (2005–06) ||11–10–1 ||

|23||November 25, 2005||2–6 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (2005–06) ||11–11–1 ||

|24||November 26, 2005||4–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (2005–06) ||12–11–1 ||

|25||November 29, 2005||3–4 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (2005–06) ||12–12–1 ||

|26||December 4, 2005||2–1 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (2005–06) ||13–12–1 ||

|27||December 6, 2005||6–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (2005–06) ||14–12–1 ||

|28||December 8, 2005||3–4 SO|| align="left"| @ Columbus Blue Jackets (2005–06) ||14–12–2 ||

|29||December 10, 2005||3–2 SO|| align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (2005–06) ||15–12–2 ||

|30||December 13, 2005||3–4 || align="left"| Minnesota Wild (2005–06) ||15–13–2 ||

|31||December 17, 2005||5–4 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (2005–06) ||16–13–2 ||

|32||December 19, 2005||6–9 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2005–06) ||16–14–2 ||

|33||December 21, 2005||4–2 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (2005–06) ||17–14–2 ||

|34||December 23, 2005||2–4 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (2005–06) ||17–15–2 ||

|35||December 26, 2005||3–6 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (2005–06) ||17–16–2 ||

|36||December 28, 2005||2–6 || align="left"| New York Rangers (2005–06) ||17–17–2 ||

|37||December 30, 2005||3–4 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (2005–06) ||17–18–2 ||

|38||January 2, 2006||1–2 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (2005–06) ||17–19–2 ||

|39||January 4, 2006||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Florida Panthers (2005–06) ||18–19–2 ||

|40||January 6, 2006||1–4 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (2005–06) ||18–20–2 ||

|41||January 7, 2006||0–3 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes (2005–06) ||18–21–2 ||

|42||January 10, 2006||1–2 || align="left"| @ Nashville Predators (2005–06) ||18–22–2 ||

|43||January 12, 2006||3–2 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (2005–06) ||19–22–2 ||

|44||January 14, 2006||1–8 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (2005–06) ||19–23–2 ||

|45||January 17, 2006||2–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (2005–06) ||20–23–2 ||

|46||January 19, 2006||3–4 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (2005–06) ||20–24–2 ||

|47||January 21, 2006||2–3 SO|| align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (2005–06) ||20–24–3 ||

|48||January 24, 2006||0–4 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (2005–06) ||20–25–3 ||

|49||January 26, 2006||4–3 SO|| align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (2005–06) ||21–25–3 ||

|50||January 28, 2006||4–3 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (2005–06) ||22–25–3 ||

|51||January 31, 2006||5–3 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (2005–06) ||23–25–3 ||

|52||February 2, 2006||2–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers (2005–06) ||23–26–3 ||

|53||February 4, 2006||5–4 SO|| align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2005–06) ||24–26–3 ||

|54||February 6, 2006||2–3 OT|| align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (2005–06) ||24–26–4 ||

|55||February 8, 2006||2–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (2005–06) ||24–27–4 ||

|56||February 11, 2006||2–1 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (2005–06) ||25–27–4 ||

|57||February 28, 2006||3–5 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (2005–06) ||25–28–4 ||

|58||March 2, 2006||3–2 SO|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (2005–06) ||26–28–4 ||

|59||March 4, 2006||4–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (2005–06) ||27–28–4 ||

|60||March 6, 2006||2–5 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (2005–06) ||27–29–4 ||

|61||March 7, 2006||2–1 SO|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (2005–06) ||28–29–4 ||

|62||March 10, 2006||2–1 SO|| align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (2005–06) ||29–29–4 ||

|63||March 11, 2006||3–1 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (2005–06) ||30–29–4 ||

|64||March 14, 2006||6–1 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (2005–06) ||31–29–4 ||

|65||March 16, 2006||2–4 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Thrashers (2005–06) ||31–30–4 ||

|66||March 17, 2006||2–4 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (2005–06) ||31–31–4 ||

|67||March 19, 2006||2–5 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2005–06) ||31–32–4 ||

|68||March 21, 2006||3–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (2005–06) ||32–32–4 ||

|69||March 24, 2006||3–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2005–06) ||32–32–5 ||

|70||March 25, 2006||5–1 || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers (2005–06) ||33–32–5 ||

|71||March 28, 2006||0–2 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (2005–06) ||33–33–5 ||

|72||March 29, 2006||1–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers (2005–06) ||33–34–5 ||

