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1987–88 Pittsburgh Penguins season

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1987–88 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division6th Patrick
Conference9th Wales
1987–88 record36–35–9
Goals for319
Goals against316
Team information
General managerEddie Johnston
CoachPierre Creamer
CaptainDan Frawley (Oct-Dec)
Mario Lemieux (Dec-Apr)
Alternate captainsMario Lemieux (Oct-Dec)
Dan Frawley (Dec-Apr)
Dan Quinn
ArenaPittsburgh Civic Arena
Team leaders
GoalsMario Lemieux (70)
AssistsMario Lemieux (98)
PointsMario Lemieux (168)
Penalty minutesRod Buskas (206)
WinsSteve Guenette (12)
Goals against averageSteve Guenette (3.35)

The 1987–88 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the Penguins' 21st season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Penguins improved on their previous season, and finished with a winning record for the first time since the 1978–79 season. Nevertheless, the Penguins once again did not qualify for the playoffs, actually finishing last in a tightly-contested Patrick Division despite earning only seven fewer points than the division champion New York Islanders.

Offseason

Regular season

The Penguins were involved in one of the closest playoff races in NHL history, as they competed down the stretch with the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers for the final playoff spot in the Patrick Division. Despite two hefty losses to New Jersey in the last two weeks of the season, the Penguins gave themselves hope with a 7–6 overtime win against the Washington Capitals in their penultimate game of the season. On the last day of the season, the Penguins defeated the Hartford Whalers 4–2 and moved ahead of New York and New Jersey. However, this position was temporary as the Rangers shut out Quebec, 3–0, eliminating the Penguins. The Devils had the last laugh as they beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4–3 in overtime on a goal by John MacLean to claim the fourth and final Patrick Division playoff spot, ahead of both the Rangers and Penguins.[1][2]

The Penguins finished the regular season 1st in power-play opportunities (500), power-play opportunities against (507), power-play goals against (120) and short-handed goals allowed (19).[3]

Final standings

Patrick Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
New York Islanders 80 39 31 10 308 267 88
Philadelphia Flyers 80 38 33 9 292 292 85
Washington Capitals 80 38 33 9 281 249 85
New Jersey Devils 80 38 36 6 295 296 82
New York Rangers 80 36 34 10 300 283 82
Pittsburgh Penguins 80 36 35 9 319 316 81

