1970–71 Pittsburgh Penguins season

NHL team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1970–71 1970 Pittsburgh Penguins West 6th 21–37–20 18–12–9 3–25–11 221 240 Red Kelly Red Kelly Vacant Keith McCrearyDuane RuppKen SchinkelBob Woytowich Pittsburgh Civic Arena 9,671 Jean Pronovost (21) Bryan Hextall (32) Bryan Hextall (48) Bryan Hextall (133) Les Binkley (11) Les Binkley (2.85) The 1970–71 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the franchise's fourth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). After making their first postseason appearance the previous season, the Penguins failed to reach the playoffs for the first time since the 1968–69 season. 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; 1970–71 regular season1970-71 Pittsburgh Penguins Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/PIT/1971_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 27, 2025 y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 2px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 2px solid; October: 2–4–3 (home: 1–2–1; road: 1–2–2), 7 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location (Attendance) Record Points |- | 1 || Oct 10 || Buffalo Sabres || 2–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (11,189) || 0–1–0 || 0 |- | 2 || Oct 15 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Minnesota North Stars || Met Center (12,134) || 0–2–0 || 0 |- | 3 || Oct 17 || Philadelphia Flyers || 0–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (7,535) || 0–2–1 || 1 |- | 4 || Oct 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–1 || Buffalo Sabres || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium (8,656) || 0–2–2 || 2 |- | 5 || Oct 21 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Los Angeles Kings || The Forum (6,903) || 0–3–2 || 2 |- | 6 || Oct 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–1 || California Golden Seals || Oakland Coliseum Arena (4,043) || 1–3–2 || 4 |- | 7 || Oct 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–1 || Vancouver Canucks || Pacific Coliseum (13,329) || 1–3–3 || 5 |- | 8 || Oct 28 || Los Angeles Kings || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (5,028) || 2–3–3 || 7 |- | 9 || Oct 31 || Chicago Black Hawks || 5–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (8,412) || 2–4–3 || 7 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 2px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 2px solid; November: 3–6–5 (home: 3–2–2; road: 0–4–3), 11 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location (Attendance) Record Points |- | 10 || Nov 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum (14,620) || 2–5–3 || 7 |- | 11 || Nov 4 || Vancouver Canucks || 3–8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (5,029) || 3–5–3 || 9 |- | 12 || Nov 7 || Boston Bruins || 2–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (12,909) || 3–5–4 || 10 |- | 13 || Nov 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Detroit Red Wings || Olympia Stadium (12,662) || 3–5–5 || 11 |- | 14 || Nov 10 || Los Angeles Kings || 5–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (8,089) || 3–6–5 || 11 |- | 15 || Nov 11 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (IV) (17,250) || 3–6–6 || 12 |- | 16 || Nov 14 || California Golden Seals || 1–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (11,075) || 4–6–6 || 14 |- | 17 || Nov 19 || St. Louis Blues || 1–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (9,027) || 4–7–6 || 14 |- | 18 || Nov 21 || Detroit Red Wings || 1–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (11,298) || 5–7–6 || 16 |- | 19 || Nov 22 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Boston Bruins || Boston Garden (14,994) || 5–8–6 || 16 |- | 20 || Nov 24 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || Maple Leaf Gardens (16,384) || 5–8–7 || 17 |- | 21 || Nov 25 || Buffalo Sabres || 4–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (9,705) || 5–8–8 || 18 |- | 22 || Nov 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–5 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum (16,838) || 5–9–8 || 18 |- | 23 || Nov 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–6 || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (IV) (17,250) || 5–10–8 || 18 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 