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1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins season

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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

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Regular season

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Final standings

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West Division[1]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1 Chicago Black Hawks 78 46 17 15 256 166 +90 107
2 Minnesota North Stars 78 37 29 12 212 191 +21 86
3 St. Louis Blues 78 28 39 11 208 247 −39 67
4 Pittsburgh Penguins 78 26 38 14 220 258 −38 66
5 Philadelphia Flyers 78 26 38 14 200 236 −36 66
6 California Golden Seals 78 21 39 18 216 288 −72 60
7 Los Angeles Kings 78 20 49 9 206 305 −99 49

Record vs. opponents

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Schedule and results

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1971–72 Game log[3]
October: 5–5–2 (Home: 2–2–1; Road: 3–3–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points
1 October 9 Philadelphia 2–3 Pittsburgh 11,733 1–0–0 2
2 October 10 Pittsburgh 1–2 Buffalo 15,429 1–1–0 2
3 October 13 Pittsburgh 4–1 Los Angeles 7,828 2–1–0 4
4 October 16 Pittsburgh 2–1 Vancouver 15,570 3–1–0 6
5 October 17 Pittsburgh 4–2 California 2,123 4–1–0 8
6 October 20 Los Angeles 1–8 Pittsburgh 7,592 5–1–0 10
7 October 23 Chicago 5–2 Pittsburgh 13,100 5–2–0 10
8 October 24 Pittsburgh 1–1 NY Rangers 17,250 5–2–1 11
9 October 27 California 6–4 Pittsburgh 9,238 5–3–1 11
10 October 28 Pittsburgh 0–2 Minnesota 15,101 5–4–1 11
11 October 30 NY Rangers 1–1 Pittsburgh 8,973 5–4–2 12
12 October 31 Pittsburgh 1–3 Detroit 10,870 5–5–2 12
November: 3–9–0 (Home: 2–3–0; Road: 1–6–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points
13 November 3 Pittsburgh 3–5 California 3,293 5–6–2 12
14 November 5 Pittsburgh 2–4 Vancouver 15,570 5–7–2 12
15 November 7 Pittsburgh 1–4 Chicago 5–8–2 12
16 November 9 Pittsburgh 4–1 St. Louis 17,888 6–8–2 14
17 November 10 Vancouver 1–3 Pittsburgh 7,324 7–8–2 16
18 November 13 Los Angeles 4–6 Pittsburgh 9,756 8–8–2 18
19 November 16 Minnesota 5–1 Pittsburgh 7,800 8–9–2 18
20 November 18 Pittsburgh 3–4 Minnesota 15,235 8–10–2 18
21 November 20 St. Louis 4–2 Pittsburgh 12,276 8–11–2 18
22 November 21 Pittsburgh 3–7 Chicago 8–12–2 18
23 November 24 Toronto 2–1 Pittsburgh 6,020 8–13–2 18
24 November 27 Pittsburgh 1–3 Montreal 17,500 8–14–2 18
December: 3–7–4 (Home: 3–2–3; Road: 0–5–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points
25 December 1 Detroit 2–4 Pittsburgh 7,083 9–14–2 20
26 December 4 NY Rangers 2–4 Pittsburgh 9,662 10–14–2 22
27 December 5 Pittsburgh 3–5 Boston 14,995 10–15–2 22
28 December 8 California 1–1 Pittsburgh 8,831 10–15–3 23
29 December 11 Buffalo 3–3 Pittsburgh 7,603 10–15–4 24
30 December 12 Pittsburgh 1–6 NY Rangers 17,250 10–16–4 24
31 December 15 Pittsburgh 2–3 Toronto 16,324 10–17–4 24
32 December 18 Boston 4–3 Pittsburgh 11,837 10–18–4 24
33 December 19 Pittsburgh 2–2 Boston 14,995 10–18–5 25
34 December 22 Pittsburgh 2–4 NY Rangers 17,250 10–19–5 25
35 December 25 Montreal 2–4 Pittsburgh 7,778 11–19–5 27
36 December 26 Pittsburgh 1–6 Philadelphia 14,626 11–20–5 27
37 December 28 Toronto 4–2 Pittsburgh 11,158 11–21–5 27
38 December 31 Buffalo 3–3 Pittsburgh 7,908 11–21–6 28
January: 1–8–3 (Home: 1–4–2; Road: 0–4–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points
39 January 5 Pittsburgh 3–3 Chicago 11–21–7 29
40 January 8 Chicago 4–0 Pittsburgh 13,100 11–22–7 29
41 January 9 Pittsburgh 2–4 Detroit 12,570 11–23–7 29
42 January 12 Boston 2–2 Pittsburgh 8,449 11–23–8 30
43 January 13 Pittsburgh 1–7 Montreal 16,252 11–24–8 30
44 January 15 Philadelphia 2–4 Pittsburgh 9,225 12–24–8 32
45 January 19 Vancouver 6–1 Pittsburgh 7,189 12–25–8 32
46 January 22 Pittsburgh 0–1 St. Louis 18,829 12–26–8 32
47 January 23 Montreal 3–3 Pittsburgh 8,414 12–26–9 33
48 January 26 St. Louis 2–1 Pittsburgh 9,316 12–27–9 33
49 January 29 Chicago 4–2 Pittsburgh 13,006 12–28–9 33
50 January 30 Pittsburgh 0–4 Philadelphia 14,626 12–29–9 33
February: 7–6–0 (Home: 4–2–0; Road: 3–4–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points
51 February 3 Pittsburgh 4–3 St. Louis 17,871 13–29–9 35
52 February 5 Pittsburgh 1–8 Los Angeles 10,102 13–30–9 35
53 February 9 Pittsburgh 4–1 Toronto 16,370 14–30–9 37
54 February 10 Los Angeles 1–6 Pittsburgh 6,620 15–30–9 39
55 February 12 NY Rangers 8–3 Pittsburgh 12,031 15–31–9 39
56 February 13 Vancouver 4–6 Pittsburgh 6,806 16–31–9 41
57 February 16 Toronto 2–4 Pittsburgh 7,814 17–31–9 43
58 February 17 Pittsburgh 2–0 Buffalo 15,360 18–31–9 45
59 February 19 Detroit 6–2 Pittsburgh 8,105 18–32–9 45
60 February 20 Pittsburgh 0–2 Minnesota 15,316 18–33–9 45
61 February 23 Pittsburgh 0–2 Toronto 16,362 18–34–9 45
62 February 26 Philadelphia 2–5 Pittsburgh 11,208 19–34–9 47
63 February 27 Pittsburgh 3–5 Montreal 18,003 19–35–9 47
March: 6–3–4 (Home: 5–2–0; Road: 1–1–4)
# Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points
64 March 2 Detroit 4–7 Pittsburgh 7,670 20–35–9 49
65 March 4 Minnesota 2–4 Pittsburgh 10,532 21–35–9 51
66 March 5 Pittsburgh 3–6 Detroit 14,768 21–36–9 51
67 March 8 Montreal 5–4 Pittsburgh 9,598 21–37–9 51
68 March 11 Boston 4–6 Pittsburgh 13,050 22–37–9 53
69 March 12 Pittsburgh 4–4 Boston 14,995 22–37–10 54
70 March 14 Pittsburgh 7–4 Vancouver 15,570 23–37–10 56
71 March 18 Pittsburgh 4–4 Los Angeles 7,174 23–37–11 57
72 March 19 Pittsburgh 3–3 California 5,303 23–37–12 58
73 March 22 Buffalo 4–3 Pittsburgh 11,216 23–38–12 58
74 March 25 Minnesota 2–3 Pittsburgh 12,561 24–38–12 60
75 March 26 Pittsburgh 2–2 Buffalo 15,360 24–38–13 61
76 March 29 California 4–5 Pittsburgh 10,209 25–38–13 63
April: 1–0–1 (Home: 1–0–0; Road: 0–0–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points
77 April 1 Pittsburgh 4–4 Philadelphia 14,626 25–38–14 64
78 April 2 St. Louis 2–6 Pittsburgh 13,100 26–38–14 66
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Playoffs

