# 1970–71 Pittsburgh Penguins season

The 1970–71 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the franchise's fourth season in the National Hockey League. After making their first postseason appearance the previous season, the Penguins failed to reach the playoffs.

## Regular season
### Final standings

West Division vte :
| | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | DIFF | Pts |
| 1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 78 | 49 | 20 | 9 | 277 | 184 | +93 | 107 |
| 2 | St. Louis Blues | 78 | 34 | 25 | 19 | 223 | 208 | +15 | 87 |
| 3 | Philadelphia Flyers | 78 | 28 | 33 | 17 | 207 | 225 | −18 | 73 |
| 4 | Minnesota North Stars | 78 | 28 | 34 | 16 | 191 | 223 | −32 | 72 |
| 5 | Los Angeles Kings | 78 | 25 | 40 | 13 | 239 | 303 | −64 | 63 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 78 | 21 | 37 | 20 | 221 | 240 | −19 | 62 |
| 7 | California Golden Seals | 78 | 20 | 53 | 5 | 199 | 320 | −121 | 45 |

### Record vs. opponents
## Schedule and results

1970–71 Schedule :
October: 2–4–3 (Home: 1–2–1; Road: 1–2–2), 7 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocation (Attendance)RecordPoints
1Oct 10Buffalo Sabres2–1Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (11,189)0–1–00
2Oct 15Pittsburgh Penguins2–4Minnesota North StarsMet Center (12,134)0–2–00
3Oct 17Philadelphia Flyers0–0Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (7,535)0–2–11
4Oct 18Pittsburgh Penguins1–1Buffalo SabresBuffalo Memorial Auditorium (8,656)0–2–22
5Oct 21Pittsburgh Penguins2–4Los Angeles KingsThe Forum (6,903)0–3–22
6Oct 23Pittsburgh Penguins3–1California Golden SealsOakland Coliseum Arena (4,043)1–3–24
7Oct 25Pittsburgh Penguins1–1Vancouver CanucksPacific Coliseum (13,329)1–3–35
8Oct 28Los Angeles Kings3–5Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (5,028)2–3–37
9Oct 31Chicago Black Hawks5–2Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (8,412)2–4–37 :
November: 3–6–5 (Home: 3–2–2; Road: 0–4–3), 11 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocation (Attendance)RecordPoints
10Nov 1Pittsburgh Penguins2–3Philadelphia FlyersThe Spectrum (14,620)2–5–37
11Nov 4Vancouver Canucks3–8Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (5,029)3–5–39
12Nov 7Boston Bruins2–2Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (12,909)3–5–410
13Nov 8Pittsburgh Penguins3–3Detroit Red WingsOlympia Stadium (12,662)3–5–511
14Nov 10Los Angeles Kings5–1Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (8,089)3–6–511
15Nov 11Pittsburgh Penguins3–3New York RangersMadison Square Garden (IV) (17,250)3–6–612
16Nov 14California Golden Seals1–6Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (11,075)4–6–614
17Nov 19St. Louis Blues1–0Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (9,027)4–7–614
18Nov 21Detroit Red Wings1–6Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (11,298)5–7–616
19Nov 22Pittsburgh Penguins2–4Boston BruinsBoston Garden (14,994)5–8–616
20Nov 24Pittsburgh Penguins4–4Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leaf Gardens (16,384)5–8–717
21Nov 25Buffalo Sabres4–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (9,705)5–8–818
22Nov 28Pittsburgh Penguins1–5Montreal CanadiensMontreal Forum (16,838)5–9–818
23Nov 29Pittsburgh Penguins2–6New York RangersMadison Square Garden (IV) (17,250)5–10–818 :
December: 5–7–3 (Home: 5–2–1; Road: 0–5–2), 13 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocation (Attendance)RecordPoints
24Dec 2Montreal Canadiens3–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (8,601)5–10–919
25Dec 5Vancouver Canucks1–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (8,111)6–10–921
26Dec 6Pittsburgh Penguins3–6Boston BruinsBoston Garden (14,994)6–11–921
27Dec 8Toronto Maple Leafs0–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (7,034)7–11–923
28Dec 9Pittsburgh Penguins2–2Minnesota North StarsMet Center (12,222)7–11–1024
29Dec 11Pittsburgh Penguins2–3St. Louis BluesSt. Louis Arena (17,764)7–12–1024
30Dec 12Minnesota North Stars1–0Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (9,031)7–13–1024
31Dec 16Toronto Maple Leafs4–2Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (7,222)7–14–1024
32Dec 19Detroit Red Wings1–9Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (8,011)8–14–1026
33Dec 20Pittsburgh Penguins1–2Chicago Black HawksChicago Stadium (-)8–15–1026
34Dec 23Pittsburgh Penguins1–6New York RangersMadison Square Garden (IV) (17,250)8–16–1026
35Dec 25Pittsburgh Penguins4–8Boston BruinsBoston Garden (14,994)8–17–1026
