2005-06

• When the NHL resumed play following a work stoppage that cancelled the 2004-05 season, several rule changes were made. The most significant one is the shootout -- after a five-minute scoreless overtime period, teams will alternate taking penalty shots for three rounds. Additional rounds are added if three rounds are not enough to resolve the situation. The winning team gets two points for the win; the losing team gets one point for the overtime loss.

• Under terms of the new collective bargaining agreement, with NHL players competing in the Olympics, All-Star Games will not be played in Olympic years. This is the first year this comes into play, as the All-Star Game -- originally slated to be played in Glendale, AZ -- is called off.

• Reebok takes over as the league's official jersey manufacturer. All jerseys feature the Reebok logo on the back, just below the collar.

• Home-ice disadvantage: All four teams in the Western Conference who earned home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs were eliminated in that round.

• The Carolina Hurricanes win their first-ever Stanley Cup, beating the west's last seed, Edmonton Oilers, four games to three.