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1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins season

NHL team season


NHL team season

FieldValue
LeagueNHL
Season1971–72
year1971
TeamPittsburgh Penguins
DivisionWest
DivisionRank4th
Record26–38–14
HomeRecord18–15–6
RoadRecord8–23–8
GoalsFor220
GoalsAgainst250
GeneralManagerRed Kelly (Oct–Jan)
Jack Riley (Jan–Apr)
CoachRed Kelly
Captain*Vacant*
AltCaptainKeith McCreary
Ken Schinkel
Bryan Watson
Bob Woytowich (Oct-Jan)
ArenaPittsburgh Civic Arena
GoalsLeaderGreg Polis, Jean Pronovost (30)
AssistsLeaderSyl Apps (44)
PointsLeaderSyl Apps (59)
PIMLeaderBryan Watson (212)
WinsLeaderJim Rutherford (17)
GAALeaderRoy Edwards (2.55)

Jack Riley (Jan–Apr) Ken Schinkel Bryan Watson Bob Woytowich (Oct-Jan) 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

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| 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

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| Legend:

Player statistics

;Skaters

a#4A53912px}}"Playera#4A53912px}}"GPa#4A53912px}}"Ga#4A53912px}}"Aa#4A53912px}}"Ptsa#4A53912px}}" data-sort-type="number"+/−a#4A53912px}}"PIMTotal220360580950
721544**59**1878
683023**53**1512
763019**49**38
771729**46**22
741530**45**8
782024**44**126
771023**33**52
781417**31**18
781217**29**46
34418**22**032
75317**20**5212
68613**19**0
49711**18**42
37711**18**8
2878**15**018
1859**14**512
77210**12**48
4429**11**540
2528**10**23
3344**8**22
3525**7**20
5424**6**47
3114**5**8
611**2**4
1220**2**6
101**1**0
301**1**0
500**0**8
a#4A53912px}}"Playera#4A53912px}}"GPa#4A53912px}}"Ga#4A53912px}}"Aa#4A53912px}}"Ptsa#4A53912px}}" data-sort-type="number"+/−a#4A53912px}}"PIMTotal8111971
430**3**00
402**2**00
411**2**00
320**2**00
402**2**00
402**2**09
401**1**015
401**1**00
410**1**02
401**1**00
410**1**06
401**1**02
400**0**02
400**0**04
100**0**02
400**0**02
400**0**021
400**0**06

;Goaltenders

a#4A53912px}}"Playera#4A53912px}}"GPa#4A53912px}}"Wa#4A53912px}}"La#4A53912px}}"Ta#4A53912px}}"GAa#4A53912px}}"SOTotal2638142501
40171551161
317155980
15284360
a#4A53912px}}"Playera#4A53912px}}"GPa#4A53912px}}"Wa#4A53912px}}"La#4A53912px}}"GAa#4A53912px}}"SOTotal04140
404140

†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

March 4, 1972To [Buffalo Sabres](1971-72-buffalo-sabres-season)To Pittsburgh Penguins

Player signings

a#4A53912px}} width:25%;"Playera#4A53912px}} width:25%;"Datea#4A53912px}} width:50%;"Contract terms
Bob WoytowichSeptember 2, 1971Re-signed
Tim HortonSeptember 2, 1971Re-signed
Wally BoyerSeptember 2, 1971Re-signed
Jean PronovostSeptember 3, 1971Signed
Dave BurrowsSeptember 8, 1971Re-signed
Rene RobertSeptember 8, 1971Re-signed
Roy EdwardsSeptember 8, 1971Re-signed
Cam NewtonMay 25, 19721-year contract
Jim RutherfordJune 1, 1972Re-signed
Bryan Hextall Jr.June 7, 1972Re-signed

Other

a#4A53912px}} width:25%;"Playera#4A53912px}} width:25%;"Datea#4A53912px}} width:50%;"Details
Andy BathgateJuly 1, 1971Retired
Roy EdwardsDecember 30, 1971Retired
Red KellyJanuary 29, 1972Resigned as GM (remained as head coach)
Jack RileyJanuary 29, 1972Hired as GM (in addition to president)
Tim HortonJune 5, 1972Lost to Buffalo Sabres in intra-league draft
Bobby LeiterJune 6, 1972Lost to Atlanta Flames in expansion draft
John StewartJune 6, 1972Lost to Atlanta Flames in expansion draft
Keith McCrearyJune 6, 1972Lost to Atlanta Flames in expansion draft

Draft picks

Main article: 1971 NHL amateur draft

Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1971 NHL entry draft.

a#4A53912px}}"Rounda#4A53912px}}"#a#4A53912px}}"Playera#4A53912px}}"Posa#4A53912px}}"Nationalitya#4A53912px}}"College/Junior/Club team (League)
218Brian McKenzieLeft wingCanadaSt. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)
332Joe NorisCenterUnited StatesToronto Marlboros (OHA)
446Gerry MetheDefenseCanadaOshawa Generals (OHA)
560Dave MurphyGoaltenderCanadaUniversity of North Dakota (NCAA)
674Ian WilliamsRight wingCanadaNotre Dame (NCAA)
788Doug ElliottDefenseCanadaHarvard 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.
  • 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.

References

References

  1. "1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins Results and Schedule". hockeyDB.
  2. "1971-72 Pittsburgh Penguins Schedule".
  3. "1971–1972 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  4. "1971–1972 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  5. "1971–1972 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  6. "1971–1972 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  7. "Hockey Transactions Search Results". Pro Sports Transactions.
  8. "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". NHL.com.
  9. "1971 NHL Entry Draft Pending Transactions". Pro Sports Transactions.
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