1986–87 Pittsburgh Penguins season

NHL team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1986–87 1986 Pittsburgh Penguins Wales 9th Patrick 5th 30–38–12 19–15–6 11–23–6 297 290 Eddie Johnston Bob Berry Mike Bullard (Oct-Nov) Terry Ruskowski (Nov-Apr) Mario Lemieux (Nov-Apr) Moe Mantha Terry Ruskowski (Oct-Nov) Pittsburgh Civic Arena Mario Lemieux (54) Mario Lemieux (53) Mario Lemieux (107) Dan Frawley (218) Gilles Meloche (13) Pat Riggin (3.34) The 1986–87 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the Penguins' 20th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Penguins did not qualify for the playoffs for the fifth year in a row for the first time in franchise history. 2 Regular season Despite a strong start at the beginning of the season, the Penguins managed to find themselves unqualified for the playoffs for the fifth straight year. Final standings PIT Record vs. opponents PIT Schedule and results background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#000000 5px solid; border-bottom:#FCB514 5px solid; 1986–87 regular season1986-87 Pittsburgh Penguins Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/PIT/1987_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 27, 2025 y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#000000 2px solid; border-bottom:#FCB514 2px solid; October: 8–3–0 (home: 6–1–0; road: 2–2–0), 16 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points |- | 1 || Oct 9 || Washington Capitals || 4–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 1–0–0 || 2 |- | 2 || Oct 11 || New York Rangers || 5–6 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 2–0–0 || 4 |- | 3 || Oct 12 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || Chicago Blackhawks || Chicago Stadium || 3–0–0 || 6 |- | 4 || Oct 14 || Los Angeles Kings || 3–4 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 4–0–0 || 8 |- | 5 || Oct 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–3 || Buffalo Sabres || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium || 5–0–0 || 10 |- | 6 || Oct 18 || New Jersey Devils || 4–8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 6–0–0 || 12 |- | 7 || Oct 22 || Buffalo Sabres || 4–5 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 7–0–0 || 14 |- | 8 || Oct 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–5 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum || 7–1–0 || 14 |- | 9 || Oct 25 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 8–1–0 || 16 |- | 10 || Oct 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–5 || Hartford Whalers || XL Center || 8–2–0 || 16 |- | 11 || Oct 29 || New Jersey Devils || 8–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 8–3–0 || 16 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#000000 2px solid; border-bottom:#FCB514 2px solid; November: 5–5–4 (home: 2–1–0; road: 3–4–2), 14 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points |- | 12 || Nov 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 OT || St. Louis Blues || The Checkerdome || 8–3–1 || 17 |- | 13 || Nov 4 || Vancouver Canucks || 2–2 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 8–3–2 || 18 |- | 14 || Nov 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2 || Minnesota North Stars || Met Center || 9–3–2 || 20 |- | 15 || Nov 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–2 || Detroit Red Wings || Joe Louis Arena || 9–4–2 || 20 |- | 16 || Nov 12 || Boston Bruins || 1–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 10–4–2 || 22 |- | 17 || Nov 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–5 || New Jersey Devils || Izod Center || 10–5–2 || 22 |- | 18 || Nov 15 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 11–5–2 || 24 |- | 19 || Nov 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || Winnipeg Jets || Winnipeg Arena || 11–6–2 || 24 |- | 20 || Nov 20 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–2 || Calgary Flames || Scotiabank Saddledome || 12–6–2 || 26 |- | 21 || Nov 22 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–4 || Washington Capitals || Capital Centre || 13–6–2 || 28 |- | 22 || Nov 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–5 || New York Islanders || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 13–7–2 || 28 |- | 23 || Nov 26 || New York Islanders || 3–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 13–8–2 || 28 |- | 24 || Nov 