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1972 Playoffs
Round one vs Chicago: 0–4 (Home: 0–2 ; Road: 0–2)
# Date Visitor Score Home Series
1 April 5 Pittsburgh 1–3 Chicago 0–1
2 April 6 Pittsburgh 2–3 Chicago 0–2
3 April 8 Chicago 2–0 Pittsburgh 0–3
4 April 9 Chicago 6–5 Pittsburgh 0–4
Legend:        = Win        = Loss

Player statistics

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Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season[6]
Player GP W L T GA SO
Jim Rutherford 40 17 15 5 116 1
Les Binkley 31 7 15 5 98 0
Roy Edwards 15 2 8 4 36 0
Total 26 38 14 250 1
Playoffs[7]
Player GP W L GA SO
Jim Rutherford 4 0 4 14 0
Total 0 4 14 0

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

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  • 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

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

Trades

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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

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Player Date Contract terms
Bob Woytowich September 2, 1971 Re-signed
Tim Horton September 2, 1971 Re-signed
Wally Boyer September 2, 1971 Re-signed
Jean Pronovost September 3, 1971 Signed
Dave Burrows September 8, 1971 Re-signed
Rene Robert September 8, 1971 Re-signed
Roy Edwards September 8, 1971 Re-signed
Cam Newton May 25, 1972 1-year contract
Jim Rutherford June 1, 1972 Re-signed
Bryan Hextall Jr. June 7, 1972 Re-signed

Other

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Player Date Details
Andy Bathgate July 1, 1971 Retired
Roy Edwards December 30, 1971 Retired
Red Kelly January 29, 1972 Resigned as GM (remained as head coach)
Jack Riley January 29, 1972 Hired as GM (in addition to president)
Tim Horton June 5, 1972 Lost to Buffalo Sabres in intra-league draft
Bobby Leiter June 6, 1972 Lost to Atlanta Flames in expansion draft
John Stewart June 6, 1972 Lost to Atlanta Flames in expansion draft
Keith McCreary June 6, 1972 Lost to Atlanta Flames in expansion draft

Draft picks

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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

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  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.