1970–71 Pittsburgh Penguins season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1970–71
Year:	1970
Team:	Pittsburgh Penguins
Divisionrank:	6th
Record:	21–37–20
Goalsfor:	221
Goalsagainst:	240
Coach:	Red Kelly
Captain:	Vacant
Attendance:	9,671
Goalsleader:	Jean Pronovost (21)
Assistsleader:	Bryan Hextall (32)
Pointsleader:	Bryan Hextall (48)
Pimleader:	Bryan Hextall (133)
Winsleader:	Les Binkley (11)
Gaaleader:	Les Binkley (2.85)

The 1970–71 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the franchise's fourth season in the National Hockey League.

Regular season

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

|- style="background:#fcf;"| 1 || Oct 10 || Buffalo Sabres || 2–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (11,189) || 0–1–0 || 0|- style="background:#fcf;"| 2 || Oct 15 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Minnesota North Stars || Met Center (12,134) || 0–2–0 || 0|- style="background:#ffc;"| 3 || Oct 17 || Philadelphia Flyers || 0–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (7,535) || 0–2–1 || 1|- style="background:#ffc;"| 4 || Oct 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–1 || Buffalo Sabres || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium (8,656) || 0–2–2 || 2|- style="background:#fcf;"| 5 || Oct 21 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Los Angeles Kings || The Forum (6,903) || 0–3–2 || 2|- style="background:#cfc;"| 6 || Oct 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–1 || California Golden Seals || Oakland Coliseum Arena (4,043) || 1–3–2 || 4|- style="background:#ffc;"| 7 || Oct 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–1 || Vancouver Canucks || Pacific Coliseum (13,329) || 1–3–3 || 5|- style="background:#cfc;"| 8 || Oct 28 || Los Angeles Kings || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (5,028) || 2–3–3 || 7|- style="background:#fcf;"| 9 || Oct 31 || Chicago Black Hawks || 5–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (8,412) || 2–4–3 || 7|-|- style="background:#fcf;"| 10 || Nov 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum (14,620) || 2–5–3 || 7|- style="background:#cfc;"| 11 || Nov 4 || Vancouver Canucks || 3–8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (5,029) || 3–5–3 || 9|- style="background:#ffc;"| 12 || Nov 7 || Boston Bruins || 2–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (12,909) || 3–5–4 || 10|- style="background:#ffc;"| 13 || Nov 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Detroit Red Wings || Olympia Stadium (12,662) || 3–5–5 || 11|- style="background:#fcf;"| 14 || Nov 10 || Los Angeles Kings || 5–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (8,089) || 3–6–5 || 11|- style="background:#ffc;"| 15 || Nov 11 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (IV) (17,250) || 3–6–6 || 12|- style="background:#cfc;"| 16 || Nov 14 || California Golden Seals || 1–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (11,075) || 4–6–6 || 14|- style="background:#fcf;"| 17 || Nov 19 || St. Louis Blues || 1–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (9,027) || 4–7–6 || 14|- style="background:#cfc;"| 18 || Nov 21 || Detroit Red Wings || 1–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (11,298) || 5–7–6 || 16|- style="background:#fcf;"| 19 || Nov 22 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Boston Bruins || Boston Garden (14,994) || 5–8–6 || 16|- style="background:#ffc;"| 20 || Nov 24 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || Maple Leaf Gardens (16,384) || 5–8–7 || 17|- style="background:#ffc;"| 21 || Nov 25 || Buffalo Sabres || 4–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (9,705) || 5–8–8 || 18|- style="background:#fcf;"| 22 || Nov 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–5 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum (16,838) || 5–9–8 || 18|- style="background:#fcf;"| 23 || Nov 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–6 || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (IV) (17,250) || 5–10–8 || 18|-|- style="background:#ffc;"| 24 || Dec 2 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (8,601) || 5–10–9 || 19|- style="background:#cfc;"| 25 || Dec 5 || Vancouver Canucks || 1–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (8,111) || 6–10–9 || 21|- style="background:#fcf;"| 26 || Dec 6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–6 || Boston Bruins || Boston Garden (14,994) || 6–11–9 || 21|- style="background:#cfc;"| 27 || Dec 8 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 0–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (7,034) || 7–11–9 || 23|- style="background:#ffc;"| 28 || Dec 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 || Minnesota North Stars || Met Center (12,222) || 7–11–10 || 24|- style="background:#fcf;"| 29 || Dec 11 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 || St. Louis Blues || St. Louis Arena (17,764) || 7–12–10 || 24|- style="background:#fcf;"| 30 || Dec 12 || Minnesota North Stars || 1–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (9,031) || 7–13–10 || 24|- style="background:#fcf;"| 31 || Dec 16 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (7,222) || 7–14–10 || 24|- style="background:#cfc;"| 32 || Dec 19 || Detroit Red Wings || 1–9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (8,011) || 8–14–10 || 26|- style="background:#fcf;"| 33 || Dec 20 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || Chicago Stadium (-) || 8–15–10 || 26|- style="background:#fcf;"| 34 || Dec 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–6 || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (IV) (17,250) || 8–16–10 || 26|- style="background:#fcf;"| 35 || Dec 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–8 || Boston Bruins || Boston Garden (14,994) || 8–17–10 || 26|- style="background:#cfc;"| 36 || Dec 26 || Boston Bruins || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (13,050) || 9–17–10 || 28|- style="background:#ffc;"| 37 || Dec 30 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum (16,753) || 9–17–11 || 29|- style="background:#cfc;"| 38 || Dec 31 || Minnesota North