1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division4th West
1971–72 record26–38–14
Goals for220
Goals against250
Team information
General managerRed Kelly (Oct–Jan)
Jack Riley (Jan–Apr)
CoachRed Kelly
CaptainVacant
Alternate captainsKeith McCreary
Ken Schinkel
Bryan Watson
Bob Woytowich (Oct-Jan)
Team leaders
GoalsGreg Polis, Jean Pronovost (30)
AssistsSyl Apps (44)
PointsSyl Apps (59)
Penalty minutesBryan Watson (212)
WinsJim Rutherford (17)
Goals against averageRoy Edwards (2.55)

The 1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the franchise's fifth season in the National Hockey League. The team finished 26–38–14 and were tied with their cross-state rival Philadelphia Flyers, who had an identical record, for the fourth and final playoff berth in the West Division. The Penguins made the playoffs for the second time in team history, having won the season series 3–2–1 against the Flyers. However, the Penguins were swept by the Chicago Black Hawks in four games in the first round.

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

West Division[1]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1Chicago Black Hawks78461715256166+90107
2Minnesota North Stars78372912212191+2186
3St. Louis Blues78283911208247−3967
4Pittsburgh Penguins78263814220258−3866
5Philadelphia Flyers78263814200236−3666
6California Golden Seals78213918216288−7260
7Los Angeles Kings7820499206305−9949