2px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 2px solid; December: 5–7–3 (home: 5–2–1; road: 0–5–2), 13 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location (Attendance) Record Points |- | 24 || Dec 2 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (8,601) || 5–10–9 || 19 |- | 25 || Dec 5 || Vancouver Canucks || 1–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (8,111) || 6–10–9 || 21 |- | 26 || Dec 6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–6 || Boston Bruins || Boston Garden (14,994) || 6–11–9 || 21 |- | 27 || Dec 8 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 0–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (7,034) || 7–11–9 || 23 |- | 28 || Dec 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 || Minnesota North Stars || Met Center (12,222) || 7–11–10 || 24 |- | 29 || Dec 11 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 || St. Louis Blues || St. Louis Arena (17,764) || 7–12–10 || 24 |- | 30 || Dec 12 || Minnesota North Stars || 1–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (9,031) || 7–13–10 || 24 |- | 31 || Dec 16 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (7,222) || 7–14–10 || 24 |- | 32 || Dec 19 || Detroit Red Wings || 1–9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (8,011) || 8–14–10 || 26 |- | 33 || Dec 20 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || Chicago Stadium (-) || 8–15–10 || 26 |- | 34 || Dec 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–6 || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (IV) (17,250) || 8–16–10 || 26 |- | 35 || Dec 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–8 || Boston Bruins || Boston Garden (14,994) || 8–17–10 || 26 |- | 36 || Dec 26 || Boston Bruins || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (13,050) || 9–17–10 || 28 |- | 37 || Dec 30 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum (16,753) || 9–17–11 || 29 |- | 38 || Dec 31 || Minnesota North Stars || 1–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (10,337) || 10–17–11 || 31 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 2px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 2px solid; January: 6–5–1 (home: 4–1–0; road: 2–4–1), 13 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location (Attendance) Record Points |- | 39 || Jan 2 || New York Rangers || 3–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (12,444) || 10–18–11 || 31 |- | 40 || Jan 6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum (12,127) || 10–19–11 || 31 |- | 41 || Jan 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–5 || Toronto Maple Leafs || Maple Leaf Gardens (16,485) || 10–20–11 || 31 |- | 42 || Jan 13 || Los Angeles Kings || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (7,575) || 11–20–11 || 33 |- | 43 || Jan 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 || Detroit Red Wings || Olympia Stadium (11,360) || 11–20–12 || 34 |- | 44 || Jan 16 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–3 || Vancouver Canucks || Pacific Coliseum (14,098) || 12–20–12 || 36 |- | 45 || Jan 20 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2 || California Golden Seals || Oakland Coliseum Arena (3,293) || 13–20–12 || 38 |- | 46 || Jan 21 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Los Angeles Kings || The Forum (7,587) || 13–21–12 || 38 |- | 47 || Jan 23 || Vancouver Canucks || 1–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (12,304) || 14–21–12 || 40 |- | 48 || Jan 27 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 1–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (9,039) || 15–21–12 || 42 |- | 49 || Jan 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || Chicago Stadium (-) || 15–22–12 || 42 |- | 50 || Jan 30 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (12,528) || 16–22–12 || 44 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 2px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 2px solid; February: 3–7–3 (home: 3–2–1; road: 0–5–2), 9 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location (Attendance) Record Points |- | 51 || Feb 3 || California Golden Seals || 1–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (10,208) || 17–22–12 || 46 |- | 52 || Feb 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 || St. Louis Blues || St. Louis Arena (18,206) || 17–22–13 || 47 |- | 53 || Feb 7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || Chicago Stadium (-) || 17–23–13 || 47 |- | 54 || Feb 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum (16,211) || 17–24–13 || 47 |- | 55 || Feb 10 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (10,311) || 18–24–13 || 49 |- | 56 || Feb 13 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (10,755) || 19–24–13 || 51 |- | 57 || Feb 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–5 || Minnesota North Stars || Met Center (15,042) || 19–25–13 || 51 |- | 58 || Feb 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || Maple Leaf Gardens (16,413) || 19–26–13 || 51 |- | 59 || Feb 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–6 || Buffalo Sabres || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium (9,969) || 19–26–14 || 52 |- | 60 || Feb 20 || New York Rangers || 2–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (13,200) || 19–27–14 || 52 |- | 61 || Feb 24 || St. Louis Blues || 5–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (10,005) || 19–27–15 || 53 |- | 62 || Feb 27 || New York Rangers || 4–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (12,419) || 19–28–15 || 53 |- | 63 || Feb 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Detroit Red Wings || Olympia Stadium (12,683) || 19–29–15 || 53 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 2px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 2px solid; March: 2–7–3 (home: 2–3–3; road: 0–4–0), 7 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location (Attendance) Record Points |- | 64 || Mar 3 || Montreal Canadiens || 0–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (8,011) || 20–29–15 || 55 |- | 65 || Mar 6 || Boston Bruins || 6–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (13,020) || 20–30–15 || 55 |- | 66 || Mar 7 || California Golden Seals || 3–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (11,283) || 20–30–16 || 56 |- | 67 || Mar 10 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (8,590) || 20–30–17 || 57 |- | 68 || Mar 13 || Minnesota North Stars || 0–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (10,284) || 20–30–18 || 58 |- | 69 || Mar 14 || Montreal Canadiens || 5–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (8,741) || 20–31–18 || 58 |- | 70 || Mar 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–5 || California Golden Seals || Oakland Coliseum Arena (2,647) || 20–32–18 || 58 |- | 71 || Mar 19 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–6 || Vancouver Canucks || Pacific Coliseum (15,570) || 20–33–18 || 58 |- | 72 || Mar 20 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–8 || Los Angeles Kings || The Forum (7,771) || 20–34–18 || 58 |- | 73 || Mar 24 || Detroit Red Wings || 2–8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (9,025) || 21–34–18 || 60 |- | 74 || Mar 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum (14,620) || 21–35–18 || 60 |- | 75 || Mar 31 || Buffalo Sabres || 6–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (7,051) || 21–36–18 || 60 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 2px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 2px solid; April: 0–1–2 (home: 0–0–1; road: 0–1–1), 2 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location (Attendance) Record Points |- | 76 || Apr 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || Buffalo Sabres || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium (10,429) || 21–36–19 || 61 |- | 77 || Apr 3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 || St. Louis Blues || St. Louis Arena (18,529) || 21–37–19 || 61 |- | 78 || Apr 4 || St. Louis Blues || 1–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (10,117) || 21–37–20 || 62 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Player statistics Skaters + Regular season1970–1971 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats http://ice.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=skatersummary&season=19701971&gameType=2&sort=points&aggregate=0&teamId=5&pos=S https://web.archive.org/web/20161002030907/http://ice.