2005–06 Washington Capitals season

Off-season

Regular season

Many longtime Capitals had career years, with Dainius Zubrus netting 57 points, Halpern having a career-best 33 assists, Matt Pettinger putting in a career-best 20-goal, 38-point effort and seven others on the relatively young team topping 20 points for the first time. Two notable landmarks were also hit by Capitals, as the team's longest tenured Capital, Olaf Kolzig, won his 250th game in goal and Andrew Cassels became the 204th player to play 1,000 games, although he did not finish out his season with the team.

• November 22, 2005 – Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin face each other for the first time
• On January 13, 2006 in Anaheim, Ovechkin scored his first career hat trick against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim to help Washington win the game. His hat trick goals went past Jean-Sebastien Giguere for his first ever hat trick game.
• January 29, 2006 – Dainius Zubrus scored the Game Winning Goal in a 2–1 victory for the Capitals.
• April 1, 2006 – Brent Johnson earned a shutout in a 1–0 victory over the Ottawa Senators.
• April 7, 2006 – In a game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Olaf Kolzig played his 600th game as a Washington Capitals.
• April 13, 2006 – Alexander Ovechkin becomes the second rookie in history to record 50 goals and 100 points in a season. Teemu Selanne was the first rookie to reach the accomplishment.

The Capitals were the most penalized team during the regular season, with 550 power-play opportunities against. They also allowed the most power-play goals, with 116, and the most short-handed goals, with 18.

Alexander Ovechkin

Ovechkin's rookie season exceeded the hype, as he led all 2005-06 NHL rookies in goals, points, power-play goals and shots. He finished third overall in the NHL in scoring and tied for third in goals; and his 425 shots not only led the league, but also set an NHL rookie record and was the fourth-highest total in NHL history. Ovechkin's rookie point total was the second-best in Washington Capitals history, and his goal total was tied for third in franchise history. He had 21 power play goals and a plus-minus rating of plus 2. Ovechkin won the Calder Memorial Trophy, beating out Pittsburgh center Sidney Crosby and Calgary Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf.

Final standings

Schedule and results

|- |1||October 5, 2005||3–2 || align="left"| Columbus Blue Jackets (2005–06) ||1–0–0 || |- |2||October 7, 2005||3–7 || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers (2005–06) ||1–1–0 || |- |3||October 8, 2005||1–8 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Thrashers (2005–06) ||1–2–0 || |- |4||October 10, 2005||2–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers (2005–06) ||2–2–0 || |- |5||October 12, 2005||2–7 || align="left"| @ Carolina Hurricanes (2005–06) ||2–3–0 || |- |6||October 13, 2005||3–5 || align="left"| New York Islanders (2005–06) ||2–4–0 || |- |7||October 16, 2005||3–2 SO|| align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (2005–06) ||3–4–0 || |- |8||October 20, 2005||2–3 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (2005–06) ||3–5–0 || |- |9||October 22, 2005||0–4 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes (2005–06) ||3–6–0 || |- |10||October 26, 2005||3–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (2005–06) ||4–6–0 || |- |11||October 28, 2005||2–4 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2005–06) ||4–7–0 ||

| 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 Capitals only.*
• • = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.*

Goaltending

Awards and records

Awards

Milestones

Transactions

The Capitals 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

Players acquired

Players lost

Signings

Draft picks

Washington's draft picks at the 2005 NHL entry draft held at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa, Ontario.

Farm teams

• Hershey Bears, American Hockey League
• South Carolina Stingrays, East Coast Hockey League