[4]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Schedule and results

1987–88 Schedule
October
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
1 Oct 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–4 OT New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 0–0–1 1
2 Oct 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–6 New Jersey Devils Izod Center 0–1–1 1
3 Oct 13 Buffalo Sabres 3–8 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 1–1–1 3
4 Oct 15 New York Rangers 6–6 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 1–1–2 4
5 Oct 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 1–2–2 4
6 Oct 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 1–3–2 4
7 Oct 21 New Jersey Devils 5–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 1–4–2 4
8 Oct 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–5 Detroit Red Wings Joe Louis Arena 1–5–2 4
9 Oct 24 Buffalo Sabres 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 2–5–2 6
10 Oct 27 Los Angeles Kings 4–4 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 2–5–3 7
11 Oct 29 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 2–6–3 7
12 Oct 31 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–4 OT Quebec Nordiques Quebec Coliseum 3–6–3 9
November
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
13 Nov 3 Philadelphia Flyers 1–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 4–6–3 11
14 Nov 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5–6–3 13
15 Nov 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Boston Bruins Boston Garden 5–7–3 13
16 Nov 11 Washington Capitals 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 6–7–3 15
17 Nov 12 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–5 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 6–8–3 15
18 Nov 14 New York Rangers 2–3 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 7–8–3 17
19 Nov 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–6 Vancouver Canucks Pacific Coliseum 7–9–3 17
20 Nov 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Edmonton Oilers Northlands Coliseum 7–10–3 17
21 Nov 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–4 OT Calgary Flames Scotiabank Saddledome 7–10–4 18
22 Nov 25 Quebec Nordiques 4–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 8–10–4 20
23 Nov 27 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 9–10–4 22
24 Nov 28 Washington Capitals 5–5 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 9–10–5 23
December
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
25 Dec 2 New York Islanders 7–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 9–11–5 23
26 Dec 5 Vancouver Canucks 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 10–11–5 25
27 Dec 9 Calgary Flames 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 11–11–5 27
28 Dec 11 New York Islanders 4–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 12–11–5 29
29 Dec 12 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–5 St. Louis Blues The Checkerdome 12–12–5 29
30 Dec 15 Philadelphia Flyers 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 12–13–5 29
31 Dec 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–4 New Jersey Devils Izod Center 13–13–5 31
32 Dec 19 New York Rangers 3–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 14–13–5 33
33 Dec 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 8–4 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 15–13–5 35
34 Dec 23 New Jersey Devils 6–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 15–14–5 35
35 Dec 26 Detroit Red Wings 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 16–14–5 37
36 Dec 27 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 OT Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 16–14–6 38
37 Dec 29 Boston Bruins 4–4 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 16–14–7 39
January
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
38 Jan 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 16–15–7 39
39 Jan 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 16–16–7 39
40 Jan 5 Los Angeles Kings 4–4 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 16–16–8 40
41 Jan 7 Boston Bruins 3–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 16–17–8 40
42 Jan 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–5 OT Hartford Whalers XL Center 16–18–8 40
43 Jan 10 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–7 Detroit Red Wings Joe Louis Arena 16–19–8 40
44 Jan 12 New York Islanders 5–5 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 16–19–9 41
45 Jan 15 Philadelphia Flyers 5–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 16–20–9 41
46 Jan 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–3 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens 17–20–9 43
47 Jan 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–4 New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 18–20–9 45
48 Jan 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 8–3 Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Stadium 19–20–9 47
49 Jan 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–3 OT Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 20–20–9 49
50 Jan 25 Edmonton Oilers 6–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 20–21–9 49
51 Jan 27 Winnipeg Jets 4–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 20–22–9 49
52 Jan 28 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–6 New Jersey Devils Izod Center 20–23–9 49
53 Jan 30 Chicago Blackhawks 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 21–23–9 51
February
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
54 Feb 2 Washington Capitals 2–3 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 22–23–9 53
55 Feb 4 Minnesota North Stars 0–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 23–23–9 55
56 Feb 6 Hartford Whalers 4–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 24–23–9 57
57 Feb 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–6 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 24–24–9 57
58 Feb 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–5 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 25–24–9 59
59 Feb 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–5 Vancouver Canucks Pacific Coliseum 25–25–9 59
60 Feb 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–7 Edmonton Oilers Northlands Coliseum 25–26–9 59
61 Feb 21 St. Louis Blues 5–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 25–27–9 59
62 Feb 23 Winnipeg Jets 4–3 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 25–28–9 59
63 Feb 25 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–2 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 25–29–9 59
64 Feb 28 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–7 Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Stadium 25–30–9 59
March
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
65 Mar 1 Minnesota North Stars 3–8 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 26–30–9 61
66 Mar 5 New York Islanders 3–8 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 27–30–9 63
67 Mar 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–4 Calgary Flames Scotiabank Saddledome 28–30–9 65
68 Mar 10 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–6 St. Louis Blues The Checkerdome 28–31–9 65
69 Mar 12 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–6 Minnesota North Stars Met Center 28–32–9 65
70 Mar 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–4 Winnipeg Jets Winnipeg Arena 29–32–9 67
71 Mar 16 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 30–32–9 69
72 Mar 19 Philadelphia Flyers 0–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 31–32–9 71
73 Mar 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–4 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 31–33–9 71
74 Mar 23 Washington Capitals 1–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 32–33–9 73
75 Mar 25 Montreal Canadiens 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 33–33–9 75
76 Mar 27 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–3 Quebec Nordiques Quebec Coliseum 34–33–9 77
77 Mar 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–4 New Jersey Devils Izod Center 34–34–9 77
78 Mar 31 New Jersey Devils 7–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 34–35–9 77
April
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
79 Apr 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–6 OT Washington Capitals Capital Centre 35–35–9 79
80 Apr 3 Hartford Whalers 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 36–35–9 81
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Playoffs

The Penguins missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.

