1981–82 Pittsburgh Penguins season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1981–82
Year:	1981
Team:	Pittsburgh Penguins
Conferencerank:	8th
Divisionrank:	4th
Record:	31-36-13
Goalsfor:	310
Goalsagainst:	337
Altcaptain:	None
Attendance:	11,299
Goalsleader:	Paul Gardner &<br>Mike Bullard (36)
Assistsleader:	Randy Carlyle (64)
Pointsleader:	Rick Kehoe (85)
Pimleader:	Paul Baxter (409)
Winsleader:	Michel Dion (25)
Gaaleader:	Gary Edwards (3.67)

The 1981–82 Pittsburgh Penguins season was their 15th in the National Hockey League. The qualified for the playoffs for the fourth straight year, but lost in the opening round to the eventual Stanley Cup champion New York Islanders three games to two. This would be the Penguins last playoff appearance until 1989.

Regular season

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

|- style="background:#fcf;"| 1 || Oct 6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–6 || St. Louis Blues || The Checkerdome || 0–1–0 || 0|- style="background:#ffc;"| 2 || Oct 7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–5 || Chicago Black Hawks || Chicago Stadium || 0–1–1 || 1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 3 || Oct 10 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 1–1–1 || 3|- style="background:#fcf;"| 4 || Oct 11 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–8 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum || 1–2–1 || 3|- style="background:#fcf;"| 5 || Oct 14 || New York Islanders || 4–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 1–3–1 || 3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 6 || Oct 17 || Minnesota North Stars || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 2–3–1 || 5|- style="background:#fcf;"| 7 || Oct 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 || Detroit Red Wings || Joe Louis Arena || 2–4–1 || 5|- style="background:#cfc;"| 8 || Oct 20 || Colorado Rockies || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 3–4–1 || 7|- style="background:#ffc;"| 9 || Oct 22 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Calgary Flames || Stampede Corral || 3–4–2 || 8|- style="background:#fcf;"| 10 || Oct 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–8 || Edmonton Oilers || Northlands Coliseum || 3–5–2 || 8|- style="background:#cfc;"| 11 || Oct 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–4 || Vancouver Canucks || Pacific Coliseum || 4–5–2 || 10|- style="background:#fcf;"| 12 || Oct 28 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 5–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 4–6–2 || 10|- style="background:#fcf;"| 13 || Oct 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–6 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum || 4–7–2 || 10|- style="background:#cfc;"| 14 || Oct 31 || Buffalo Sabres || 1–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 5–7–2 || 12|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 15 || Nov 4 || New York Rangers || 3–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 6–7–2 || 14|- style="background:#cfc;"| 16 || Nov 7 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 7–7–2 || 16|- style="background:#cfc;"| 17 || Nov 11 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2 || Washington Capitals || Capital Centre || 8–7–2 || 18|- style="background:#ffc;"| 18 || Nov 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Boston Bruins || Boston Garden || 8–7–3 || 19|- style="background:#cfc;"| 19 || Nov 18 || St. Louis Blues || 1–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 9–7–3 || 21|- style="background:#ffc;"| 20 || Nov 20 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 9–7–4 || 22|- style="background:#fcf;"| 21 || Nov 21 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–9 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum || 9–8–4 || 22|- style="background:#cfc;"| 22 || Nov 24 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–1 || Quebec Nordiques || Quebec Coliseum || 10–8–4 || 24|- style="background:#cfc;"| 23 || Nov 25 || Montreal Canadiens || 1–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 11–8–4 || 26|- style="background:#cfc;"| 24 || Nov 28 || Detroit Red