The 1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the franchise's fifth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). 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
Final standings
Record vs. opponents
Schedule and results
| 1 || October 9 || Philadelphia || 2–3 || Pittsburgh || || 11,733 || 1–0–0 || 2
| 2 || October 10 || Pittsburgh || 1–2 || Buffalo || || 15,429 || 1–1–0 || 2
| 3 || October 13 || Pittsburgh || 4–1 || Los Angeles || || 7,828 || 2–1–0 || 4
| 4 || October 16 || Pittsburgh || 2–1 || Vancouver || || 15,570 || 3–1–0 || 6
| 5 || October 17 || Pittsburgh || 4–2 || California || || 2,123 || 4–1–0 || 8
| 6 || October 20 || Los Angeles || 1–8 || Pittsburgh || || 7,592 || 5–1–0 || 10
| 7 || October 23 || Chicago || 5–2 || Pittsburgh || || 13,100 || 5–2–0 || 10
| 8 || October 24 || Pittsburgh || 1–1 || NY Rangers || || 17,250 || 5–2–1 || 11
| 9 || October 27 || California || 6–4 || Pittsburgh || || 9,238 || 5–3–1 || 11
| 10 || October 28 || Pittsburgh || 0–2 || Minnesota || || 15,101 || 5–4–1 || 11
| 11 || October 30 || NY Rangers || 1–1 || Pittsburgh || || 8,973 || 5–4–2 || 12
| 12 || October 31 || Pittsburgh || 1–3 || Detroit || || 10,870 || 5–5–2 || 12
| 13 || November 3 || Pittsburgh || 3–5 || California || || 3,293 || 5–6–2 || 12
| 14 || November 5 || Pittsburgh || 2–4 || Vancouver || || 15,570 || 5–7–2 || 12
| 15 || November 7 || Pittsburgh || 1–4 || Chicago || || || 5–8–2 || 12
| 16 || November 9 || Pittsburgh || 4–1 || St. Louis || || 17,888 || 6–8–2 || 14
| 17 || November 10 || Vancouver || 1–3 || Pittsburgh || || 7,324 || 7–8–2 || 16
| 18 || November 13 || Los Angeles || 4–6 || Pittsburgh || || 9,756 || 8–8–2 || 18
| 19 || November 16 || Minnesota || 5–1 || Pittsburgh || || 7,800 || 8–9–2 || 18
| 20 || November 18 || Pittsburgh || 3–4 || Minnesota || || 15,235 || 8–10–2 || 18
| 21 || November 20 || St. Louis || 4–2 || Pittsburgh || || 12,276 || 8–11–2 || 18
| 22 || November 21 || Pittsburgh || 3–7 || Chicago || || || 8–12–2 || 18
| 23 || November 24 || Toronto || 2–1 || Pittsburgh || || 6,020 || 8–13–2 || 18
| 24 || November 27 || Pittsburgh || 1–3 || Montreal || || 17,500 || 8–14–2 || 18
| 25 || December 1 || Detroit || 2–4 || Pittsburgh || || 7,083 || 9–14–2 || 20
| 26 || December 4 || NY Rangers || 2–4 || Pittsburgh || || 9,662 || 10–14–2 || 22
| 27 || December 5 || Pittsburgh || 3–5 || Boston || || 14,995 || 10–15–2 || 22
| 28 || December 8 || California || 1–1 || Pittsburgh || || 8,831 || 10–15–3 || 23
| 29 || December 11 || Buffalo || 3–3 || Pittsburgh || || 7,603 || 10–15–4 || 24
| 30 || December 12 || Pittsburgh || 1–6 || NY Rangers || || 17,250 || 10–16–4 || 24
| 31 || December 15 || Pittsburgh || 2–3 || Toronto || || 16,324 || 10–17–4 || 24
| 32 || December 18 || Boston || 4–3 || Pittsburgh || || 11,837 || 10–18–4 || 24
| 33 || December 19 || Pittsburgh || 2–2 || Boston || || 14,995 || 10–18–5 || 25
