The 2005–06 New York Islanders season was the 34th season in the franchise's history. The Islanders replaced head coach Steve Stirling, replacing him with Brad Shaw. 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 departed Michael Peca. Regular season Final standings Schedule and results |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |1||L||October 5, 2005||4–6 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (2005–06) ||0–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |2||W||October 8, 2005||3–2 || align="left"| Carolina Hurricanes (2005–06) ||1–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |3||L||October 10, 2005||1–3 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (2005–06) ||1–2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |4||W||October 13, 2005||5–3 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (2005–06) ||2–2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |5||L||October 15, 2005||1–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (2005–06) ||2–3–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |6||W||October 19, 2005||3–2 SO|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (2005–06) ||3–3–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |7||W||October 20, 2005||5–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers (2005–06) ||4–3–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |8||L||October 22, 2005||3–4 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (2005–06) ||4–4–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |9||W||October 25, 2005||4–3 || align="left"| Atlanta Thrashers (2005–06) ||5–4–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |10||L||October 27, 2005||1–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (2005–06) ||5–5–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |11||L||October 29, 2005||4–6 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (2005–06) ||5–6–0 || |- |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |12||W||November 1, 2005||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Boston Bruins (2005–06) ||6–6–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |13||L||November 3, 2005||1–5 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (2005–06) ||6–7–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |14||L||November 5, 2005||0–6 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (2005–06) ||6–8–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |15||W||November 8, 2005||4–1 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (2005–06) ||7–8–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |16||L||November 10, 2005||2–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (2005–06) ||7–9–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |17||W||November 12, 2005||5–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (2005–06) ||8–9–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |18||W||November 14, 2005||3–2 SO|| align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2005–06) ||9–9–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |19||W||November 16, 2005||7–3 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Thrashers (2005–06) ||10–9–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" |20||L||November 17, 2005||2–3 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (2005–06) ||10–10–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |21||W||November 19, 2005||5–3 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (2005–06) ||11–10–0 || |-