Notes

References

References

1. (September 23, 2005). "Jeff Halpern Named Captain of Capitals".
2. (September 24, 2005). "Halpern Joins Heroes as Caps' Captain". Washington Post.
3. "2005-06 NHL Summary".
4. "2005-06 Washington Capitals Schedule".
5. "Calder Memorial Trophy".
6. "King Clancy Memorial Trophy".
7. "Postseason All-Star Teams".
8. (February 1, 2006). "Alex Ovechkin Named NHL Offensive Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month".
9. (January 2, 2006). "Ovechkin named NHL Offensive Player of the Week".
10. (January 23, 2006). "Ovechkin Named NHL Player of the Week".
11. (January 3, 2006). "Ovechkin Named NHL Rookie of the Month".
12. "2005-06 NHL Debuts".
13. (November 23, 2005). "Cassels Hits 1000 Game Mark".
14. "Hockey Transactions Search Results".
15. (July 30, 2005). "Colorado Selects Four Of The Top-52".
16. (August 24, 2005). "Kennedy: One Step Closer".
17. (August 4, 2005). "Aug 8: Capitals Obtain Chris Clark From Calgary".
18. (August 12, 2005). "Aug 12: Capitals Acquire Defenseman Bryan Muir".
19. (March 9, 2006). "Caps Add Two, Subtract Two on Deadline Day".
20. (September 26, 2005). "Sept. 26: Capitals Acquire Jeff Friesen".
21. (December 2, 2005). "Capitals Acquire Fifth-Round Pick from Vancouver for Maxime Ouellet".
22. (December 28, 2005). "Capitals Acquire Colin Forbes from Carolina for Stephen Peat".
23. (February 3, 2006). "Caps Acquire Doug Doull from Phoenix".
24. (March 9, 2006). "Capitals Acquire Second-Round Draft Pick for Jeff Friesen".
25. (March 9, 2006). "Capitals Acquire Kris Beech, First-Round Pick for Brendan Witt".
26. (August 8, 2005). "Aug. 8: Capitals Sign Free Agent Ben Clymer".
27. (August 8, 2005). "Aug. 8: Capitals Sign Free Agent Miroslav Zalesak".
28. (August 9, 2005). "Aug. 9: Capitals Sign Free Agent Andrew Cassels".
29. (August 9, 2005). "Aug. 9: Capitals Sign Free Agent Defenseman Lawrence Nycholat".
30. (August 10, 2005). "Aug. 10: Capitals Sign Free Agent Defenseman Mathieu Biron".
31. (August 10, 2005). "Aug. 10: Capitals Sign Free Agent Defenseman Ivan Majesky".
32. (November 16, 2005). "Capitals Assign Frederic Cassivi to Hershey".
33. (August 12, 2005). "Aug. 12: Capitals Sign Free Agent Defenseman Jaime Heward".
34. (August 12, 2005). "Aug. 12: Capitals Sign Free Agent Left Wing Boyd Kane".
35. (August 17, 2005). "Capitals and Bears sign defensemen".
36. (August 18, 2005). "Aug. 18: Capitals Sign Free Agent Right Wing Matt Bradley".
37. (August 18, 2005). "Aug. 18: Capitals Sign Free-Agent Defenseman Jean-Francois Fortin".
38. (August 25, 2005). "Aug. 25: Capitals Sign Dave Steckel".
39. (October 5, 2005). "Capitals Announce Opening Night Roster".
40. (November 20, 2005). "Capitals Sign Joey Tenute".
41. (March 9, 2006). "Capitals Claim Rico Fata Off Waiver Wire".
42. (April 1, 2006). "Capitals Sign Defenseman Jamie Hunt, Forward Matt Stefanishion".
43. (August 1, 2005). "Free Agents List".
44. (August 2, 2005). "Blues sign three".
45. (August 23, 2005). "Bruins sign Nickulas, Leach, Stroshein".
46. (June 14, 2007). "Capitals Sign Defenseman Josef Boumedienne".
47. {{hockey-reference. b/boumejo01. Josef Boumedienne, retrieved July 17, 2022
48. (September 8, 2005). "TRANSACTIONS".
49. (October 7, 2005). "Grizzlies add high scoring rookie Matt Craig".
50. (October 7, 2005). "Zálešák ide zo zámoria do Södertälje".
51. (October 26, 2005). "Wednesday roundup: Canucks ink free agent Doig".
52. (November 16, 2005). "Crunch Recall Center Brian Gornick -- Left Wing Darcy Verot Signed To P.T.O.".
53. {{eliteprospects. 42363. Andrew Cassels, retrieved July 17, 2022
54. (January 29, 2006). "Cassels's Short Time With Capitals Runs Out". Washington Post.
55. (July 29, 2005). "Dynamic duo sign NHL deals".
56. (August 5, 2005). "Capitals Agree to Terms with Alexander Ovechkin".
57. (August 31, 2005). "Aug. 31 -- Alexander Ovechkin Signs With Capitals".
58. (August 11, 2005). "Aug. 11: Capitals Re-sign Forward Jared Aulin".
59. (August 11, 2005). "Aug. 11: Capitals Re-Sign Defenseman Jakub Cutta".
60. (August 12, 2005). "Aug. 12: Capitals Re-sign Forward Louis Robitaille".
61. (August 12, 2005). "Aug. 12: Capitals Re-sign Left Wing Matt Pettinger".
62. (August 15, 2005). "Aug 15: Capitals Re-Sign Defenseman Steve Eminger".
63. (August 15, 2005). "Aug. 15: Capitals Re-sign Center Jeff Halpern".
64. (August 15, 2005). "Aug. 15: Capitals Re-sign Center Graham Mink".
65. (August 15, 2005). "Aug 15: Capitals Re-Sign Defenseman Shoane Morrisonn".
66. (August 15, 2005). "Aug 15: Capitals Re-Sign Goaltender Maxime Ouellet".
67. (August 15, 2005). "Aug 15: Capitals Re-Sign Right Wing Stephen Peat".
68. (August 15, 2005). "Aug. 15: Capitals Re-sign Center Brian Sutherby".
69. (August 15, 2005). "Aug 15: Capitals Re-Sign Right Wing Brian Willsie".
70. (August 15, 2005). "Aug 15: Capitals Re-Sign Defenseman Brendan Witt".
71. (August 15, 2005). "Aug 15: Capitals Re-Sign Defenseman Nolan Yonkman".
72. (August 17, 2005). "Capitals sign C. Bourque".
73. (August 17, 2005). "Capitals Re-sign Defenseman Dwayne Zinger".
74. (August 18, 2005). "Aug. 18: Capitals Re-sign Forward Dainius Zubrus".
75. (August 23, 2005). "Aug. 23: Capitals Sign Petr Sykora".
76. (August 24, 2005). "Aug. 24: Capitals Sign Chris Clark".
77. (August 29, 2005). "Capitals ink defenseman Mike Green to three-year deal".
78. (August 30, 2005). "Aug. 30 -- Caps sign Bryan Muir".
79. (August 31, 2005). "Aug. 31 -- Caps sign Jeff Schultz".
80. (February 3, 2006). "Capitals Re-Sign Chris Clark".
81. (February 11, 2006). "Capitals Re-Sign Kolzig to Contract Extension".
82. (February 22, 2006). "Capitals Re-Sign Defensemen Jamie Heward and Bryan Muir".
83. (March 14, 2006). "Capitals Sign Stephen Werner".
84. (March 23, 2006). "Capitals Sign Darren Machesney".
85. (April 11, 2006). "Alexander Semin to Return to Capitals in 2006-07".
86. "2005 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com".
87. National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p.14, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, {{ISBN. 0-920445-98-5