Wings || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 12–8–4 || 28|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 25 || Dec 2 || Winnipeg Jets || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 13–8–4 || 30|- style="background:#fcf;"| 26 || Dec 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || St. Louis Blues || The Checkerdome || 13–9–4 || 30|- style="background:#fcf;"| 27 || Dec 6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–7 || Buffalo Sabres || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium || 13–10–4 || 30|- style="background:#fcf;"| 28 || Dec 9 || Philadelphia Flyers || 4–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 13–11–4 || 30|- style="background:#cfc;"| 29 || Dec 12 || Washington Capitals || 4–7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 14–11–4 || 32|- style="background:#fcf;"| 30 || Dec 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–5 || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (IV) || 14–12–4 || 32|- style="background:#cfc;"| 31 || Dec 16 || Los Angeles Kings || 6–7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 15–12–4 || 34|- style="background:#ffc;"| 32 || Dec 19 || New York Rangers || 3–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 15–12–5 || 35|- style="background:#fcf;"| 33 || Dec 20 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum || 15–13–5 || 35|- style="background:#ffc;"| 34 || Dec 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || Maple Leaf Gardens || 15–13–6 || 36|- style="background:#fcf;"| 35 || Dec 26 || Buffalo Sabres || 7–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 15–14–6 || 36|- style="background:#fcf;"| 36 || Dec 27 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–5 || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (IV) || 15–15–6 || 36|- style="background:#cfc;"| 37 || Dec 30 || Washington Capitals || 2–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 16–15–6 || 38|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 38 || Jan 2 || Hartford Whalers || 4–9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 17–15–6 || 40|- style="background:#cfc;"| 39 || Jan 3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–4 || Hartford Whalers || XL Center || 18–15–6 || 42|- style="background:#fcf;"| 40 || Jan 6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–6 || Chicago Black Hawks || Chicago Stadium || 18–16–6 || 42|- style="background:#fcf;"| 41 || Jan 7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–5 || Detroit Red Wings || Joe Louis Arena || 18–17–6 || 42|- style="background:#cfc;"| 42 || Jan 9 || Vancouver Canucks || 3–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 19–17–6 || 44|- style="background:#fcf;"| 43 || Jan 13 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–6 || Winnipeg Jets || Winnipeg Arena || 19–18–6 || 44|- style="background:#fcf;"| 44 || Jan 16 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–4 || Calgary Flames || Stampede Corral || 19–19–6 || 44|- style="background:#ffc;"| 45 || Jan 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Vancouver Canucks || Pacific Coliseum || 19–19–7 || 45|- style="background:#cfc;"| 46 || Jan 20 || Boston Bruins || 4–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 20–19–7 || 47|- style="background:#fcf;"| 47 || Jan 21 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–6 || New York Islanders || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 20–20–7 || 47|- style="background:#ffc;"| 48 || Jan 23 || Philadelphia Flyers || 5–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 20–20–8 || 48|- style="background:#fcf;"| 49 || Jan 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–9 || New York Islanders || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 20–21–8 || 48|- style="background:#fcf;"| 50 || Jan 27 || New York Islanders || 6–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 20–22–8 || 48|- style="background:#cfc;"| 51 || Jan 30 || Winnipeg Jets || 1–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 21–22–8 || 50|- style="background:#fcf;"| 52 || Jan 31 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–8 || Washington Capitals || Capital