29 || New York Rangers || 5–5 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 13–8–3 || 29 |- | 25 || Nov 30 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 OT || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (IV) || 13–8–4 || 30 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#000000 2px solid; border-bottom:#FCB514 2px solid; December: 2–7–3 (home: 2–4–1; road: 0–3–2), 7 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points |- | 26 || Dec 5 || Edmonton Oilers || 4–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 13–9–4 || 30 |- | 27 || Dec 6 || Minnesota North Stars || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 14–9–4 || 32 |- | 28 || Dec 10 || Calgary Flames || 6–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 14–10–4 || 32 |- | 29 || Dec 12 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 15–10–4 || 34 |- | 30 || Dec 13 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 OT || Toronto Maple Leafs || Maple Leaf Gardens || 15–11–4 || 34 |- | 31 || Dec 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–3 || Los Angeles Kings || The Forum || 15–12–4 || 34 |- | 32 || Dec 20 || Philadelphia Flyers || 6–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 15–13–4 || 34 |- | 33 || Dec 22 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–4 OT || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum || 15–13–5 || 35 |- | 34 || Dec 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 OT || New York Islanders || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 15–14–5 || 35 |- | 35 || Dec 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 OT || Buffalo Sabres || Buffalo Memorial Auditorium || 15–14–6 || 36 |- | 36 || Dec 27 || New York Islanders || 3–3 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 15–14–7 || 37 |- | 37 || Dec 30 || New York Rangers || 5–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 15–15–7 || 37 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#000000 2px solid; border-bottom:#FCB514 2px solid; January: 4–8–1 (home: 3–2–0; road: 1–6–1), 9 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points |- | 38 || Jan 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 OT || Washington Capitals || Capital Centre || 15–16–7 || 37 |- | 39 || Jan 3 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 16–16–7 || 39 |- | 40 || Jan 7 || Washington Capitals || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 17–16–7 || 41 |- | 41 || Jan 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 || Washington Capitals || Capital Centre || 17–17–7 || 41 |- | 42 || Jan 13 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 OT || New York Islanders || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 17–17–8 || 42 |- | 43 || Jan 14 || Winnipeg Jets || 4–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 17–18–8 || 42 |- | 44 || Jan 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Boston Bruins || Boston Garden || 17–19–8 || 42 |- | 45 || Jan 18 || Detroit Red Wings || 1–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 17–20–8 || 42 |- | 46 || Jan 21 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–10 || Los Angeles Kings || The Forum || 17–21–8 || 42 |- | 47 || Jan 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–0 || Vancouver Canucks || Pacific Coliseum || 18–21–8 || 44 |- | 48 || Jan 24 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Edmonton Oilers || Northlands Coliseum || 18–22–8 || 44 |- | 49 || Jan 27 || Washington Capitals || 5–7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 19–22–8 || 46 |- | 50 || Jan 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–5 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum || 19–23–8 || 46 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#000000 2px solid; border-bottom:#FCB514 2px solid; February: 4–7–2 (home: 2–4–1; road: 2–3–1), 10 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points |- | 51 || Feb 1 || Hartford Whalers || 8–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 19–24–8 || 46 |- | 52 || Feb 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–6 || Boston Bruins || Boston Garden || 19–25–8 || 46 |- | 53 || Feb 7 || Chicago Blackhawks || 1–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 20–25–8 || 48 |- | 54 || Feb 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–1 OT || New Jersey Devils || Izod Center || 21–25–8 || 50 |- | 55 || Feb 14 || Vancouver Canucks || 3–3 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 21–25–9 || 51 |- | 56 || Feb 15 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (IV) || 21–26–9 || 51 |- | 57 || Feb 17 || Calgary Flames || 3–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 21–27–9 || 51 |- | 58 || Feb 19 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–4 OT || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum || 21–27–10 || 52 |- | 59 || Feb 21 || New Jersey Devils || 6–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 21–28–10 || 52 |- | 60 || Feb 22 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2 || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (IV) || 22–28–10 || 54 |- | 61 || Feb 24 || Edmonton Oilers || 2–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 23–28–10 || 56 |- | 62 || Feb 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–5 || New York Islanders || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 23–29–10 || 56 |- | 63 || Feb 28 || Chicago Blackhawks || 2–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 23–30–10 || 56 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#000000 2px solid; border-bottom:#FCB514 2px solid; March: 5–8–2 (home: 2–3–2; road: 3–5–0), 12 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points |- | 64 || Mar 1 || St. Louis Blues || 5–5 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 23–30–11 || 57 |- | 65 || Mar 3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 8–1 || Quebec Nordiques || Quebec Coliseum || 24–30–11 || 59 |- | 66 || Mar 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–7 || Toronto Maple Leafs || Maple Leaf Gardens || 24–31–11 || 59 |- | 67 || Mar 7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–3 || Minnesota North Stars || Met Center || 25–31–11 || 61 |- | 68 || Mar 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–3 || Winnipeg Jets || Winnipeg Arena || 26–31–11 || 63 |- | 69 || Mar 10 || New York Islanders || 6–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 26–32–11 || 63 |- | 70 || Mar 12 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 27–32–11 || 65 |- | 71 || Mar 14 || New York Rangers || 3–2 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 27–33–11 || 65 |- | 72 || Mar 18 || St. Louis Blues || 4–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 28–33–11 || 67 |- | 73 || Mar 20 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 || Washington Capitals || Capital Centre || 28–34–11 || 67 |- | 74 || Mar 22 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum || 28–35–11 || 67 |- | 75 || Mar 24 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3–3 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 28–35–12 || 68 |- | 76 || Mar 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–5 || Hartford Whalers || XL Center || 28–36–12 || 68 |- | 77 || Mar 29 || Montreal Canadiens || 4–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 28–37–12 || 68 |- | 78 || Mar 31 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–5 || New Jersey Devils || Izod Center || 28–38–12 || 68 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#000000 2px solid; border-bottom:#FCB514 2px solid; April: 2–0–0 (home: 2–0–0; road: 0–0–0), 4 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points |- | 79 || Apr 2 || New Jersey Devils || 2–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 29–38–12 || 70 |- | 80 || Apr 4 || Detroit Red Wings || 3–4 OT || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena || 30–38–12 || 72 |- |- | 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 season1986–1987 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats http://ice.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=skatersummary&season=19861987&gameType=2&sort=points&aggregate=0&teamId=5&pos=S https://web.archive.org/web/20161002024352/http://ice.