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=skatersummary&season=19701971&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 Bryan Hextall Jr. 76 16 32 48 -23 –23 133 Jean Pronovost 78 21 24 45 8 35 Andy Bathgate 76 15 29 44 -11 –11 34 Wally Boyer 68 11 30 41 10 30 Ron Schock 71 14 26 40 2 20 Dean Prentice 69 21 17 38 -8 –8 18 Ken Schinkel 50 15 19 34 -19 –19 6 Greg Polis 61 18 15 33 -6 –6 40 Duane Rupp 59 5 28 33 -10 –10 34 Keith McCreary 59 21 12 33 7 24 Dunc McCallum 77 9 20 29 -13 –13 95 Bob Woytowich 78 4 22 26 8 30 Nick Harbaruk 78 13 12 25 -9 –9 108 Syl Apps Jr. Syl Apps Jr.† 31 9 16 25 3 21 Val Fonteyne 70 4 9 13 -8 –8 0 Rod Zaine 37 8 5 13 -8 –8 21 Glen Sather‡ 46 8 3 11 0 96 Jim Morrison Jim Morrison (ice hockey) 73 0 10 10 -12 –12 32 Bob Blackburn Bob Blackburn (ice hockey) 64 4 5 9 0 54 Bryan Watson Bryan Watson (ice hockey) 43 2 6 8 -5 –5 119 John Stewart John Stewart (ice hockey, born 1950) 15 2 1 3 -9 –9 9 Robin Burns 10 0 3 3 1 4 Rick Kessell 6 0 2 2 1 2 Sheldon Kannegiesser 18 0 2 2 -9 –9 29 Yvon Labre 21 1 1 2 2 19 Lowell MacDonald 10 0 1 1 -6 –6 0 Steve Cardwell 5 0 1 1 -4 –4 15 Total 221 351 572 — 1,028 Goaltenders + Regular Season1970–1971 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats https://www.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=goaliesummary&season=19701971&gameType=2&aggregate=0&teamId=5&pos=G NHL Player GP Games played W Win L Loss T Tie GA Goals against SO Shutouts Les Binkley 34 11 11 10 89 2 Allan Smith Al Smith (ice hockey) 46 9 22 9 128 2 Cam Newton Cam Newton (ice hockey) 5 1 3 1 16 0 Paul Hoganson 2 0 1 0 7 0 Total 21 37 20 240 4 †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 Ken Schinkel became the first player to record 100 assists with the Penguins. He did so in a 2–5 loss to California on March 17. Wally Boyer became the first player in franchise history to have a final plus-minus of at least +10. Dunc McCallum tied the team record for goals in a season by a defenseman with 9. Transactions The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1970–71 season:Hockey Transactions Search Results http://www.prosportstransactions.com/hockey/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=&Team=Penguins&BeginDate=1970-06-11&EndDate=1971-06-09&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&submit=Search&start=0 Pro Sports Transactions Trades October 2, 1970 To Montreal Canadiens cash To Pittsburgh Penguins Robin Burns October 9, 1970 To Buffalo Sabres Dave Dryden To Pittsburgh Penguins cash January 24, 1971 To Buffalo Sabres Terry Ball To Pittsburgh Penguins Jean-Guy Lagace January 26, 1971 To New York Rangers Glen Sather To Pittsburgh Penguins Syl Apps Jr.Sheldon Kannegiesser May 1, 1971 To Boston Bruins cash To Pittsburgh Penguins Bob Leiter Other Player Date Details Roy Edwards June 7, 1971 Claimed off of waivers from Detroit Red Wings Rod Zaine June 8, 1971 Lost in intra-league draft to Buffalo Sabres Al Smith June 8, 1971 #2 overall pick in intra-league draft to Detroit Red Wings Jim Rutherford June 8, 1971 #3 overall pick in intra-league draft from Detroit Red Wings Dave Burrows June 8, 1971 #5 overall pick in intra-league draft from Chicago Blackhawks Rene Robert June 8, 1971 #22 overall pick in intra-league draft from Toronto Maple Leafs Tim Horton June 8, 1971 Claimed in intra-league draft from New York Rangers Draft picks 1970 NHL amateur draft Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1970 NHL entry draft.NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftsearch.htm?year=1970&team=PIT&position=&round= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082849/http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftsearch.htm?year=1970&team=PIT&position=&round= dead March 4, 2016 NHL.com February 25, 2013 Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)17Greg PolisLeft wingCanadaEstevan Bruins (WCHL)221John StewartLeft wingCanadaFlin Flon Bombers (WCHL)335Larry BignellDefensemanCanadaEdmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)449Connie ForeyLeft wingCanadaOttawa 67's (OHA)563Steve CardwellLeft wingCanadaOshawa Generals (OHA)677Bob FitchnerCenterCanadaBrandon Wheat Kings (WCHL)790Jim PearsonDefensemanCanadaSt. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)8102Cam NewtonGoaltenderCanadaKitchener Rangers (OHA)9110Ron LemieuxDefensemanCanadaDauphin Kings (MJHL) References Player stats on Hockey Database Game log on NHL Database Category:Pittsburgh Penguins seasons Pittsburgh Pitts Pitts Category:1970 in Pittsburgh Category:1971 in Pittsburgh