36Dec 26Boston Bruins2–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (13,050)9–17–1028
37Dec 30Pittsburgh Penguins3–3Montreal CanadiensMontreal Forum (16,753)9–17–1129
38Dec 31Minnesota North Stars1–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (10,337)10–17–1131 :
January: 6–5–1 (Home: 4–1–0; Road: 2–4–1), 13 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocation (Attendance)RecordPoints
39Jan 2New York Rangers3–1Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (12,444)10–18–1131
40Jan 6Pittsburgh Penguins3–4Philadelphia FlyersThe Spectrum (12,127)10–19–1131
41Jan 9Pittsburgh Penguins2–5Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leaf Gardens (16,485)10–20–1131
42Jan 13Los Angeles Kings2–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (7,575)11–20–1133
43Jan 14Pittsburgh Penguins2–2Detroit Red WingsOlympia Stadium (11,360)11–20–1234
44Jan 16Pittsburgh Penguins4–3Vancouver CanucksPacific Coliseum (14,098)12–20–1236
45Jan 20Pittsburgh Penguins4–2California Golden SealsOakland Coliseum Arena (3,293)13–20–1238
46Jan 21Pittsburgh Penguins2–4Los Angeles KingsThe Forum (7,587)13–21–1238
47Jan 23Vancouver Canucks1–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (12,304)14–21–1240
48Jan 27Toronto Maple Leafs1–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (9,039)15–21–1242
49Jan 28Pittsburgh Penguins1–4Chicago Black HawksChicago Stadium (-)15–22–1242
50Jan 30Chicago Black Hawks1–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (12,528)16–22–1244 :
February: 3–7–3 (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 0–5–2), 9 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocation (Attendance)RecordPoints
51Feb 3California Golden Seals1–6Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (10,208)17–22–1246
52Feb 5Pittsburgh Penguins2–2St. Louis BluesSt. Louis Arena (18,206)17–22–1347
53Feb 7Pittsburgh Penguins0–1Chicago Black HawksChicago Stadium (-)17–23–1347
54Feb 9Pittsburgh Penguins1–4Montreal CanadiensMontreal Forum (16,211)17–24–1347
55Feb 10Philadelphia Flyers3–5Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (10,311)18–24–1349
56Feb 13Chicago Black Hawks4–5Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (10,755)19–24–1351
57Feb 14Pittsburgh Penguins4–5Minnesota North StarsMet Center (15,042)19–25–1351
58Feb 17Pittsburgh Penguins3–4Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leaf Gardens (16,413)19–26–1351
59Feb 18Pittsburgh Penguins6–6Buffalo SabresBuffalo Memorial Auditorium (9,969)19–26–1452
60Feb 20New York Rangers2–0Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (13,200)19–27–1452
61Feb 24St. Louis Blues5–5Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (10,005)19–27–1553
62Feb 27New York Rangers4–0Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (12,419)19–28–1553
63Feb 28Pittsburgh Penguins2–4Detroit Red WingsOlympia Stadium (12,683)19–29–1553 :
March: 2–7–3 (Home: 2–3–3; Road: 0–4–0), 7 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocation (Attendance)RecordPoints
64Mar 3Montreal Canadiens0–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (8,011)20–29–1555
65Mar 6Boston Bruins6–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (13,020)20–30–1555
66Mar 7California Golden Seals3–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (11,283)20–30–1656
67Mar 10Philadelphia Flyers2–2Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (8,590)20–30–1757
68Mar 13Minnesota North Stars0–0Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (10,284)20–30–1858
69Mar 14Montreal Canadiens5–1Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (8,741)20–31–1858
70Mar 17Pittsburgh Penguins2–5California Golden SealsOakland Coliseum Arena (2,647)20–32–1858
71Mar 19Pittsburgh Penguins4–6Vancouver CanucksPacific Coliseum (15,570)20–33–1858
72Mar 20Pittsburgh Penguins4–8Los Angeles KingsThe Forum (7,771)20–34–1858
73Mar 24Detroit Red Wings2–8Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (9,025)21–34–1860
74Mar 28Pittsburgh Penguins1–3Philadelphia FlyersThe Spectrum (14,620)21–35–1860
75Mar 31Buffalo Sabres6–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (7,051)21–36–1860 :
April: 0–1–2 (Home: 0–0–1; Road: 0–1–1), 2 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocation (Attendance)RecordPoints
76Apr 1Pittsburgh Penguins3–3Buffalo SabresBuffalo Memorial Auditorium (10,429)21–36–1961
77Apr 3Pittsburgh Penguins3–4St. Louis BluesSt. Louis Arena (18,529)21–37–1961
78Apr 4St. Louis Blues1–1Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (10,117)21–37–2062 :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