Centre || 21–23–8 || 50|-|- style="background:#fcf;"| 53 || Feb 3 || Minnesota North Stars || 9–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 21–24–8 || 50|- style="background:#fcf;"| 54 || Feb 6 || Washington Capitals || 6–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 21–25–8 || 50|- style="background:#fcf;"| 55 || Feb 7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–5 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum || 21–26–8 || 50|- style="background:#ffc;"| 56 || Feb 10 || Hartford Whalers || 3–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 21–26–9 || 51|- style="background:#fcf;"| 57 || Feb 11 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum || 21–27–9 || 51|- style="background:#ffc;"| 58 || Feb 13 || Los Angeles Kings || 3–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 21–27–10 || 52|- style="background:#fcf;"| 59 || Feb 16 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–6 || New York Islanders || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 21–28–10 || 52|- style="background:#fcf;"| 60 || Feb 17 || New York Rangers || 5–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 21–29–10 || 52|- style="background:#cfc;"| 61 || Feb 20 || Philadelphia Flyers || 5–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 22–29–10 || 54|- style="background:#cfc;"| 62 || Feb 21 || New York Islanders || 3–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 23–29–10 || 56|- style="background:#fcf;"| 63 || Feb 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || New York Islanders || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 23–30–10 || 56|- style="background:#fcf;"| 64 || Feb 27 || Edmonton Oilers || 4–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 23–31–10 || 56|- style="background:#cfc;"| 65 || Feb 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2 || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (IV) || 24–31–10 || 58|-|- style="background:#fcf;"| 66 || Mar 3 || Boston Bruins || 3–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 24–32–10 || 58|- style="background:#cfc;"| 67 || Mar 6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–4 || Quebec Nordiques || Quebec Coliseum || 25–32–10 || 60|- style="background:#ffc;"| 68 || Mar 7 || Calgary Flames || 4–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 25–32–11 || 61|- style="background:#cfc;"| 69 || Mar 10 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–2 || Washington Capitals || Capital Centre || 26–32–11 || 63|- style="background:#cfc;"| 70 || Mar 13 || Colorado Rockies || 2–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 27–32–11 || 65|- style="background:#fcf;"| 71 || Mar 15 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 || Minnesota North Stars || Met Center || 27–33–11 || 65|- style="background:#fcf;"| 72 || Mar 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–10 || Edmonton Oilers || Northlands Coliseum || 27–34–11 || 65|- style="background:#fcf;"| 73 || Mar 20 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–7 || Los Angeles Kings || The Forum || 27–35–11 || 65|- style="background:#cfc;"| 74 || Mar 21 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–0 || Colorado Rockies || McNichols Sports Arena || 28–35–11 || 67|- style="background:#fcf;"| 75 || Mar 24 || New York Rangers || 7–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 28–36–11 || 67|- style="background:#ffc;"| 76 || Mar 27 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 28–36–12 || 68|- style="background:#cfc;"| 77 || Mar 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–5 || Washington Capitals || Capital Centre || 29–36–12 || 70|- style="background:#ffc;"| 78 || Mar 31 || Washington Capitals || 4–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 29–36–13 || 71|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 79 || Apr 2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–5 || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (IV) || 30–36–13 || 73|- style="background:#cfc;"| 80 || Apr 4 || New York Islanders || 2–7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 31–36–13 || 75|-|- style="text-align:center;"| Legend: = Win = Loss = Tie

