1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins season

The 1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the franchise's 5th season in the National Hockey League. The Penguins finished 4th in the West Division and made the playoffs for the second time in franchise history. They lost in the Quarter-finals to the Chicago Black Hawks 4 games to 0.
==Off-season==
==Regular Season==
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results 	Regular Season Results
No. 	R 	Date 	Score 	Opponent 	Record
1 	W 	October 9, 1971 	3–2 	Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) 	1–0–0
2 	L 	October 10, 1971 	1–2 	@ Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) 	1–1–0
3 	W 	October 13, 1971 	4–1 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) 	2–1–0
4 	W 	October 16, 1971 	2–1 	@ Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) 	3–1–0
5 	W 	October 17, 1971 	4–2 	@ California Golden Seals (1971–72)	4–1–0
6 	W 	October 20, 1971 	8–1 	Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) 	5–1–0
7 	L 	October 23, 1971 	2–5 	Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) 	5–2–0
8 	T 	October 24, 1971 	1–1 	@ New York Rangers (1971–72) 	5–2–1
9 	L 	October 27, 1971 	4–6 	California Golden Seals (1971–72) 	5–3–1
10 	L 	October 28, 1971 	0–2 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) 	5–4–1
11 	T 	October 30, 1971 	1–1 	New York Rangers (1971–72) 	5–4–2
12 	L 	October 31, 1971 	1–3 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) 	5–5–2
13 	L 	November 3, 1971 	3–5 	@ California Golden Seals (1971–72)	5–6–2
14 	L 	November 5, 1971 	2–4 	@ Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) 	5–7–2
15 	L 	November 7, 1971 	1–4 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) 	5–8–2
16 	W 	November 9, 1971 	4–1 	@ St. Louis Blues (1971–72) 	6–8–2
17 	W 	November 10, 1971 	3–1 	Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) 	7–8–2
18 	W 	November 13, 1971 	6–4 	Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) 	8–8–2
19 	L 	November 16, 1971 	1–5 	Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) 	8–9–2
20 	L 	November 18, 1971 	3–4 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) 	8–10–2
21 	L 	November 20, 1971 	2–4 	St. Louis Blues (1971–72) 	8–11–2
22 	L 	November 21, 1971 	3–7 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) 	8–12–2
23 	L 	November 24, 1971 	1–2 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) 	8–13–2
24 	L 	November 27, 1971 	1–3 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) 	8–14–2
25 	W 	December 1, 1971 	4–2 	Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) 	9–14–2
26 	W 	December 4, 1971 	4–2 	New York Rangers (1971–72) 	10–14–2
27 	L 	December 5, 1971 	3–5 	@ Boston Bruins (1971–72) 	10–15–2
28 	T 	December 8, 1971 	1–1 	California Golden Seals (1971–72) 	10–15–3
29 	T 	December 11, 1971 	3–3 	Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) 	10–15–4
30 	L 	December 12, 1971 	1–6 	@ New York Rangers (1971–72) 	10–16–4
31 	L 	December 15, 1971 	2–3 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) 	10–17–4
32 	L 	December 18, 1971 	3–4 	Boston Bruins (1971–72) 	10–18–4
33 	T 	December 19, 1971 	2–2 	@ Boston Bruins (1971–72) 	10–18–5
34 	L 	December 22, 1971 	2–4 	@ New York Rangers (1971–72) 	10–19–5
35 	W 	December 25, 1971 	4–2 	Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) 	11–19–5
36 	L 	December 26, 1971 	1–6 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) 	11–20–5
37 	L 	December 28, 1971 	2–4 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) 	11–21–5
38 	T 	December 31, 1971 	3–3 	Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) 	11–21–6
39 	T 	January 5, 1972 	3–3 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) 	11–21–7
40 	L 	January 8, 1972 	0–4 	Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) 	11–22–7
41 	L 	January 9, 1972 	2–4 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) 	11–23–7
42 	T 	January 12, 1972 	2–2 	Boston Bruins (1971–72) 	11–23–8
43 	L 	January 13, 1972 	1–7 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) 	11–24–8
