1987–88 Pittsburgh Penguins season

The 1987–88 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the Penguins' 21st season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Penguins did not qualify for the playoffs.

1987–88 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division6th Patrick
Conference9th Wales
1987–88 record36–35–9
Goals for319
Goals against316
Team information
General managerEddie Johnston
CoachPierre Creamer
CaptainDan Frawley (Oct-Dec)
Mario Lemieux (Dec-Apr)
Alternate captainsMario Lemieux (Oct-Dec)
Dan Frawley (Dec-Apr)
Dan Quinn
ArenaPittsburgh Civic Arena
Team leaders
GoalsMario Lemieux (70)
AssistsMario Lemieux (98)
PointsMario Lemieux (168)
Penalty minutesRod Buskas (206)
WinsSteve Guenette (12)
Goals against averageSteve Guenette (3.35)

Regular season

The Penguins were involved in one of the closest playoff races in NHL history, as they competed down the stretch with the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers for the final playoff spot in the Patrick Division. Despite two hefty losses to New Jersey in the last two weeks of the season, the Penguins gave themselves hope with a 7-6 overtime win against the Washington Capitals in their second to last game of the season. On the last day of the season, the Penguins defeated the Hartford Whalers 4-2 and moved ahead of New York and New Jersey. However, this position was temporary as the Rangers shut out Quebec, 3-0, eliminating the Penguins. The Devils had the last laugh as they beat the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 in overtime on a goal by John MacLean to claim the fourth and final Patrick Division playoff spot ahead of the Rangers and Penguins.

The Penguins finished the regular season 1st in power-play opportunities (500), power-play opportunities against (507), power-play goals against (120) and short-handed goals allowed (19).[1]

Final standings
Patrick Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
New York Islanders8039311030826788
Philadelphia Flyers803833929229285
Washington Capitals803833928124985
New Jersey Devils803836629529682
New York Rangers8036341030028382
Pittsburgh Penguins803635931931681

[2]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Schedule and results
1987–88 Schedule
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Playoffs

The Penguins missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.

Player statistics
Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season[4]
Player GP TOI W L T GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Steve Guenette191091:051270613.355820.8951002
Frank Pietrangelo211202:479110803.995990.8661022
Gilles Meloche271390:26895954.107200.8680000
Patrick Riggin221168:55784763.905790.86900012
Total4853:13363593123.8624800.87420216

†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
  • Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 60 goals in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 2–4 loss to Philadelphia on March 20th.
  • Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 150 points in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 7–1 win over Washington on March 23rd.
  • Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 160 points in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 6–3 win over Quebec on March 27th.
  • Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 70 goals in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 4–2 win over Hartford on April 3rd.
  • Mario Lemieux established a new franchise record for goals (70), assists (98) and points (168) in a season. He held the previous high in all three categories.

Transactions

The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1987–88 season:

Trades
November 24, 1987 To Edmonton Oilers

Dave Hannan
Chris Joseph
Moe Mantha
Craig Simpson

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Paul Coffey
Dave Hunter
Wayne Van Dorp

December 17, 1987 To Montreal Canadiens

future considerations (1988 3rd round pick)

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Perry Ganchar
future considerations (1988 3rd round pick)

February 4, 1988 To Los Angeles Kings

Chris Kontos
future considerations (1988 6th round pick)