| 34 || December 22 || Pittsburgh || 2–4 || NY Rangers || || 17,250 || 10–19–5 || 25
| 35 || December 25 || Montreal || 2–4 || Pittsburgh || || 7,778 || 11–19–5 || 27
| 36 || December 26 || Pittsburgh || 1–6 || Philadelphia || || 14,626 || 11–20–5 || 27
| 37 || December 28 || Toronto || 4–2 || Pittsburgh || || 11,158 || 11–21–5 || 27
| 38 || December 31 || Buffalo || 3–3 || Pittsburgh || || 7,908 || 11–21–6 || 28
| 39 || January 5 || Pittsburgh || 3–3 || Chicago || || || 11–21–7 || 29
| 40 || January 8 || Chicago || 4–0 || Pittsburgh || || 13,100 || 11–22–7 || 29
| 41 || January 9 || Pittsburgh || 2–4 || Detroit || || 12,570 || 11–23–7 || 29
| 42 || January 12 || Boston || 2–2 || Pittsburgh || || 8,449 || 11–23–8 || 30
| 43 || January 13 || Pittsburgh || 1–7 || Montreal || || 16,252 || 11–24–8 || 30
| 44 || January 15 || Philadelphia || 2–4 || Pittsburgh || || 9,225 || 12–24–8 || 32
| 45 || January 19 || Vancouver || 6–1 || Pittsburgh || || 7,189 || 12–25–8 || 32
| 46 || January 22 || Pittsburgh || 0–1 || St. Louis || || 18,829 || 12–26–8 || 32
| 47 || January 23 || Montreal || 3–3 || Pittsburgh || || 8,414 || 12–26–9 || 33
| 48 || January 26 || St. Louis || 2–1 || Pittsburgh || || 9,316 || 12–27–9 || 33
| 49 || January 29 || Chicago || 4–2 || Pittsburgh || || 13,006 || 12–28–9 || 33
| 50 || January 30 || Pittsburgh || 0–4 || Philadelphia || || 14,626 || 12–29–9 || 33
| 51 || February 3 || Pittsburgh || 4–3 || St. Louis || || 17,871 || 13–29–9 || 35
| 52 || February 5 || Pittsburgh || 1–8 || Los Angeles || || 10,102 || 13–30–9 || 35
| 53 || February 9 || Pittsburgh || 4–1 || Toronto || || 16,370 || 14–30–9 || 37
| 54 || February 10 || Los Angeles || 1–6 || Pittsburgh || || 6,620 || 15–30–9 || 39
| 55 || February 12 || NY Rangers || 8–3 || Pittsburgh || || 12,031 || 15–31–9 || 39
| 56 || February 13 || Vancouver || 4–6 || Pittsburgh || || 6,806 || 16–31–9 || 41
| 57 || February 16 || Toronto || 2–4 || Pittsburgh || || 7,814 || 17–31–9 || 43
| 58 || February 17 || Pittsburgh || 2–0 || Buffalo || || 15,360 || 18–31–9 || 45
| 59 || February 19 || Detroit || 6–2 || Pittsburgh || || 8,105 || 18–32–9 || 45
| 60 || February 20 || Pittsburgh || 0–2 || Minnesota || || 15,316 || 18–33–9 || 45
| 61 || February 23 || Pittsburgh || 0–2 || Toronto || || 16,362 || 18–34–9 || 45
| 62 || February 26 || Philadelphia || 2–5 || Pittsburgh || || 11,208 || 19–34–9 || 47
| 63 || February 27 || Pittsburgh || 3–5 || Montreal || || 18,003 || 19–35–9 || 47
| 64 || March 2 || Detroit || 4–7 || Pittsburgh || || 7,670 || 20–35–9 || 49
| 65 || March 4 || Minnesota || 2–4 || Pittsburgh || || 10,532 || 21–35–9 || 51
| 66 || March 5 || Pittsburgh || 3–6 || Detroit || || 14,768 || 21–36–9 || 51
| 67 || March 8 || Montreal || 5–4 || Pittsburgh || || 9,598 || 21–37–9 || 51
| 68 || March 11 || Boston || 4–6 || Pittsburgh || || 13,050 || 22–37–9 || 53
| 69 || March 12 || Pittsburgh || 4–4 || Boston || || 14,995 || 22–37–10 || 54
