1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins season

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.

1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division	4th West
1971–72 record	26–38–14
Home record	18–15–6
Road record	8–23–8
Goals for	220
Goals against	250
Team information
General manager	Red Kelly (Oct–Jan) Jack Riley (Jan–Apr)
Coach	Red Kelly
Captain	Vacant
Alternate captains	Keith McCreary Ken Schinkel Bryan Watson Bob Woytowich (Oct-Jan)
Arena	Pittsburgh Civic Arena
Team leaders
Goals	Greg Polis, Jean Pronovost (30)
Assists	Syl Apps (44)
Points	Syl Apps (59)
Penalty minutes	Bryan Watson (212)
Wins	Jim Rutherford (17)
Goals against average	Roy Edwards (2.55)
← 1970–71 1972–73 →

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

West Division^[1]

• v
• t
• e

		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	DIFF	Pts
1	Chicago Black Hawks	78	46	17	15	256	166	+90	107
2	Minnesota North Stars	78	37	29	12	212	191	+21	86
3	St. Louis Blues	78	28	39	11	208	247	−39	67
4	Pittsburgh Penguins	78	26	38	14	220	258	−38	66
5	Philadelphia Flyers	78	26	38	14	200	236	−36	66
6	California Golden Seals	78	21	39	18	216	288	−72	60
7	Los Angeles Kings	78	20	49	9	206	305	−99	49

Record vs. opponents

Vs. West Division 1971–72 NHL records[2] Team CAL CHI LAK MIN PHI PIT STL Total California — 1–4–1 3–2–1 1–4–1 2–4 2–2–2 0–3–3 9–19–8 Chicago 4–1–1 — 5–1 5–1 3–2–1 5–0–1 6–0 28–5–3 Los Angeles 2–3–1 1–5 — 0–6 2–3–1 1–4–1 2–4 8–25–3 Minnesota 4–1–1 1–5 6–0 — 3–1–2 4–2 4–2 22–11–3 Philadelphia 4–2 2–3–1 3–2–1 1–3–2 — 2–3–1 1–2–3 13–15–8 Pittsburgh 2–2–2 0–5–1 4–1–1 2–4 3–2–1 — 3–3 14–17–5 St. Louis 3–0–3 0–6 4–2 2–4 2–1–3 3–3 — 14–16–6

Vs. East Division 1971–72 NHL records Team BOS BUF DET MTL NYR TOR VAN Total California 2–4 3–0–3 2–2–2 0–3–3 1–4–1 2–3–1 2–4 12–20–10 Chicago 1–4–1 3–2–1 5–0–1 1–2–3 1–2–3 4–0–2 3–2–1 18–12–12 Los Angeles 1–4–1 3–2–1 2–3–1 0–5–1 0–6 1–4–1 5–0–1 12–24–6 Minnesota 0–5–1 2–2–2 4–2 1–4–1 3–1–2 2–2–2 3–2–1 15–18–9 Philadelphia 0–6 2–2–2 2–3–1 2–3–1 0–6 2–2–2 5–1 13–23–6 Pittsburgh 1–2–3 1–2–3 2–4 1–4–1 1–3–2 2–4 4–2 12–21–9 St. Louis 1–4–1 4–1–1 3–2–1 1–4–1 1–5 2–4 2–3–1 14–23–5

Schedule and results

1971–72 regular season[3][4]
October: 5–5–2 (home: 2–2–1; road: 3–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points 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
November: 3–9–0 (home: 2–3–0; road: 1–6–0) # Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points 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
December: 3–7–4 (home: 3–2–3; road: 0–5–1) # Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points 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
January: 1–8–3 (home: 1–4–2; road: 0–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points 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
February: 7–6–0 (home: 4–2–0; road: 3–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points 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
March: 6–3–4 (home: 5–2–0; road: 1–1–4) # Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points 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
April: 1–0–1 (home: 1–0–0; road: 0–0–1) # Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points 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:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

1972 Stanley Cup playoffs[4]
Round one vs Chicago: 0–4 (home: 0–2; road: 0–2) # Date Visitor Score Home Series 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:   Win   Loss

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular season[5] Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM Syl Apps Jr. 72 15 44 59 18 78 Jean Pronovost 68 30 23 53 15 12 Greg Polis 76 30 19 49 –4 38 Ron Schock 77 17 29 46 –10 22 Ken Schinkel 74 15 30 45 –10 8 Bryan Hextall Jr. 78 20 24 44 –26 126 Darryl Edestrand 77 10 23 33 –12 52 Bob Leiter 78 14 17 31 –25 18 Nick Harbaruk 78 12 17 29 –13 46 Duane Rupp 34 4 18 22 0 32 Bryan Watson 75 3 17 20 5 212 Val Fonteyne 68 6 13 19 –1 0 René Robert‡ 49 7 11 18 –11 42 Al McDonough† 37 7 11 18 –6 8 Steve Cardwell 28 7 8 15 0 18 Eddie Shack† 18 5 9 14 5 12 Dave Burrows 77 2 10 12 –7 48 Tim Horton 44 2 9 11 5 40 John Stewart 25 2 8 10 –6 23 Keith McCreary 33 4 4 8 –10 22 Joe Noris 35 2 5 7 –8 20 Sheldon Kannegiesser 54 2 4 6 –14 47 Bob Woytowich‡ 31 1 4 5 –19 8 Brian McKenzie 6 1 1 2 –2 4 Bill Hicke 12 2 0 2 –6 6 Wally Boyer 1 0 1 1 –1 0 Rick Kessell 3 0 1 1 –1 0 Robin Burns 5 0 0 0 –4 8 Total 220 360 580 — 950

Playoffs[6] Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM Bob Leiter 4 3 0 3 0 0 Darryl Edestrand 4 0 2 2 0 0 Jean Pronovost 4 1 1 2 0 0 Ken Schinkel 3 2 0 2 0 0 Greg Polis 4 0 2 2 0 0 Bryan Hextall Jr. 4 0 2 2 0 9 Eddie Shack 4 0 1 1 0 15 Nick Harbaruk 4 0 1 1 0 0 Syl Apps Jr. 4 1 0 1 0 2 Al McDonough 4 0 1 1 0 0 Ron Schock 4 1 0 1 0 6 Tim Horton 4 0 1 1 0 2 Steve Cardwell 4 0 0 0 0 2 Dave Burrows 4 0 0 0 0 4 Keith McCreary 1 0 0 0 0 2 Val Fonteyne 4 0 0 0 0 2 Bryan Watson 4 0 0 0 0 21 Duane Rupp 4 0 0 0 0 6 Total 8 11 19 — 71

Goaltenders

Regular Season^[7]

Player	GP	W	L	T	GA	SO
Jim Rutherford	40	17	15	5	116	1
Les Binkley	31	7	15	5	98	0
Roy Edwards	15	2	8	4	36	0
Total		26	38	14	250	1

Playoffs^[8]

Player	GP	W	L	GA	SO
Jim Rutherford	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:^[9]

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

Main article: 1971 NHL amateur draft

Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1971 NHL entry draft.^[10]

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

Draft notes^[11]

• 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.