44 	W 	January 15, 1972 	4–2 	Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) 	12–24–8
45 	L 	January 19, 1972 	1–6 	Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) 	12–25–8
46 	L 	January 22, 1972 	0–1 	@ St. Louis Blues (1971–72) 	12–26–8
47 	T 	January 23, 1972 	3–3 	Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) 	12–26–9
48 	L 	January 26, 1972 	1–2 	St. Louis Blues (1971–72) 	12–27–9
49 	L 	January 29, 1972 	2–4 	Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) 	12–28–9
50 	L 	January 30, 1972 	0–4 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) 	12–29–9
51 	W 	February 3, 1972 	4–3 	@ St. Louis Blues (1971–72) 	13–29–9
52 	L 	February 5, 1972 	1–8 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) 	13–30–9
53 	W 	February 9, 1972 	4–1 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) 	14–30–9
54 	W 	February 10, 1972 	6–1 	Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) 	15–30–9
55 	L 	February 12, 1972 	3–8 	New York Rangers (1971–72) 	15–31–9
56 	W 	February 13, 1972 	6–4 	Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) 	16–31–9
57 	W 	February 16, 1972 	4–2 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) 	17–31–9
58 	W 	February 17, 1972 	2–0 	@ Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) 	18–31–9
59 	L 	February 19, 1972 	2–6 	Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) 	18–32–9
60 	L 	February 20, 1972 	0–2 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) 	18–33–9
61 	L 	February 23, 1972 	0–2 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) 	18–34–9
62 	W 	February 26, 1972 	5–2 	Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) 	19–34–9
63 	L 	February 27, 1972 	3–5 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) 	19–35–9
64 	W 	March 2, 1972 	7–4 	Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) 	20–35–9
65 	W 	March 4, 1972 	4–2 	Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) 	21–35–9
66 	L 	March 5, 1972 	3–6 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) 	21–36–9
67 	L 	March 8, 1972 	4–5 	Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) 	21–37–9
68 	W 	March 11, 1972 	6–4 	Boston Bruins (1971–72) 	22–37–9
69 	T 	March 12, 1972 	4–4 	@ Boston Bruins (1971–72) 	22–37–10
70 	W 	March 14, 1972 	7–4 	@ Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) 	23–37–10
71 	T 	March 18, 1972 	4–4 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) 	23–37–11
72 	T 	March 19, 1972 	3–3 	@ California Golden Seals (1971–72)	23–37–12
73 	L 	March 22, 1972 	3–4 	Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) 	23–38–12
74 	W 	March 25, 1972 	3–2 	Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) 	24–38–12
75 	T 	March 26, 1972 	2–2 	@ Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) 	24–38–13
76 	W 	March 29, 1972 	5–4 	California Golden Seals (1971–72) 	25–38–13
77 	T 	April 1, 1972 	4–4 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) 	25–38–14
78 	W 	April 2, 1972 	6–2 	St. Louis Blues (1971–72) 	26–38–14
==Playoffs==
=== Chicago Black Hawks 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 0===
1972 Playoffs 	1972 Playoffs 	1972 Playoffs 	1972 Playoffs 	1972 Playoffs 	1972 Playoffs 	1972 Playoffs 	1972 Playoffs 	1972 Playoffs 	1972 Playoffs 	1972 Playoffs 	1972 Playoffs
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Round one vs Chicago: 0–4 (Home: 0–2 ; Road: 0–2)	Round one vs Chicago: 0–4 (Home: 0–2 ; Road: 0–2)	Round one vs Chicago: 0–4 (Home: 0–2 ; Road: 0–2)	Round one vs Chicago: 0–4 (Home: 0–2 ; Road: 0–2)	Round one vs Chicago: 0–4 (Home: 0–2 ; Road: 0–2)	Round one vs Chicago: 0–4 (Home: 0–2 ; Road: 0–2)	Round one vs Chicago: 0–4 (Home: 0–2 ; Road: 0–2)	Round one vs Chicago: 0–4 (Home: 0–2 ; Road: 0–2)	Round one vs Chicago: 0–4 (Home: 0–2 ; Road: 0–2)	Round one vs Chicago: 0–4 (Home: 0–2 ; Road: 0–2)	Round one vs Chicago: 0–4 (Home: 0–2 ; Road: 0–2)	Round one vs Chicago: 0–4 (Home: 0–2 ; Road: 0–2)
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	Series 	 	 	 	 	 	
1 	April 5 	Pittsburgh 	1 – 3 	Chicago Black Hawks 	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 	 	 	 	 	 	
* Green background indicates win.
* Red indicates loss.
