1986–87 Pittsburgh Penguins season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1986–87
Year:	1986
Team:	Pittsburgh Penguins
Conferencerank:	9th
Divisionrank:	5th
Record:	30–38–12
Goalsfor:	297
Goalsagainst:	290
Captain:	Mike Bullard (Oct-Nov) Terry Ruskowski (Nov-Apr)
Altcaptain:	Mario Lemieux (Nov-Apr) Moe Mantha Terry Ruskowski (Oct-Nov)
Goalsleader:	Mario Lemieux (54)
Assistsleader:	Mario Lemieux (53)
Pointsleader:	Mario Lemieux (107)
Pimleader:	Dan Frawley (218)
Winsleader:	Gilles Meloche (13)
Gaaleader:	Pat Riggin (3.34)

The 1986–87 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the Penguins' 20th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Penguins did not qualify for the playoffs.

Regular season

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

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

Playoffs

Despite a strong start at the beginning of the season, the Penguins managed to find themselves unqualified for the playoffs for the fifth straight year.

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular Season^[1]

Player
	63	54	53	107	13	57
^†	64	28	43	71	14	40
	79	26	27	53	14	142
	72	26	25	51	11	57
	70	14	37	51	8	145
	76	11	38	49	6	52
	62	9	31	40		44
	72	14	22	36		8
	72	16	18	34		46
	80	5	25	30		116
	33	8	20	28		4
	78	14	14	28		218
	58	10	15	25		56
	60	10	13	23	9	6
	69	5	17	22	8	50
	50	8	13	21		103
	68	3	15	18	2	123
^‡	40	5	13	18		30
	31	8	9	17		6
	23	8	7	15	0	22
	55	4	8	12	12	97
^‡	14	2	10	12		17
	25	1	6	7	4	59
	20	1	5	6		4
	11	1	4	5		8
	22	2	3	5		32
	17	2	1	3		83
	10	1	1	2	2	2
	8	1	1	2	2	0
	19	0	1	1		20
	6	0	1	1		2
	3	0	1	1	0	0
	1	0	0	0		0
	1	0	0	0	0	0
	2	0	0	0		0
	3	0	0	0		4
Total		297	497	794	—	1,653

Goaltenders

Regular Season^[2]

Player
	43	2343:00	13	19	7	134	3.43	1123	0.881	0
^‡	25	1438:00	9	11	2	87	3.63	713	0.878	0
^†	17	988:00	8	6	3	55	3.34	465	0.882	0
	2	113:00	0	2	0	8	4.25	54	0.852	0
Total		4882:00	30	38	12	284	3.49	2355	0.879	0

^†Denotes player acquired mid-season. 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 established a new franchise record for goals in a season with 54, besting the previous high of 53 held by Pierre Larouche (1976).

Transactions

The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1986–87 season:

Trades

October 3, 1986	To Buffalo Sabres----cash	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Craig Muni
October 8, 1986	To Washington Capitals----cash	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Dwight Schofield
October 9, 1986	To Detroit Red Wings----cash	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Warren Young
November 12, 1986	To Calgary Flames----Mike Bullard	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Dan Quinn
January 21, 1987	To New York Rangers----Ron Duguay	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Chris Kontos
February 6, 1987	To Boston Bruins----Roberto Romano	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Pat Riggin
May 29, 1987	To Detroit Red Wings----Warren Young	To Pittsburgh Penguins----cash

Additions and subtractions

Additions Player Former team Via free agency (1986-07-23) free agency (1986-07-24) free agency (1986-09-13) free agency (1986-09-29) free agency (1986-12)

Subtractions Player New team Via EC Salzburg (Austria) free agency free agency (1986-06-30) free agency (1986-07-08) free agency (1986-09-29)

Draft picks

See also: List of Pittsburgh Penguins draft picks. The 1986 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 21, 1986, in Montreal.^[3]

Round		Player	Pos	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
align=center	1	align=center	4	Zarley Zalapski	Defense		Canadian National Team (Intl)
align=center	2	align=center	25	Dave Capuano	Left wing		Mount St. Charles H.S. (R.I.)
align=center	3	align=center	46	Brad Aitken	Left wing		Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
align=center	4	align=center	67	Robert Brown	Right wing		Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
align=center	5	align=center	88	Sandy Smith	Right wing		Brainerd H.S. (Minn.)
align=center	6	align=center	109	Jeff Daniels	Left wing		Oshawa Generals (OHL)
align=center	7	align=center	130	Doug Hobson	Defense		Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
align=center	8	align=center	151	Steve Rohlik	Left wing		Hill-Murray H.S. (Minn.)
align=center	9	align=center	172	Dave McLlwain	Center		North Bay Centennials (OHL)
align=center	10	align=center	193	Kelly Cain	Center		London Knights (OHL)
align=center	11	align=center	214	Stan Drulia	Right wing		Belleville Bulls (OHL)
align=center	12	align=center	235	Robert Wilson	Defense		Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
align=center	S1	align=center	3	Jeff Lamb	Forward		University of Denver (WCHA)
align=center	S2	align=center	7	Randy Taylor	Defense		Harvard University (ECAC)

See also

• 1986–87 NHL season

References

• Web site: 1986–87 Pittsburgh Penguins Games. Hockey-reference.com . 2009-05-06 .

Notes and References

1. Web site: 1986–1987 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats. NHL.
2. Web site: 1986–1987 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats. NHL.
3. Web site: NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results. NHL.