Stars || 1–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (10,337) || 10–17–11 || 31|-|- style="background:#fcf;"| 39 || Jan 2 || New York Rangers || 3–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (12,444) || 10–18–11 || 31|- style="background:#fcf;"| 40 || Jan 6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum (12,127) || 10–19–11 || 31|- style="background:#fcf;"| 41 || Jan 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–5 || Toronto Maple Leafs || Maple Leaf Gardens (16,485) || 10–20–11 || 31|- style="background:#cfc;"| 42 || Jan 13 || Los Angeles Kings || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (7,575) || 11–20–11 || 33|- style="background:#ffc;"| 43 || Jan 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 || Detroit Red Wings || Olympia Stadium (11,360) || 11–20–12 || 34|- style="background:#cfc;"| 44 || Jan 16 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–3 || Vancouver Canucks || Pacific Coliseum (14,098) || 12–20–12 || 36|- style="background:#cfc;"| 45 || Jan 20 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2 || California Golden Seals || Oakland Coliseum Arena (3,293) || 13–20–12 || 38|- style="background:#fcf;"| 46 || Jan 21 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Los Angeles Kings || The Forum (7,587) || 13–21–12 || 38|- style="background:#cfc;"| 47 || Jan 23 || Vancouver Canucks || 1–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (12,304) || 14–21–12 || 40|- style="background:#cfc;"| 48 || Jan 27 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 1–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (9,039) || 15–21–12 || 42|- style="background:#fcf;"| 49 || Jan 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || Chicago Stadium (-) || 15–22–12 || 42|- style="background:#cfc;"| 50 || Jan 30 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (12,528) || 16–22–12 || 44|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 51 || Feb 3 || California Golden Seals || 1–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (10,208) || 17–22–12 || 46|- style="background:#ffc;"| 52 || Feb 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 || St. Louis Blues || St. Louis Arena (18,206) || 17–22–13 || 47|- style="background:#fcf;"| 53 || Feb 7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || Chicago Stadium (-) || 17–23–13 || 47|- style="background:#fcf;"| 54 || Feb 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum (16,211) || 17–24–13 || 47|- style="background:#cfc;"| 55 || Feb 10 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (10,311) || 18–24–13 || 49|- style="background:#cfc;"| 56 || Feb 13 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (10,755) || 19–24–13 || 51|- style="background:#fcf;"| 57 || Feb 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–5 || Minnesota North Stars || Met Center (15,042) || 19–25–13 || 51|- style="background:#fcf;"| 58 || Feb 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || Maple Leaf Gardens (16,413) || 19–26–13 || 51|- style="background:#ffc;"| 59 || Feb 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–6 || Buffalo Sabres || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium (9,969) || 19–26–14 || 52|- style="background:#fcf;"| 60 || Feb 20 || New York Rangers || 2–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (13,200) || 19–27–14 || 52|- style="background:#ffc;"| 61 || Feb 24 || St. Louis Blues || 5–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (10,005) || 19–27–15 || 53|- style="background:#fcf;"| 62 || Feb 27 || New York Rangers || 4–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (12,419) || 19–28–15 || 53|- style="background:#fcf;"| 63 || Feb 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Detroit Red Wings || Olympia Stadium (12,683) || 19–29–15 || 53|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 64 || Mar 3 || Montreal Canadiens || 0–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (8,011) || 20–29–15 || 55|- style="background:#fcf;"| 65 || Mar 6 || Boston Bruins || 6–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (13,020) || 20–30–15 || 55|- style="background:#ffc;"| 66 || Mar 7 || California Golden Seals || 3–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (11,283) || 20–30–16 || 56|- style="background:#ffc;"| 67 || Mar 10 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (8,590) || 20–30–17 || 57|- style="background:#ffc;"| 68 || Mar 13 || Minnesota North Stars || 0–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (10,284) || 20–30–18 || 58|- style="background:#fcf;"| 69 || Mar 14 || Montreal Canadiens || 5–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (8,741) || 20–31–18 || 58|- style="background:#fcf;"| 70 || Mar 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–5 || California Golden Seals || Oakland Coliseum Arena (2,647) || 20–32–18 || 58|- style="background:#fcf;"| 71 || Mar 19 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–6 || Vancouver Canucks || Pacific Coliseum (15,570) || 20–33–18 || 58|- style="background:#fcf;"| 72 || Mar 20 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–8 || Los Angeles Kings || The Forum (7,771) || 20–34–18 || 58|- style="background:#cfc;"| 73 || Mar 24 || Detroit Red Wings || 2–8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (9,025) || 21–34–18 || 60|- style="background:#fcf;"| 74 || Mar 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum (14,620) || 21–35–18 || 60|- style="background:#fcf;"| 75 || Mar 31 || Buffalo Sabres || 6–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (7,051) || 21–36–18 || 60|-|- style="background:#ffc;"| 76 || Apr 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Buffalo Sabres || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium (10,429) || 21–36–19 || 61|- style="background:#fcf;"| 77 || Apr 3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 || St. Louis Blues || St. Louis Arena (18,529) || 21–37–19 || 61|- style="background:#ffc;"| 78 || Apr 4 || St. Louis Blues || 1–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (10,117) || 21–37–20 || 62|-|- style="text-align:center;"| Legend: = Win = Loss = Tie