==Player Stats==
===Forwards===
Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points
Player 	GP	G 	AST	PTS	PIM
Syl Apps 	72	15	44 	59 	78
Jean Pronovost	68	30	23 	53 	12
Greg Polis 	76	30	19 	49 	38
Ron Schock 	77	17	29 	46 	22
Ken Schinkel 	74	15	30 	45 	10
Bryan Hextall 	78	20	24 	44 	126
Bob Leiter 	78	14	17 	31 	18
Nick Harbaruk 	78	12	17 	29 	46
Val Fonteyne 	68	6 	13 	19 	0
Al McDonough 	37	7 	11 	18 	8
Rene Robert 	49	7 	11 	18 	42
Steve Cardwell	28	7 	8 	15 	18
Eddie Shack 	18	5 	9 	14 	12
John Stewart 	25	2 	8 	10 	23
Keith McCreary	33	4 	4 	8 	22
Joe Noris 	35	2 	5 	7 	20
Bill Hicke 	12	2 	0 	2 	6
Brian McKenzie	6 	1 	1 	2 	4
Wally Boyer 	1 	0 	1 	1 	0
Rick Kessell 	3 	0 	1 	1 	0
Robin Burns 	5 	0 	0 	0 	8
===Defencemen===
Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points
Player 	GP	G 	AST	PTS	PIM
Bob Woytowich 	31	1 	4 	5 	8
Sheldon Kannegiesser	54	2 	4 	6 	47
Tim Horton 	44	2 	9 	11 	40
Dave Burrows 	77	2 	10 	12 	48
Bryan Watson 	75	3 	17 	20 	212
Duane Rupp 	34	4 	18 	22 	32
Darryl Edestrand 	77	10	23 	33 	52
===Goaltending===
Note: GP= Games played; W= Wins; L= Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against
Player 	GP	W 	L 	T	SO	GAA
Les Binkley 	31	7 	15	5	0 	3.51
Roy Edwards 	15	2 	8 	4	0 	2.55
Jim Rutherford	40	17	15	5	1 	3.22
==Transactions==
The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1971–72 season:
===Trades===
May, 1971 	To Pittsburgh PenguinsBob Leiter 	To Boston Bruinscash
September 7, 1971	To Pittsburgh PenguinsBill Hicke 	To California Golden Sealscash
October 3, 1971 	To Pittsburgh Penguinscash 	To Vancouver CanucksBob Blackburn
October 6, 1971 	To Pittsburgh Penguinscash 	To Minnesota North StarsDean Prentice
November 22, 1971	To Pittsburgh Penguinscash 	To Detroit Red WingsBill Hicke
January 11, 1972 	To Pittsburgh PenguinsAl McDonough	To Los Angeles KingsBob Woytowich
March 4, 1972 	To Pittsburgh PenguinsEddie Shack 	To Buffalo SabresRene Robert
===Additions and Subtractions===
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"	Additions 	Additions 	Additions	Additions	Additions	Additions	Additions	Additions	Additions	Additions
Player 	Former team 	Via 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Roy Edwards 	Detroit Red Wings 	waivers (1971–06–07) 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Rene Robert 	Buffalo Sabres 	Intra-League Draft (1971–06–08)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Dave Burrows 	Chicago Black Hawks	Intra-League Draft (1971–06–08)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Tim Horton 	New York Rangers 	Intra-League Draft (1971–06–08)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Jim Rutherford	Detroit Red Wings 	Intra-League Draft (1971–06–08)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Draft Picks==
Round	Overall pick	Player 	Nationality	Position
2 	18 	Brian McKenzie	 	Center
3 	32 	Joe Noris 	 	Center
4 	46 	Gerry Methe 	 	Defenceman
5 	60 	Dave Murphy 	 	Goaltender
6 	74 	Ian Williams 	 	
7 	88 	Doug Elliott 	 	
==Gallery==
McKenzie_game_winner-5Dec1971.gif|John McKenzie scores the game winner from Fred Stanfield and John Bucyk, December 5, 1971.
71-72NHLPitsburghGameAd2.jpg
71-72NHLPittsburghGameAd.jpg
==References==
* Player stats at Hockey Database
* Game log on NHL Database
* 
Category:Pittsburgh Penguins seasons
Category:1971 in hockey
Category:1972 in hockey