|73||March 31, 2006||0–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (2005–06) ||33–35–5 ||

|74||April 2, 2006||1–4 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (2005–06) ||33–36–5 ||

|75||April 5, 2006||2–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (2005–06) ||33–37–5 ||

|76||April 6, 2006||1–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (2005–06) ||33–38–5 ||

|77||April 8, 2006||5–0 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (2005–06) ||34–38–5 ||

|78||April 11, 2006||3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (2005–06) ||35–38–5 ||

|79||April 13, 2006||3–4 OT|| align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (2005–06) ||35–38–6 ||

|80||April 15, 2006||5–4 SO|| align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (2005–06) ||36–38–6 ||

|81||April 17, 2006||1–6 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2005–06) ||36–39–6 ||

|82||April 18, 2006||1–4 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (2005–06) ||36–40–6 ||

Legend:

Player statistics

Scoring Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Islanders only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Islanders only. Player Regular season 81 LW 82 35 31 66 −8 54 79 C 82 28 38 66 −14 68 55 C 76 28 29 57 0 60 16 LW 75 13 39 52 −9 30 37 RW 57 24 17 41 −14 16 7 RW 82 16 19 35 −9 34 17 C 66 15 19 34 −11 60 14 D 80 9 25 34 −16 46 77 D 59 5 24 29 4 88 3 D 57 2 25 27 −9 64 45 RW 63 9 15 24 −5 103 12 LW 49 9 12 21 −2 32 21 C 53 6 14 20 −6 26 24 D 74 1 16 17 −9 32 25 D 57 1 12 13 −3 32 44 D 41 1 9 10 −7 62 10 LW 28 4 5 9 −11 20 4 D 25 1 8 9 5 23 18 C 13 2 6 8 0 8 28 C 42 0 8 8 −7 26 6 D 27 3 4 7 −1 8 11 RW 53 2 4 6 −4 14 49 RW 57 2 2 4 −2 115 15 LW 21 1 3 4 2 8 3 D 21 0 3 3 −8 8 26 C 8 1 1 2 1 0 27 C 19 1 1 2 2 6 29 C 15 1 1 2 −1 4 44 D 34 1 0 1 −12 99 39 G 63 0 1 1 28 38 D 6 0 1 1 1 0 43 D 2 0 0 0 −2 2 62 C 16 0 0 0 −2 52 34 G 7 0 0 0 0 63 W 1 0 0 0 1 0 40 C 3 0 0 0 −1 2 58 RW 1 0 0 0 0 0 8 D 18 0 0 0 −2 16 48 LW 9 0 0 0 −1 0 30 G 20 0 0 0 2

Goaltending Player Regular season 39 63 30 24 5 1797 180 3.02 .900 1 3572 30 20 4 13 1 595 68 3.72 .886 0 1096 34 7 2 3 0 145 15 2.90 .897 0 310

Awards and records

Awards TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(in-season) NHL Defensive Player of the Week Rick DiPietro (March 13) Team Bob Nystrom Award Kevin Colley

Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Chris Campoli October 5, 2005 Robert Nilsson Petteri Nokelainen Kevin Colley October 27, 2005 Jeremy Colliton November 23, 2005 Bruno Gervais December 4, 2005 Rob Collins December 17, 2005 Steve Regier April 2, 2006 Matt Koalska April 13, 2006 Ryan Caldwell April 15, 2006 Cole Jarrett April 18, 2006 Masi Marjamaki

Transactions The Islanders were involved in the following transactions from February 17, 2005, the day after the 2004–05 NHL season was officially cancelled, through June 19, 2006, the day of the deciding game of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals.

Trades Date Details Ref To Vancouver Canucks To New York Islanders To Edmonton Oilers To New York Islanders To Dallas Stars To New York Islanders To Los Angeles Kings To New York Islanders To Phoenix Coyotes To New York Islanders To New Jersey Devils To New York Islanders

Players acquired Date Player Former team Term Via Ref Alexei Zhitnik Ak Bars Kazan (RSL) 4-year Free agency Miroslav Satan Buffalo Sabres 3-year Free agency Wyatt Smith Nashville Predators Free agency Brad Lukowich Tampa Bay Lightning 2-year Free agency Allan Rourke Carolina Hurricanes Free agency Joel Bouchard Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) 1-year Free agency Travis Brigley Valerenga (GET) 1-year Free agency Paul Flache Atlanta Thrashers Free agency Frederic Cloutier Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL) Free agency

Players lost