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=skatersummary&season=19861987&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 Mario Lemieux 63 54 53 107 13 57 Dan Quinn Dan Quinn (ice hockey)† 64 28 43 71 14 40 Randy Cunneyworth 79 26 27 53 14 142 Craig Simpson 72 26 25 51 11 57 Terry Ruskowski 70 14 37 51 8 145 Doug Bodger 76 11 38 49 6 52 Moe Mantha Jr. 62 9 31 40 -6 –6 44 John Chabot 72 14 22 36 -7 –7 8 Bob Errey 72 16 18 34 -5 –5 46 Jim Johnson Jim Johnson (ice hockey, born 1962) 80 5 25 30 -6 –6 116 Kevin LaVallee 33 8 20 28 -2 –2 4 Dan Frawley Dan Frawley (ice hockey) 78 14 14 28 -10 –10 218 Dave Hannan 58 10 15 25 -2 –2 56 Willy Lindström 60 10 13 23 9 6 Ville Sirén 69 5 17 22 8 50 Warren Young 50 8 13 21 -5 –5 103 Rod Buskas 68 3 15 18 2 123 Ron Duguay‡ 40 5 13 18 -8 –8 30 Chris Kontos 31 8 9 17 -6 –6 6 Troy Loney 23 8 7 15 0 22 Randy Hillier ice hockey 55 4 8 12 12 97 Mike Bullard Mike Bullard (ice hockey)‡ 14 2 10 12 -5 –5 17 Dwight Schofield 25 1 6 7 4 59 Norm Schmidt 20 1 5 6 -8 –8 4 Jim McGeough 11 1 4 5 -5 –5 8 Phil Bourque 22 2 3 5 -2 –2 32 Mitch Wilson 17 2 1 3 -3 –3 83 Mike Blaisdell 10 1 1 2 2 2 Lee Giffin 8 1 1 2 2 0 Chris Dahlquist 19 0 1 1 -2 –2 20 Dwight Mathiasen 6 0 1 1 -1 –1 2 Neil Belland 3 0 1 1 0 0 Alain Lemieux 1 0 0 0 -1 –1 0 Todd Charlesworth 1 0 0 0 0 0 Mike Rowe Mike Rowe (ice hockey) 2 0 0 0 -2 –2 0 Carl Mokosak 3 0 0 0 -4 –4 4 Total 297 497 794 — 1,653 Goaltenders + Regular Season1986–1987 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats https://www.nhl.com/stats/player?reportType=season&report=goaliesummary&season=19861987&gameType=2&aggregate=0&teamId=5&pos=G NHL Player GP Games played TOI Time on ice W Win L Loss T Tie GA Goals against GAA Goals against average SA Shots against SV% Save percentage SO Shutouts Gilles Meloche 43 2343:00 13 19 7 134 3.43 1123 0.881 0 Roberto Romano‡ 25 1438:00 9 11 2 87 3.63 713 0.878 0 Patrick Riggin Pat Riggin† 17 988:00 8 6 3 55 3.34 465 0.882 0 Steve Guenette 2 113:00 0 2 0 8 4.25 54 0.852 0 Total 4882:00 30 38 12 284 3.49 2355 0.879 0 †Denotes player acquired mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only. Awards and records Mario Lemieux established a new franchise record for goals in a season with 54, besting the previous high of 53 held by Pierre Larouche (1976). Transactions The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1986–87 season: Trades October 3, 1986 To Buffalo Sabres cash To Pittsburgh Penguins Craig Muni October 8, 1986 To Washington Capitals cash To Pittsburgh Penguins Dwight Schofield October 9, 1986 To Detroit Red Wings cash To Pittsburgh Penguins Warren Young November 12, 1986 To Calgary Flames Mike Bullard To Pittsburgh Penguins Dan Quinn January 21, 1987 To New York Rangers Ron Duguay To Pittsburgh Penguins Chris Kontos February 6, 1987 To Boston Bruins Roberto Romano To Pittsburgh Penguins Pat Riggin May 29, 1987 To Detroit Red Wings Warren Young To Pittsburgh Penguins cash Additions and subtractions Additions Player Former team Via Carl Mokosak Philadelphia Flyers free agency (1986-07-23) Mitch Wilson New Jersey Devils free agency (1986-07-24) Kevin LaVallee St. Louis Blues free agency (1986-09-13) Neil Belland Vancouver Canucks free agency (1986-09-29) Alain Lemieux Quebec Nordiques free agency (1986-12) Subtractions Player New team Via Tom Roulston EC Salzburg (Austria) free agency Mitch Lamoureux Philadelphia Flyers free agency (1986-06-30) Andy Brickley New Jersey Devils free agency (1986-07-08) Tom O'Regan Detroit Red Wings free agency (1986-09-29) May 2009 Draft picks List of Pittsburgh Penguins draft picks The 1986 NHL entry draft was held on June 21, 1986, in Montreal.NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftsearch.htm?year=1986&team=PIT&position=&round= NHLJuly 2026 medicmedic Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League) 1 4 Zarley Zalapski Defense Canada Canadian National Team (Intl) 2 25 Dave Capuano Left wing United States Mount St. Charles H.S. (R.I.) 3 46 Brad Aitken Left wing Canada Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) 4 67 Robert Brown Right wing Canada Kamloops Blazers (WHL) 5 88 Sandy Smith Right wing United States Brainerd H.S. (Minn.) 6 109 Jeff Daniels Left wing Canada Oshawa Generals (OHL) 7 130 Doug Hobson Defense Canada Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) 8 151 Steve Rohlik Left wing United States Hill-Murray H.S. (Minn.) 9 172 Dave McLlwain Center Canada North Bay Centennials (OHL) 10 193 Kelly Cain Center Canada London Knights (OHL) 11 214 Stan Drulia Right wing United States Belleville Bulls (OHL) 12 235 Robert Wilson Defense Canada Sudbury Wolves (OHL) S1 3 Jeff Lamb Forward United States University of Denver (WCHA) S2 7 Randy Taylor Defense Canada Harvard University (ECAC) See also 1986–87 NHL season References Pitts Category:Pittsburgh Penguins seasons Pitts Pitts Category:Long stubs with short prose