## Player statistics
### Skaters

Regular Season :
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | +/− | PIM |
| Bryan Hextall Jr. | 76 | 16 | 32 | 48 | –23 | 133 |
| Jean Pronovost | 78 | 21 | 24 | 45 | 8 | 35 |
| Andy Bathgate | 76 | 15 | 29 | 44 | –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 | 18 |
| Ken Schinkel | 50 | 15 | 19 | 34 | –19 | 6 |
| Greg Polis | 61 | 18 | 15 | 33 | –6 | 40 |
| Duane Rupp | 59 | 5 | 28 | 33 | –10 | 34 |
| Keith McCreary | 59 | 21 | 12 | 33 | 7 | 24 |
| Dunc McCallum | 77 | 9 | 20 | 29 | –13 | 95 |
| Bob Woytowich | 78 | 4 | 22 | 26 | 8 | 30 |
| Nick Harbaruk | 78 | 13 | 12 | 25 | –9 | 108 |
| Syl Apps Jr.$^†$ | 31 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 3 | 21 |
| Val Fonteyne | 70 | 4 | 9 | 13 | –8 | 0 |
| Rod Zaine | 37 | 8 | 5 | 13 | –8 | 21 |
| Glen Sather$^‡$ | 46 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 96 |
| Jim Morrison | 73 | 0 | 10 | 10 | –12 | 32 |
| Bob Blackburn | 64 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 54 |
| Bryan Watson | 43 | 2 | 6 | 8 | –5 | 119 |
| John Stewart | 15 | 2 | 1 | 3 | –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 | 29 |
| Yvon Labre | 21 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 19 |
| Lowell MacDonald | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | –6 | 0 |
| Steve Cardwell | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | –4 | 15 |
| Total | Total | 221 | 351 | 572 | — | 1,028 |

### Goaltenders

Regular Season :
| Player | GP | W | L | T | GA | SO |
| Les Binkley | 34 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 89 | 2 |
| Allan Smith | 46 | 9 | 22 | 9 | 128 | 2 |
| Cam Newton | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 0 |
| Paul Hoganson | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Total | 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:

### 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 from 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 Buffalo Sabres |
| Tim Horton | June 8, 1971 | Claimed in intra-league draft from New York Rangers |

## Draft picks

Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1970 NHL entry draft.
| Round | # | Player | Pos | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 7 | Greg Polis | Left Wing | Canada | Estevan Bruins (WCHL) |
| 2 | 21 | John Stewart | Left Wing | Canada | Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL) |
| 3 | 35 | Larry Bignell | Defenceman | Canada | Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL) |
| 4 | 49 | Connie Forey | Left Wing | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OHA) |
| 5 | 63 | Steve Cardwell | Left Wing | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHA) |
| 6 | 77 | Bob Fitchner | Center | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL) |
| 7 | 90 | Jim Pearson | Defenceman | Canada | St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) |
| 8 | 102 | Cam Newton | Goaltender | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OHA) |
| 9 | 110 | Ron Lemieux | Defenceman | Canada | Dauphin Kings (MJHL) |