Player statistics

Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season[6]
Player GP TOI W L T GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Steve Guenette 19 1091:05 12 7 0 61 3.35 582 0.895 1 0 0 2
Frank Pietrangelo 21 1202:47 9 11 0 80 3.99 599 0.866 1 0 2 2
Gilles Meloche 27 1390:26 8 9 5 95 4.10 720 0.868 0 0 0 0
Patrick Riggin 22 1168:55 7 8 4 76 3.90 579 0.869 0 0 0 12
Total 4853:13 36 35 9 312 3.86 2480 0.874 2 0 2 16

†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

  • Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 60 goals in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 2–4 loss to Philadelphia on March 20.
  • Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 150 points in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 7–1 win over Washington on March 23.
  • Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 160 points in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 6–3 win over Quebec on March 27.
  • Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 70 goals in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 4–2 win over Hartford on April 3.
  • Mario Lemieux established a new franchise record for goals (70), assists (98) and points (168) in a season. He held the previous high in all three categories.

Transactions

The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1987–88 season:

Trades

November 24, 1987 To Edmonton Oilers

Dave Hannan
Chris Joseph
Moe Mantha
Craig Simpson

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Paul Coffey
Dave Hunter
Wayne Van Dorp

December 17, 1987 To Montreal Canadiens

future considerations (1988 3rd round pick)

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Perry Ganchar
future considerations (1988 3rd round pick)

February 4, 1988 To Los Angeles Kings

Chris Kontos
future considerations (1988 6th round pick)

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Bryan Erickson

Additions and subtractions

Additions
Player Former team Via
Jimmy Mann Quebec Nordiques free agency (1987-06-16)
Pat Mayer Muskegon Lumberjacks (IHL) free agency (1987-07-10)
Jock Callander St. Louis Blues free agency (1987-07-31)
Mark Kachowski Flint Spirits (IHL) free agency (1987-08-31)
Wilf Paiement Buffalo Sabres free agency (1987-09-10)
Charlie Simmer Boston Bruins Waiver Draft (1987-10-05)
Scott Gruhl Muskegon Lumberjacks (IHL) free agency (1987-12-14)
Subtractions
Player New team Via
John Chabot Detroit Red Wings free agency (1987-06-25)
Neil Belland Lukko (SM-liiga) free agency
Kevin LaVallee Innsbrucker EV (Austria) free agency
Terry Ruskowski Minnesota North Stars free agency (1987-07)
Dwight Schofield Winnipeg Jets free agency (1987-07)
Mike Blaisdell Toronto Maple Leafs free agency (1987-07-10)

Draft picks

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 5 Chris Joseph Defense  Canada Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
2 26 Richard Tabaracci Goaltender  Canada Cornwall Royals (OHL)
3 47 Jamie Leach Right wing  United States Hamilton Steelhawks (OHL)
4 68 Risto Kurkinen Left wing  Finland JyP HT Jyvaskyla (FNL)
5 89 Jeff Waver Defense  Canada Hamilton Steelhawks (OHL)
6 110 Shawn McEachern Left wing  United States Matignon H.S. (Massachusetts)
7 131 James Bodden Center  Canada Chatham (SOJHL)
8 152 Jiri Kucera Right wing  Czechoslovakia Dukla Jihlava (Czech)
9 173 Jack MacDougall Right wing  United States New Prep School (Massachusetts)
10 194 Daryn McBride Center  Canada U. of Denver (NCAA)
11 215 Mark Carlson Left wing  United States (Philadelphia Jrs.)
12 236 Ake Lilljebjorn Goaltender  Sweden Brynäs IF Gävle (SEL)
S1 5 Dan Shea Left wing  United States Boston College (Hockey East)
S2 9 John Leonard Defense  United States Bowdoin College (NESCAC)

Farm teams

See also

References

  1. ^ Masi, Vince (April 9, 2011). "Drama in New York NHL season finales". ESPN. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  2. ^ Hafner, Dan (April 4, 1988). "NHL Roundup: Devils Need Overtime to Make the Playoffs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  3. ^ "1987-88 NHL Summary".
  4. ^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.
  5. ^ "1987–1988 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  6. ^ "1987–1988 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
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