1970–71 Pittsburgh Penguins season

The 1970–71 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the franchise's fourth season in the National Hockey League.

1970–71 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division	6th West
1970–71 record	21–37–20
Goals for	221
Goals against	240
Team information
General manager	Red Kelly
Coach	Red Kelly
Captain	Vacant
Alternate captains	Keith McCreary Duane Rupp Ken Schinkel Bob Woytowich
Arena	Pittsburgh Civic Arena
Average attendance	9,671
Team leaders
Goals	Jean Pronovost (21)
Assists	Bryan Hextall (32)
Points	Bryan Hextall (48)
Penalty minutes	Bryan Hextall (133)
Wins	Les Binkley (11)
Goals against average	Les Binkley (2.85)

Regular season

Final standings

West Division

		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

Vs. West Division

1970–71 NHL records
Team	CAL	CHI	LAK	MIN	PHI	PIT	STL	Total
California	—	1–5	1–5	2–4	2–3–1	1–4–1	1–4–1	8–25–3
Chicago	5–1	—	4–2	3–2–1	4–1–1	4–2	2–1–3	22–9–5
Los Angeles	5–1	2–4	—	0–5–1	1–2–3	4–2	2–4	14–18–4
Minnesota	4–2	2–3–1	5–0–1	—	1–2–3	3–1–2	3–1–2	18–9–9
Philadelphia	3–2–1	1–4–1	2–1–3	2–1–3	—	3–1–2	1–3–2	12–12–12
Pittsburgh	4–1–1	2–4	2–4	1–3–2	1–3–2	—	0–3–3	10–18–8
St. Louis	4–1–1	1–2–3	4–2	1–3–2	3–1–2	3–0–3	—	16–9–11

Vs. East Division

1970–71 NHL records
Team	BOS	BUF	DET	MTL	NYR	TOR	VAN	Total
California	1–5	3–3	2–4	1–5	2–3–1	2–3–1	1–5	12–28–2
Chicago	3–2–1	5–0–1	6–0	3–3	3–3	2–3–1	5–0–1	27–11–4
Los Angeles	1–5	1–2–3	2–1–3	2–4	0–4–2	3–3	2–3–1	11–22–9
Minnesota	0–5–1	1–5	3–2–1	1–3–2	0–6	2–2–2	3–2–1	10–25–7
Philadelphia	0–6	3–2–1	2–3–1	1–4–1	3–2–1	3–2–1	4–2	16–21–5
Pittsburgh	1–4–1	0–2–4	3–1–2	1–3–2	0–5–1	2–3–1	4–1–1	11–19–12
St. Louis	1–4–1	4–2	5–0–1	1–3–2	2–3–1	2–3–1	3–1–2	18–16–8

Schedule and results

1970–71 Schedule
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
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
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
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
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
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
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:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Playoffs

After making their first postseason appearance last year, the Penguins failed to reach the playoffs.

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		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		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

See also: 1970 NHL amateur draft

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)

References

• "1970–71 Pittsburgh Penguins Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2009.
• Player stats on Hockey Database
• Game log on NHL Database