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

1971–72 Game log[3]
October: 5–5–2 (Home: 2–2–1; Road: 3–3–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeDecisionAttendanceRecordPoints
1October 9Philadelphia2–3Pittsburgh11,7331–0–02
2October 10Pittsburgh1–2Buffalo15,4291–1–02
3October 13Pittsburgh4–1Los Angeles7,8282–1–04
4October 16Pittsburgh2–1Vancouver15,5703–1–06
5October 17Pittsburgh4–2California2,1234–1–08
6October 20Los Angeles1–8Pittsburgh7,5925–1–010
7October 23Chicago5–2Pittsburgh13,1005–2–010
8October 24Pittsburgh1–1NY Rangers17,2505–2–111
9October 27California6–4Pittsburgh9,2385–3–111
10October 28Pittsburgh0–2Minnesota15,1015–4–111
11October 30NY Rangers1–1Pittsburgh8,9735–4–212
12October 31Pittsburgh1–3Detroit10,8705–5–212
November: 3–9–0 (Home: 2–3–0; Road: 1–6–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeDecisionAttendanceRecordPoints
13November 3Pittsburgh3–5California3,2935–6–212
14November 5Pittsburgh2–4Vancouver15,5705–7–212
15November 7Pittsburgh1–4Chicago5–8–212
16November 9Pittsburgh4–1St. Louis17,8886–8–214
17November 10Vancouver1–3Pittsburgh7,3247–8–216
18November 13Los Angeles4–6Pittsburgh9,7568–8–218
19November 16Minnesota5–1Pittsburgh7,8008–9–218
20November 18Pittsburgh3–4Minnesota15,2358–10–218
21November 20St. Louis4–2Pittsburgh12,2768–11–218
22November 21Pittsburgh3–7Chicago8–12–218
23November 24Toronto2–1Pittsburgh6,0208–13–218
24November 27Pittsburgh1–3Montreal17,5008–14–218
December: 3–7–4 (Home: 3–2–3; Road: 0–5–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeDecisionAttendanceRecordPoints
25December 1Detroit2–4Pittsburgh7,0839–14–220
26December 4NY Rangers2–4Pittsburgh9,66210–14–222
27December 5Pittsburgh3–5Boston14,99510–15–222
28December 8California1–1Pittsburgh8,83110–15–323
29December 11Buffalo3–3Pittsburgh7,60310–15–424
30December 12Pittsburgh1–6NY Rangers17,25010–16–424
31December 15Pittsburgh2–3Toronto16,32410–17–424
32December 18Boston4–3Pittsburgh11,83710–18–424
33December 19Pittsburgh2–2Boston14,99510–18–525
34December 22Pittsburgh2–4NY Rangers17,25010–19–525
35December 25Montreal2–4Pittsburgh7,77811–19–527
36December 26Pittsburgh1–6Philadelphia14,62611–20–527
37December 28Toronto4–2Pittsburgh11,15811–21–527
38December 31Buffalo3–3Pittsburgh7,90811–21–628
January: 1–8–3 (Home: 1–4–2; Road: 0–4–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeDecisionAttendanceRecordPoints
39January 5Pittsburgh3–3Chicago11–21–729
40January 8Chicago4–0Pittsburgh13,10011–22–729
41January 9Pittsburgh2–4Detroit12,57011–23–729
42January 12Boston2–2Pittsburgh8,44911–23–830
43January 13Pittsburgh1–7Montreal16,25211–24–830
44January 15Philadelphia2–4Pittsburgh9,22512–24–832
45January 19Vancouver6–1Pittsburgh7,18912–25–832
46January 22Pittsburgh0–1St. Louis18,82912–26–832
47January 23Montreal3–3Pittsburgh8,41412–26–933
48January 26St. Louis2–1Pittsburgh9,31612–27–933
49January 29Chicago4–2Pittsburgh13,00612–28–933
50January 30Pittsburgh0–4Philadelphia14,62612–29–933
February: 7–6–0 (Home: 4–2–0; Road: 3–4–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeDecisionAttendanceRecordPoints
51February 3Pittsburgh4–3St. Louis17,87113–29–935
52February 5Pittsburgh1–8Los Angeles10,10213–30–935
53February 9Pittsburgh4–1Toronto16,37014–30–937
54February 10Los Angeles1–6Pittsburgh6,62015–30–939
55February 12NY Rangers8–3Pittsburgh12,03115–31–939
56February 13Vancouver4–6Pittsburgh6,80616–31–941
57February 16Toronto2–4Pittsburgh7,81417–31–943
58February 17Pittsburgh2–0Buffalo15,36018–31–945
59February 19Detroit6–2Pittsburgh8,10518–32–945
60February 20Pittsburgh0–2Minnesota15,31618–33–945
61February 23Pittsburgh0–2Toronto16,36218–34–945
62February 26Philadelphia2–5Pittsburgh11,20819–34–947
63February 27Pittsburgh3–5Montreal18,00319–35–947
March: 6–3–4 (Home: 5–2–0; Road: 1–1–4)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeDecisionAttendanceRecordPoints
64March 2Detroit4–7Pittsburgh7,67020–35–949
65March 4Minnesota2–4Pittsburgh10,53221–35–951
66March 5Pittsburgh3–6Detroit14,76821–36–951
67March 8Montreal5–4Pittsburgh9,59821–37–951
68March 11Boston4–6Pittsburgh13,05022–37–953
69March 12Pittsburgh4–4Boston14,99522–37–1054
70March 14Pittsburgh7–4Vancouver15,57023–37–1056
71March 18Pittsburgh4–4Los Angeles7,17423–37–1157
72March 19Pittsburgh3–3California5,30323–37–1258
73March 22Buffalo4–3Pittsburgh11,21623–38–1258
74March 25Minnesota2–3Pittsburgh12,56124–38–1260
75March 26Pittsburgh2–2Buffalo15,36024–38–1361
76March 29California4–5Pittsburgh10,20925–38–1363
April: 1–0–1 (Home: 1–0–0; Road: 0–0–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeDecisionAttendanceRecordPoints
77April 1Pittsburgh4–4Philadelphia14,62625–38–1464
78April 2St. Louis2–6Pittsburgh13,10026–38–1466
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Playoffs

1972 Playoffs
Round one vs Chicago: 0–4 (Home: 0–2 ; Road: 0–2)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeSeries
1April 5Pittsburgh1–3Chicago0–1
2April 6Pittsburgh2–3Chicago0–2
3April 8Chicago2–0Pittsburgh0–3
4April 9Chicago6–5Pittsburgh0–4
Legend:        = Win        = Loss

Player statistics

Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season[6]
Player GP W L T GA SO
Jim Rutherford40171551161
Les Binkley317155980
Roy Edwards15284360
Total2638142501
Playoffs[7]
Player GP W L GA SO
Jim Rutherford404140
Total04140

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.

