1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins season

NHL team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1971–72 1971 Pittsburgh Penguins West 4th 26–38–14 18–15–6 8–23–8 220 250 Red Kelly (Oct–Jan) Jack Riley (Jan–Apr) Red Kelly Vacant Keith McCrearyKen SchinkelBryan WatsonBob Woytowich (Oct-Jan) Pittsburgh Civic Arena Greg Polis, Jean Pronovost (30) Syl Apps (44) Syl Apps (59) Bryan Watson (212) Jim Rutherford (17) Roy Edwards (2.55) 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. 2 Regular season Final standings PIT Record vs. opponents PIT Schedule and results background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 5px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 5px solid; 1971–72 regular season1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins Results and Schedule http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/team_results.php?tid=50&sid=1972 hockeyDB1971-72 Pittsburgh Penguins Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/PIT/1972_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 27, 2025 y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 2px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 2px solid; 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 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 2px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 2px solid; 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 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 2px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 2px solid; 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 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 2px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 2px solid; 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 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 2px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 2px solid; 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 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 2px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 2px solid; 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 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 2px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 2px solid; 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: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 5px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 5px solid; 1972 Stanley Cup playoffs y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 2px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 2px solid; 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: #cfc Win 1px solid black #fcc Loss 1px solid black Player statistics Skaters + Regular season1971–1972 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats http://ice.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=skatersummary&season=19711972&gameType=2&sort=points&aggregate=0&teamId=5&pos=S https://web.archive.org/web/20161002024643/http://ice.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=skatersummary&season=19711972&gameType=2&sort=points&aggregate=0&teamId=5&pos=S dead October 2, 2016 NHL Player GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points +/− Plus/minus PIM Penalty minutes Syl Apps Jr. Syl Apps Jr. 72 15 44 59 18 78 Jean Pronovost 68 30 23 53 15 12 Greg Polis 76 30 19 49 -4 –4 38 Ron Schock 77 17 29 46 -10 –10 22 Ken Schinkel 74 15 30 45 -10 –10 8 Bryan Hextall Jr. 78 20 24 44 -26 –26 126 Darryl Edestrand 77 10 23 33 -12 –12 52 Bob Leiter 78 14 17 31 -25 –25 18 Nick Harbaruk 78 12 17 29 -13 –13 46 Duane Rupp 34 4 18 22 0 32 Bryan Watson Bryan Watson (ice hockey) 75 3 17 20 5 212 Val Fonteyne 68 6 13 19 -1 –1 0 René Robert‡ 49 7 11 18 -11 –11 42 Al McDonough† 37 7 11 18 -6 –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 –7 48 Tim Horton 44 2 9 11 5 40 John Stewart John Stewart (ice hockey, born 1950) 25 2 8 10 -6 –6 23 Keith McCreary 33 4 4 8 -10 –10 22 Joe Noris 35 2 5 7 -8 –8 20 Sheldon Kannegiesser 54 2 4 6 -14 –14 47 Bob Woytowich‡ 31 1 4 5 -19 –19 8 Brian McKenzie Brian McKenzie (ice hockey) 6 1 1 2 -2 –2 4 Bill Hicke 12 2 0 2 -6 –6 6 Wally Boyer 1 0 1 1 -1 –1 0 Rick Kessell 3 0 1 1 -1 –1 0 Robin Burns 5 0 0 0 -4 –4 8 Total 220 360 580 — 950 + Playoffs1971–1972 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats http://ice.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=skatersummary&season=19711972&gameType=3&sort=points&aggregate=0&teamId=5&pos=S https://web.archive.org/web/20161002030308/http://ice.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=skatersummary&season=19711972&gameType=3&sort=points&aggregate=0&teamId=5&pos=S dead October 2, 2016 NHL Player GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points +/− Plus/minus PIM Penalty minutes 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. 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 Bryan Watson (ice hockey) 4 0 0 0 0 21 Duane Rupp 4 0 0 0 0 6 Total 8 11 19 — 71 Goaltenders + Regular Season1971–1972 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats https://www.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=goaliesummary&season=19711972&gameType=2&aggregate=0&teamId=5&pos=G NHL Player GP Games played W Win L Loss T Tie GA Goals against SO Shutouts Jim Rutherford 40 17 15 5 116 1 Les Binkley 31 7 15 5 98 0 Roy Edwards ice hockey 15 2 8 4 36 0 Total 26 38 14 250 1 + Playoffs1971–1972 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats http://ice.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=goaliesummary&season=19711972&gameType=3&sort=wins&aggregate=0&teamId=5&pos=G https://web.archive.org/web/20161002020616/http://ice.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=goaliesummary&season=19711972&gameType=3&sort=wins&aggregate=0&teamId=5&pos=G dead October 2, 2016 NHL Player GP Games played W Win L Loss GA Goals against SO Shutouts 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:Hockey Transactions Search Results http://www.prosportstransactions.com/hockey/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=&Team=Penguins&BeginDate=1971-06-10&EndDate=1972-06-07&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&submit=Search&start=0 Pro Sports Transactions 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 1971 NHL amateur draft Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1971 NHL entry draft.NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftsearch.htm?year=1971&team=PIT&position=&round= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115834/http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftsearch.htm?year=1971&team=PIT&position=&round= dead March 4, 2016 NHL.com February 25, 2013 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 notes1971 NHL Entry Draft Pending Transactions http://www.prosportstransactions.com/hockey/DraftTrades/Years/1971.htm Pro Sports Transactions February 25, 2013 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 Category:Pittsburgh Penguins seasons Pittsburgh Pitts Pitts