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Bryan Erickson

Additions and subtractions
Additions
PlayerFormer teamVia
Jimmy MannQuebec Nordiquesfree agency (1987-06-16)
Pat MayerMuskegon Lumberjacks (IHL)free agency (1987-07-10)
Jock CallanderSt. Louis Bluesfree agency (1987-07-31)
Mark KachowskiFlint Spirits (IHL)free agency (1987-08-31)
Wilf PaiementBuffalo Sabresfree agency (1987-09-10)
Charlie SimmerBoston BruinsWaiver Draft (1987-10-05)
Scott GruhlMuskegon Lumberjacks (IHL)free agency (1987-12-14)
Subtractions
PlayerNew teamVia
John ChabotDetroit Red Wingsfree agency (1987-06-25)
Neil BellandLukko (SM-liiga)free agency
Kevin LaValleeInnsbrucker EV (Austria)free agency
Terry RuskowskiMinnesota North Starsfree agency (1987-07)
Dwight SchofieldWinnipeg Jetsfree agency (1987-07)
Mike BlaisdellToronto Maple Leafsfree agency (1987-07-10)
This sports-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Roster
# Nat Player Pos S/G Age NHL Draft Birthplace
35 Brad Aitken LW L 20 1986 Scarborough, Ontario
3 Doug Bodger D L 21 1984 Chemainus, British Columbia
29 Phil Bourque LW L 25 Undrafted Chelmsford, Massachusetts
44 Robert Brown RW L 20 1986 Kingston, Ontario
7 Rod Buskas D R 27 1981 Wetaskiwin, Alberta
36 Jock Callander RW R 27 Undrafted Regina, Saskatchewan
2 Todd Charlesworth D R 23 1983 Calgary, Alberta
77 Paul Coffey D L 26 1980 Weston, Ontario
15 Randy Cunneyworth LW L 27 1980 Etobicoke, Ontario
4 Christopher Dahlquist D L 25 Undrafted Fridley, Minnesota
14 Bryan Erickson C R 28 Undrafted Roseau, Minnesota
12 Bob Errey LW L 23 1983 Montreal, Quebec
28 William Frawley (C) RW R 25 1980 Sturgeon Falls, Ontario
8 Perry Ganchar RW R 24 1982 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
17 Lee Giffin RW R 21 1985 Comrose, Saskatchewan
32 Dave Goertz D R 23 1983 Edmonton, Alberta
16 Steve Gotaas C R 21 1985 Chatham, Ontario
38 Kenneth Gruhl LW L 28 Undrafted Port Colborne, Ontario
30 Steve Guenette G L 22 Undrafted Gloucester, Ontario
23 Randy Hillier D L 28 1980 Toronto, Ontario
20 David Hunter LW R 30 1978 Petrolia, Ontario
6 James Johnson D L 25 Undrafted New Hope, Minnesota
26 Mark Kachowski LW L 23 Undrafted Edmonton, Alberta
11 Risto Kurkinen LW R 25 1987 Jyväskylä, Finland
66 Mario Lemieux (C) C R 22 1984 Montreal, Quebec
24 Troy Loney LW L 24 1982 Bow Island, Alberta
18 James Mann RW R 29 1979 Montreal, Quebec
34 Dwight Mathiasen RW R 24 Undrafted Brandon, Manitoba
32 Patrick Mayer D R 26 Undrafted Royal Oak, Michigan
19 Dave McLlwain C L 20 1986 Seaforth, Ontario
27 Gilles Meloche G R 37 1970 Montreal, Quebec
9 Wilf Paiement RW R 32 1974 Earleton, Ontario
40 Frank Pietrangelo G L 23 1983 Niagara Falls, Ontario
10 Dan Quinn (A) C L 22 1983 Ottawa, Ontario
1 Patrick Riggin G R 29 1979 Kincardine, Ontario
25 Norm Schmidt D R 25 1981 Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Error in Template:Nts: Fractions are not supported Charles Simmer LW R 34 1974 Terrace Bay, Ontario
5 Ville Siren D L 24 1983 Tampere, Finland
25 Kevin Stevens LW L 23 1983 Brockton, Massachusetts
22 Wayne Van Dorp LW L 27 Undrafted Burnaby, British Columbia
11 Warren Young C R 32 1976 Toronto, Ontario
33 Zarley Zalapski D L 20 1986 Edmonton, Alberta

Draft picks
Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 5 Chris Joseph Defense  Canada Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
2 26 Richard Tabaracci Goaltender  Canada Cornwall Royals (OHL)
3 47 Jamie Leach Right Wing  United States Hamilton Steelhawks (OHL)
4 68 Risto Kurkinen Left Wing  Finland JyP HT Jyvaskyla (FNL)
5 89 Jeff Waver Defense  Canada Hamilton Steelhawks (OHL)
6 110 Shawn McEachern Left Wing  United States Matignon H.S. (Massachusetts)
7 131 James Bodden Center  Canada Chatham (SOJHL)
8 152 Jiri Kucera Right Wing  Czech Republic Dukla Jihlava (Czech)
9 173 Jack MacDougall Right Wing  United States New Prep School (Massachusetts)
10 194 Daryn McBride Center  Canada U. of Denver (NCAA)
11 215 Mark Carlson Left Wing  United States (Philadelphia Jrs.)
12 236 Ake Lilljebjorn Goaltender  Sweden Brynäs IF Gävle (SEL)
S15Dan SheaLeft Wing United StatesBoston College (Hockey East)
S16John LeonardDefense United StatesBowdoin College (NESCAC)

See also

References
  1. https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1988.html
  2. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.
  3. "1987–1988 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  4. "1987–1988 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
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