Awards and records

  • Val Fonteyne became the first player to play 300 games for the Penguins. He did so in a 1–5 loss to Minnesota on November 16.
  • Ken Schinkel became the first player to score 200 points for the Penguins. He did so by recording an assist in a 2–4 loss to Chicago on January 29.
  • Bryan Watson became the first player to earn 500 penalty minutes for the Penguins. He did so by receiving 4 PIMs in a 4–2 win over Toronto on February 16.
  • Bryan Watson became the first player to earn 200 penalty minutes in one season for the Penguins. He did so by receiving 2 PIMs in a 7–4 win over Vancouver on March 14.
  • Jean Pronovost became the first player to score 30 goals in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 5–4 win over California on March 29.
  • Syl Apps Jr. established a new franchise record for highest plus-minus in a season (+18). He broke the previous high of +10 set by Wally Boyer in 1971.
  • Val Fonteyne established a career franchise record for games (349). He had led the category since 1969.
  • Bob Woytowich set the Penguins career defenseman scoring mark at 93 points. He held the record since 1970.
  • Darryl Edestrand became the first defenseman in team history to record 10 goals in a season. He also tied the record for points in a season by a defenseman with 33.

Transactions

The Penguins have been involved in the following transactions during the 1971–72 season:[8]

Trades

September 4, 1971 To California Golden Seals

cash

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Bill Hicke

October 3, 1971 To Vancouver Canucks

Bob Blackburn

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

cash

October 6, 1971 To Minnesota North Stars

Dean Prentice

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

cash

November 22, 1971 To Detroit Red Wings

Bill Hicke

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

cash

January 11, 1972 To Los Angeles Kings

Bob Woytowich

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Al McDonough

March 4, 1972 To Buffalo Sabres

Rene Robert

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Eddie Shack

Player signings

Player Date Contract terms
Bob WoytowichSeptember 2, 1971Re-signed
Tim HortonSeptember 2, 1971Re-signed
Wally BoyerSeptember 2, 1971Re-signed
Jean PronovostSeptember 3, 1971Signed
Dave BurrowsSeptember 8, 1971Re-signed
Rene RobertSeptember 8, 1971Re-signed
Roy EdwardsSeptember 8, 1971Re-signed
Cam NewtonMay 25, 19721-year contract
Jim RutherfordJune 1, 1972Re-signed
Bryan Hextall Jr.June 7, 1972Re-signed

Other

Player Date Details
Andy BathgateJuly 1, 1971Retired
Roy EdwardsDecember 30, 1971Retired
Red KellyJanuary 29, 1972Resigned as GM (remained as head coach)
Jack RileyJanuary 29, 1972Hired as GM (in addition to president)
Tim HortonJune 5, 1972Lost to Buffalo Sabres in intra-league draft
Bobby LeiterJune 6, 1972Lost to Atlanta Flames in expansion draft
John StewartJune 6, 1972Lost to Atlanta Flames in expansion draft
Keith McCrearyJune 6, 1972Lost to Atlanta Flames in expansion draft

Draft picks

Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1971 NHL Entry Draft.[9]

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
2 18 Brian McKenzie Left Wing  Canada St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)
3 32 Joe Noris Center  United States Toronto Marlboros (OHA)
4 46 Gerry Methe Defense  Canada Oshawa Generals (OHA)
5 60 Dave Murphy Goaltender  Canada University of North Dakota (NCAA)
6 74 Ian Williams Right Wing  Canada Notre Dame (NCAA)
7 88 Doug Elliott Defense  Canada Harvard University (NCAA)
Draft notes[10]

References

  1. ↑ "1971–1972 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  2. ↑ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  3. ↑ "1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins Results and Schedule". hockeyDB.
  4. ↑ "1971–1972 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  5. ↑ "1971–1972 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  6. ↑ "1971–1972 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  7. ↑ "1971–1972 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  8. ↑ "Hockey Transactions Search Results". Pro Sports Transactions.
  9. ↑ "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". NHL.com. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
  10. ↑ "1971 NHL Entry Draft Pending Transactions". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
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