Playoffs

The Penguins lost in the division semi-final round (3–2) versus the New York Islanders.

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular Season^[1]
Player
	71	33	52	85		8
	73	11	64	75		131
	80	23	51	74		230
	59	36	33	69		28
	75	36	27	63		91
	71	22	31	53		45
	76	9	34	43		409
	78	15	24	39		125
	77	7	31	38	2	322
	74	18	16	34		98
^†	40	13	12	25		28
	38	10	15	25		12
	58	11	10	21	9	35
	35	9	12	21	3	42
^‡	46	10	11	21		30
	76	2	19	21		102
	26	9	9	18		4
	16	6	8	14	0	14
	42	6	8	14		55
^†	18	8	5	13	5	4
	14	4	8	12		14
^†	25	4	6	10		16
^‡	27	1	7	8		76
	11	5	3	8	2	2
	60	1	6	7		63
	10	1	4	5	6	4
	23	0	2	2		49
^‡	31	0	1	1		98
	4	0	0	0		4
	1	0	0	0		0
	1	0	0	0	0	2
	16	0	0	0		55
Total		310	509	819	—	2,196

Playoffs^[2]
Player
	5	1	5	6	0	2
	5	2	3	5	0	2
	5	1	3	4	0	16
	5	3	1	4	0	8
	5	1	2	3	0	0
	5	0	3	3	0	6
	5	2	1	3	0	8
	5	1	1	2	0	0
	5	1	1	2	0	4
	5	1	1	2	0	5
	5	0	1	1	0	0
	3	0	0	0	0	11
	4	0	0	0	0	2
	3	0	0	0	0	0
	1	0	0	0	0	0
	1	0	0	0	0	0
	5	0	0	0	0	14
	3	0	0	0	0	4
	2	0	0	0	0	0
	5	0	0	0	0	0
	5	0	0	0	0	28
Total		13	22	35	—	110

Goaltenders

Regular Season^[3]
Player
	62	25	24	12	226	0
^†	6	3	2	1	22	1
^‡	13	3	7	0	64	0
	3	0	3	0	14	0
Total		31	36	13	326	1

Playoffs^[4]
Player
	5	2	3	0	22	0
Total		2	3	0	22	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

Paul Baxter became the first Penguins player to receive 400 penalty minutes in a season. He did so in a 7–2 loss to New York on April 4, finishing the season with 409 PIMs.
Mike Bullard established a new franchise rookie record for goals with 36. He topped the previous high of 31 held by Pierre Larouche.
Ron Stackhouse established a franchise record for goals (66), assists (277) and points (343) by a defenseman. He had led in all categories since the mid-1970s.

Transactions

The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1981–82 season:

Trades

September 11, 1981	To Toronto Maple Leafs----1982 4th round pick	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Paul Harrison
September 28, 1981	To New York Islanders----Rob Holland	To Pittsburgh Penguins----future considerations
December 29, 1981	To Hartford Whalers----Russ Anderson 1983 8th round pick	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Rick MacLeish
February 3, 1982	To Toronto Maple Leafs----1983 5th round pick future considerations (1982 6th round pick)	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Greg Hotham
February 14, 1982	To St. Louis Blues----1984 8th round pick	To Pittsburgh Penguins----right to claim Gary Edwards off waivers from Blues without having to pay a cash waiver price
March 2, 1982	To Minnesota North Stars----Mark Johnson	To Pittsburgh Penguins----1982 2nd round pick

Additions and subtractions

Additions
Player	Former team	Via
		compensation for signing of Greg Millen (1981-06-29)
	Hartford Whalers	compensation for signing of Greg Millen (1981-06-29)
		free agency (1981-06-30)
		compensation for signing of Orest Kindrachuk (1981-09-04)
		free agency (1981-10-01)
	St. Louis Blues	waivers (1982-02-14)
		waivers (1982-02-23)

Subtractions
Player	New team	Via
		free agency (1981-06-15)
		free agency (1981-09-04)
		waivers (1981-12-30)
		waivers (1982-02-08)

Draft picks

The 1981 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 10, 1981, in Montreal.^[5]

Round		Player	Pos	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
align=center	2	align=center	28	Steve Gatzos	Right Wing	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
align=center	3	align=center	49	Tom Thornbury	Right Wing	Niagara Falls Flyers (OHL)
align=center	4	align=center	70	Norm Schmidt	Defense	Oshawa Generals (OHL)
align=center	6	align=center	109	Paul Edwards	Defense	Oshawa Generals (OHL)
align=center	6	align=center	112	Rod Buskas	Defense	Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
align=center	7	align=center	133	Geoff Wilson	Left Wing	Winnipeg Warriors (WHL)
align=center	8	align=center	154	Mitch Lamoureux	Center	Oshawa Generals (OHL)
align=center	9	align=center	175	Dean DeFazio	Left Wing	Brantford Alexanders (OHL)
align=center	10	align=center	196	David Hannan	Center	Brantford Alexanders (OHL)

References

Penguins on Hockey Database

Notes and References

Web site: 1981–1982 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats. NHL.
Web site: 1981–1982 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats. NHL.
Web site: 1981–1982 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats. NHL.
Web site: 1981–1982 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats. NHL.
Web site: NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results. NHL. June 27, 2014.