The 1971–72

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...

season was the franchise's fifth season in the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

. The team finished 26–38–14 and were tied with their cross-state rival

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

, 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.

Offseason

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 , - , - , 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 , - , - , 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 , - , - , 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 , - , - , 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 , - , - , 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 , - , - , 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'':

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 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

;Skaters ;Goaltenders ^†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 Valere Ronald Fonteyne (born December 2, 1933) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1959 to 1972, serving the Detroit Red Wings (on two tours of duty), New York Rangers and Pi ...

became the first player to play 300 games for the Penguins. He did so in a 1–5 loss to

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

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 Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

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 Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

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 Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...

on March 14. *

Jean Pronovost Jean Joseph Denis Pronovost (born December 18, 1945) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Atlanta Flames and Washington Capitals. Biography Jean Pron ...

became the first player to score 30 goals in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 5–4 win over

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

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. *

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

Player signings

Other

Draft picks

Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1971 NHL entry draft. ;Draft notes * The Pittsburgh Penguins' first-round pick went to the

St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

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 Louis Frederick Angotti (January 16, 1938 – September 15, 2021) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach who played ten seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the New York Rangers, Chicago Black Hawks, Philade ...

and this pick. * The Pittsburgh Penguins' eighth-round pick went to the

Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:1971-72 Pittsburgh Penguins season Pittsburgh Penguins seasons

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...

Pitts Pitts