1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1971–72
Year:	1971
Team:	Pittsburgh Penguins
Divisionrank:	4th
Record:	26–38–14
Goalsfor:	220
Goalsagainst:	250
Generalmanager:	Red Kelly (Oct–Jan) Jack Riley (Jan–Apr)
Coach:	Red Kelly
Captain:	Vacant
Altcaptain:	Keith McCreary Ken Schinkel Bryan Watson Bob Woytowich (Oct-Jan)
Goalsleader:	Greg Polis, Jean Pronovost (30)
Assistsleader:	Syl Apps (44)
Pointsleader:	Syl Apps (59)
Pimleader:	Bryan Watson (212)
Winsleader:	Jim Rutherford (17)
Gaaleader:	Roy 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.

Regular season

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

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

Playoffs

| # || Date || Visitor || Score || Home || Series|- style="background:#fcf;"| 1 || April 5 || Pittsburgh || 1–3 || Chicago || 0–1|- style="background:#fcf;"| 2 || April 6 || Pittsburgh || 2–3 || Chicago || 0–2|- style="background:#fcf;"| 3 || April 8 || Chicago || 2–0 || Pittsburgh || 0–3|- style="background:#fcf;"| 4 || April 9 || Chicago || 6–5 || Pittsburgh || 0–4 |-|- style="text-align:center;"| Legend: = Win = Loss

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular Season^[1]
Player
	72	15	44	59	18	78
	68	30	23	53	15	12
	76	30	19	49		38
	77	17	29	46		22
	74	15	30	45		8
	78	20	24	44		126
	77	10	23	33		52
	78	14	17	31		18
	78	12	17	29		46
	34	4	18	22	0	32
	75	3	17	20	5	212
	68	6	13	19		0
^‡	49	7	11	18		42
^†	37	7	11	18		8
	28	7	8	15	0	18
^†	18	5	9	14	5	12
	77	2	10	12		48
	44	2	9	11	5	40
	25	2	8	10		23
	33	4	4	8		22
	35	2	5	7		20
	54	2	4	6		47
^‡	31	1	4	5		8
	6	1	1	2		4
	12	2	0	2		6
	1	0	1	1		0
	3	0	1	1		0
	5	0	0	0		8
Total		220	360	580	—	950

Playoffs^[2]
Player
	4	3	0	3	0	0
	4	0	2	2	0	0
	4	1	1	2	0	0
	3	2	0	2	0	0
	4	0	2	2	0	0
	4	0	2	2	0	9
	4	0	1	1	0	15
	4	0	1	1	0	0
	4	1	0	1	0	2
	4	0	1	1	0	0
	4	1	0	1	0	6
	4	0	1	1	0	2
	4	0	0	0	0	2
	4	0	0	0	0	4
	1	0	0	0	0	2
	4	0	0	0	0	2
	4	0	0	0	0	21
	4	0	0	0	0	6
Total		8	11	19	—	71

Goaltenders

Regular Season^[3]
Player
	40	17	15	5	116	1
	31	7	15	5	98	0
	15	2	8	4	36	0
Total		26	38	14	250	1

Playoffs^[4]
Player
	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

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:^[5]

Trades

style='width:22%;'	September 4, 1971	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To California Golden Seals----cash	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Bill Hicke
style='width:22%;'	October 3, 1971	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Vancouver Canucks----Bob Blackburn	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Pittsburgh Penguins----cash
style='width:22%;'	October 6, 1971	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Minnesota North Stars----Dean Prentice	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Pittsburgh Penguins----cash
style='width:22%;'	November 22, 1971	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Detroit Red Wings----Bill Hicke	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Pittsburgh Penguins----cash
style='width:22%;'	January 11, 1972	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Los Angeles Kings----Bob Woytowich	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Al McDonough
style='width:22%;'	March 4, 1972	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Buffalo Sabres----Rene Robert	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Eddie Shack

Player signings

Player	Date	Contract terms
	September 2, 1971	Re-signed
	September 2, 1971	Re-signed
	September 2, 1971	Re-signed
	September 3, 1971	Signed
	September 8, 1971	Re-signed
	September 8, 1971	Re-signed
	September 8, 1971	Re-signed
	May 25, 1972	1-year contract
	June 1, 1972	Re-signed
	June 7, 1972	Re-signed

Other

Player	Date	Details
	July 1, 1971	Retired
	December 30, 1971	Retired
	January 29, 1972	Resigned as GM (remained as head coach)
	January 29, 1972	Hired as GM (in addition to president)
	June 5, 1972	Lost to Buffalo Sabres in intra-league draft
	June 6, 1972	Lost to Atlanta Flames in expansion draft
	June 6, 1972	Lost to Atlanta Flames in expansion draft
	June 6, 1972	Lost to Atlanta Flames in expansion draft

Draft picks

See main article: 1971 NHL Amateur Draft. Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1971 NHL Entry Draft.^[6]

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

Draft notes^[7]

The Pittsburgh Penguins' first-round pick went to the St. Louis Blues as the result of a June 6, 1969, trade that sent Ron Schock, Craig Cameron and a 1972 second round pick to the Penguins in exchange for Lou Angotti and this pick.
The Pittsburgh Penguins' eighth-round pick went to the Vancouver Canucks as the result of a June 10, 1970, trade that had Vancouver promise to not take certain players in expansion draft for this pick.

Notes and References

Web site: 1971–1972 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats. NHL.
Web site: 1971–1972 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats. NHL.
Web site: 1971–1972 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats. NHL.
Web site: 1971–1972 – Playoffs – 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.
Web site: 1971 NHL Entry Draft Pending Transactions. Pro Sports Transactions. February 25, 2013.