Playoffs

After making their first postseason appearance last year, the Penguins failed to reach the playoffs.

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular Season^[1]
Player
	76	16	32	48		133
	78	21	24	45	8	35
	76	15	29	44		34
	68	11	30	41	10	30
	71	14	26	40	2	20
	69	21	17	38		18
	50	15	19	34		6
	61	18	15	33		40
	59	5	28	33		34
	59	21	12	33	7	24
	77	9	20	29		95
	78	4	22	26	8	30
	78	13	12	25		108
^†	31	9	16	25	3	21
	70	4	9	13		0
	37	8	5	13		21
^‡	46	8	3	11	0	96
	73	0	10	10		32
	64	4	5	9	0	54
	43	2	6	8		119
	15	2	1	3		9
	10	0	3	3	1	4
	6	0	2	2	1	2
	18	0	2	2		29
	21	1	1	2	2	19
	10	0	1	1		0
	5	0	1	1		15
Total		221	351	572	—	1,028

Goaltenders

Regular Season^[2]
Player
	34	11	11	10	89	2
	46	9	22	9	128	2
	5	1	3	1	16	0
	2	0	1	0	7	0
Total		21	37	20	240	4

^†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

Ken Schinkel became the first player to record 100 assists with the Penguins. He did so in a 2–5 loss to California on March 17.
Wally Boyer became the first player in franchise history to have a final plus-minus of at least +10.
Dunc McCallum tied the team record for goals in a season by a defenseman with 9.

Transactions

The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1970–71 season:^[3]

Trades

style='width:22%;'	October 2, 1970	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Montreal Canadiens----cash	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Robin Burns
style='width:22%;'	October 9, 1970	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Buffalo Sabres----Dave Dryden	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Pittsburgh Penguins----cash
style='width:22%;'	January 24, 1971	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Buffalo Sabres----Terry Ball	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Jean-Guy Lagace
style='width:22%;'	January 26, 1971	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To New York Rangers----Glen Sather	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Syl Apps Jr. Sheldon Kannegiesser
style='width:22%;'	May 1, 1971	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Boston Bruins----cash	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Bob Leiter

Other

Player	Date	Details
	June 7, 1971	Claimed off of waivers from Detroit Red Wings
	June 8, 1971	Lost in intra-league draft to Buffalo Sabres
	June 8, 1971	2 overall pick in intra-league draft from Detroit Red Wings
	June 8, 1971	3 overall pick in intra-league draft from Detroit Red Wings
	June 8, 1971	5 overall pick in intra-league draft from Chicago Blackhawks
	June 8, 1971	22 overall pick in intra-league draft from Buffalo Sabres
	June 8, 1971	Claimed in intra-league draft from New York Rangers

Draft picks

See also: 1970 NHL Amateur Draft. Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1970 NHL Entry Draft.^[4]

Round		Player	Pos	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	7	Greg Polis	Left Wing	Estevan Bruins (WCHL)
2	21	John Stewart	Left Wing	Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL)
3	35	Larry Bignell	Defenceman	Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)
4	49	Connie Forey	Left Wing	Ottawa 67's (OHA)
5	63	Steve Cardwell	Left Wing	Oshawa Generals (OHA)
6	77	Bob Fitchner	Center	Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL)
7	90	Jim Pearson	Defenceman	St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)
8	102	Cam Newton	Goaltender	Kitchener Rangers (OHA)
9	110	Ron Lemieux	Defenceman	Dauphin Kings (MJHL)

References

Web site: 1970–71 Pittsburgh Penguins Games. Hockey-reference.com . 2009-05-06 .
Player stats on Hockey Database
Game log on NHL Database

Notes and References

Web site: 1970–1971 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats. NHL.
Web site: 1970–1971 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats. NHL.
Web site: Hockey Transactions Search Results. Pro Sports Transactions.
Web site: NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results. NHL.com. February 25, 2013.