| 70 || March 14 || Pittsburgh || 7–4 || Vancouver || || 15,570 || 23–37–10 || 56
| 71 || March 18 || Pittsburgh || 4–4 || Los Angeles || || 7,174 || 23–37–11 || 57
| 72 || March 19 || Pittsburgh || 3–3 || California || || 5,303 || 23–37–12 || 58
| 73 || March 22 || Buffalo || 4–3 || Pittsburgh || || 11,216 || 23–38–12 || 58
| 74 || March 25 || Minnesota || 2–3 || Pittsburgh || || 12,561 || 24–38–12 || 60
| 75 || March 26 || Pittsburgh || 2–2 || Buffalo || || 15,360 || 24–38–13 || 61
| 76 || March 29 || California || 4–5 || Pittsburgh || || 10,209 || 25–38–13 || 63
| 77 || April 1 || Pittsburgh || 4–4 || Philadelphia || || 14,626 || 25–38–14 || 64
| 78 || April 2 || St. Louis || 2–6 || Pittsburgh || || 13,100 || 26–38–14 || 66
Legend:
Playoffs
| 1 || April 5 || Pittsburgh || 1–3 || Chicago || 0–1
| 2 || April 6 || Pittsburgh || 2–3 || Chicago || 0–2
| 3 || April 8 || Chicago || 2–0 || Pittsburgh || 0–3
| 4 || April 9 || Chicago || 6–5 || Pittsburgh || 0–4
Legend:
Player statistics Skaters
+ Regular season 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 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 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 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:
Trades
September 4, 1971 To California Golden Seals
cash To Pittsburgh Penguins
Bill Hicke October 3, 1971 To Vancouver Canucks
Bob Blackburn To Pittsburgh Penguins
cash October 6, 1971 To Minnesota North Stars
Dean Prentice To Pittsburgh Penguins
cash November 22, 1971 To Detroit Red Wings
Bill Hicke To Pittsburgh Penguins
cash January 11, 1972 To Los Angeles Kings
Bob Woytowich To Pittsburgh Penguins
Al McDonough March 4, 1972 To Buffalo Sabres
Rene Robert To Pittsburgh Penguins
Eddie Shack
Player signings
Player Date Contract terms Bob Woytowich September 2, 1971 Re-signed Tim Horton September 2, 1971 Re-signed Wally Boyer September 2, 1971 Re-signed Jean Pronovost September 3, 1971 Signed Dave Burrows September 8, 1971 Re-signed Rene Robert September 8, 1971 Re-signed Roy Edwards September 8, 1971 Re-signed Cam Newton May 25, 1972 1-year contract Jim Rutherford June 1, 1972 Re-signed Bryan Hextall Jr. June 7, 1972 Re-signed
Other
Player Date Details Andy Bathgate July 1, 1971 Retired Roy Edwards December 30, 1971 Retired Red Kelly January 29, 1972 Resigned as GM (remained as head coach) Jack Riley January 29, 1972 Hired as GM (in addition to president) Tim Horton June 5, 1972 Lost to Buffalo Sabres in intra-league draft Bobby Leiter June 6, 1972 Lost to Atlanta Flames in expansion draft John Stewart June 6, 1972 Lost to Atlanta Flames in expansion draft Keith McCreary June 6, 1972 Lost to Atlanta Flames in expansion draft
Draft picks
Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1971 NHL entry draft. Round # Player Pos Nationality 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 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.