NHL Awards 2005-06 [1] Trivia Quiz

Answer: Joe Thornton

Joe Thornton recorded an impressive season. After getting 33 points for the Boston Bruins, he was traded to the San Jose Sharks and his points skyrocketed. In 58 games with the Sharks, he recorded 92 points, putting his yearly total to 125 points. Jaromir Jagr had 123 points, Eric Staal had 100 points, and Alexander Ovechkin had 106 points.

Answer: Teemu Selanne

Teemu Selanne finished the 2005-06 season with a total of 90 points in 80 games. His game almost never dwindled, and his goal-scoring ability was restored. Whenever he did hit a slump, he persevered to get his game back to normal. His dedication to hockey goes as far as to opening a hockey school in his home country of Finland.

Answer: Alexander Ovechkin

Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals proved that even a rookie can play like a seasoned all-star. With his first season in the NHL, he recorded 106 points, with 52 goals, and 54 assists. Also, he scored one of the most memorable goals of the 2005-06 season when he was tripped and still shot the puck while doing a twist on the ice. Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins got 102 points, with 39 goals, and 63 assists. Dion Phaneuf of the Calgary Flames recorded 49 points, and Jussi Jokinen of the Dallas Stars recorded 55 points.

Answer: Cam Ward

Cam Ward went into the playoffs with a heavily under-whelming 3.68 goals against, and an even worse save percentage of 0.882%. After Martin Gerber, the regular starter for the Carolina Hurricanes blundered in two consecutive games, Mr. Ward was brought into play.

In 23 playoff games, he recorded 15 wins, 8 losses, 2 shutouts, a 2.13 goals against average, and a 0.920% save average. Of course, it wasn't even mentioned that he led his team to the Stanley Cup, and he was only a 22 year-old rookie.

Answer: Rod Brind'Amour

After several seasons with the Hurricanes, and limited points production, Rod Brind'Amour turned his game around in several aspects. He was the number one face-off man for his team, with a win percentage of 59%, good enough for number 3 in the league.

He played more than any other forward, averaging just over 29 minutes a game. He also recorded his best season since 1998-99 by scoring 70 points. His ability to play the defensive as well as the offensive aspects of the game earned him the trophy.

Answer: Joe Thornton

With 125 points and the Art Ross Trophy under his belt, Joe Thornton was almost pre-destined to win the MVP award. Joe Thornton received almost all of the votes that were taken, with a few stray ones going to his rival, Jaromir Jagr.

Answer: Lindy Ruff

Lindy Ruff of the Buffalo Sabres won the vote for best coach by one single vote, beating out Peter Laviolette, head coach of the Stanley Cup winning Carolina Hurricanes. Lindy Ruff coached the Buffalo Sabres to their best season in franchise history amassing 110 points with 52 wins.

He almost got his team to the Stanley Cup final, but the Carolina Hurricanes beat his team 4-2 in game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final.

Answer: Nicklas Lidstrom

In 80 games during the regular season, Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings scored 80 points. His defensive contributions to his team earned his team the President's Trophy as well as helping his team get the second lowest goals against total in the league. Chris Pronger of the Edmonton Oilers scored 56 points and led his team to the Cup finals. Chris Chelios of the Red Wings recorded 11 points, and Scott Niedermayer of the Mighty Ducks scored 63 points in 82 games which led his team to the Western Conference Final.

Answer: Olaf Kolzig

Olaf Kolzig played his 14th season in the NHL, and recorded a 3.53 goals against average and a 0.896% save average. Olaf Kolzig had been instrumental in raising awareness about Autism and his perseverant work has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity. His contribution mayl be key in eventually finding a cure for Autism.

Answer: Pavel Datsyuk

In 75 games with the Detroit Red Wings in the 2005-06 season, Pavel Datsyuk recorded 87 points. The number of points is an increase from any of his previous seasons, but the reason he won the award was for the fact that he recorded a mere 22 minutes in penalties in the regular season, and 0 penalty minutes in the playoffs. Phillipe Sauve, a goalie, did not play enough games nor did he stay out of penalty trouble as he put himself into a fight with David Aebischer. Georges Laraque of the Edmonton Oilers recorded 73 minutes in penalties, mostly due to fighting.