1987–88 Pittsburgh Penguins season

The 1987–88 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the Penguins' 21st season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Penguins improved on their previous season, and finished with a winning record for the first time since the 1978–79 season. Nevertheless, the Penguins again did not qualify for the playoffs, actually finishing last in a tightly contested Patrick Division despite earning only seven fewer points than the division champion New York Islanders.

1987–88 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division	6th Patrick
Conference	9th Wales
1987–88 record	36–35–9
Goals for	319
Goals against	316
Team information
General manager	Eddie Johnston
Coach	Pierre Creamer
Captain	Dan Frawley (Oct-Dec) Mario Lemieux (Dec-Apr)
Alternate captains	Mario Lemieux (Oct-Dec) Dan Frawley (Dec-Apr) Dan Quinn
Arena	Pittsburgh Civic Arena
Team leaders
Goals	Mario Lemieux (70)
Assists	Mario Lemieux (98)
Points	Mario Lemieux (168)
Penalty minutes	Rod Buskas (206)
Wins	Steve Guenette (12)
Goals against average	Steve Guenette (3.35)
← 1986–87 1988–89 →

Offseason

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 penultimate 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 both the Rangers and Penguins.^[1][2]

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).^[3]

Final standings

Patrick Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
New York Islanders	80	39	31	10	308	267	88
Philadelphia Flyers	80	38	33	9	292	292	85
Washington Capitals	80	38	33	9	281	249	85
New Jersey Devils	80	38	36	6	295	296	82
New York Rangers	80	36	34	10	300	283	82
Pittsburgh Penguins	80	36	35	9	319	316	81

^[4]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.

Record vs. opponents

Patrick Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Wales Conference Vs. Patrick Division 1987–88 NHL records[5] Team NJD NYI NYR PHI PIT WSH Total New Jersey — 3–4 3–4 5–0–2 6–1 2–5 19–14–2 N.Y. Islanders 4–3 — 2–2–3 3–3–1 2–4–1 4–2–1 15–14–6 N.Y. Rangers 4–3 2–2–3 — 3–3–1 2–3–2 2–5 13–16–6 Philadelphia 0–5–2 3–3–1 3–3–1 — 5–2 2–4–1 13–17–5 Pittsburgh 1–6 4–2–1 3–2–2 2–5 — 5–1–1 15–16–4 Washington 5–2 2–4–1 5–2 4–2–1 1–5–1 — 17–15–3 Vs. Adams Division 1987–88 NHL records Team BOS BUF HFD MTL QUE Total New Jersey 1–2 0–2–1 1–1–1 2–1 0–3 4–9–2 N.Y. Islanders 2–1 2–1 2–1 0–3 2–1 8–7–0 N.Y. Rangers 2–1 0–3 2–1 1–1–1 2–1 7–7–1 Philadelphia 2–1 3–0 2–1 0–1–2 2–0–1 9–3–3 Pittsburgh 0–2–1 2–0–1 2–1 2–1 3–0 9–4–2 Washington 2–1 0–2–1 2–1 1–1–1 2–1 7–6–2 Vs. Campbell Conference Vs. Norris Division 1987–88 NHL records Team CHI DET MIN STL TOR Total New Jersey 3–0 0–3 3–0 3–0 2–1 11–4–0 N.Y. Islanders 0–1–2 1–2 1–1–1 2–0–1 0–3 4–7–4 N.Y. Rangers 2–0–1 1–1–1 2–1 3–0 2–1 10–3–2 Philadelphia 0–3 2–0–1 2–1 2–1 1–2 7–7–1 Pittsburgh 2–1 1–2 2–1 0–3 2–1 7–8–0 Washington 2–1 0–2–1 2–0–1 0–2–1 1–1–1 5–6–4 Vs. Smythe Division 1987–88 NHL records Team CGY EDM LAK VAN WIN Total New Jersey 1–2 2–1 1–1–1 0–3 0–2–1 4–9–2 N.Y. Islanders 2–1 2–1 3–0 3–0 2–1 12–3–0 N.Y. Rangers 1–2 1–2 0–3 2–1 2–0–1 6–8–1 Philadelphia 0–3 1–2 3–0 2–1 3–0 9–6–0 Pittsburgh 2–0–1 0–3 1–0–2 1–2 1–2 5–7–3 Washington 1–2 2–1 2–1 3–0 1–2 9–6–0

Schedule and results

1987–88 Schedule
October # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 1 Oct 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–4 OT New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 0–0–1 1 2 Oct 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–6 New Jersey Devils Izod Center 0–1–1 1 3 Oct 13 Buffalo Sabres 3–8 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 1–1–1 3 4 Oct 15 New York Rangers 6–6 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 1–1–2 4 5 Oct 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 1–2–2 4 6 Oct 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 1–3–2 4 7 Oct 21 New Jersey Devils 5–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 1–4–2 4 8 Oct 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–5 Detroit Red Wings Joe Louis Arena 1–5–2 4 9 Oct 24 Buffalo Sabres 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 2–5–2 6 10 Oct 27 Los Angeles Kings 4–4 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 2–5–3 7 11 Oct 29 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 2–6–3 7 12 Oct 31 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–4 OT Quebec Nordiques Quebec Coliseum 3–6–3 9
November # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 13 Nov 3 Philadelphia Flyers 1–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 4–6–3 11 14 Nov 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 5–6–3 13 15 Nov 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Boston Bruins Boston Garden 5–7–3 13 16 Nov 11 Washington Capitals 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 6–7–3 15 17 Nov 12 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–5 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 6–8–3 15 18 Nov 14 New York Rangers 2–3 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 7–8–3 17 19 Nov 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–6 Vancouver Canucks Pacific Coliseum 7–9–3 17 20 Nov 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Edmonton Oilers Northlands Coliseum 7–10–3 17 21 Nov 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–4 OT Calgary Flames Scotiabank Saddledome 7–10–4 18 22 Nov 25 Quebec Nordiques 4–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 8–10–4 20 23 Nov 27 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 9–10–4 22 24 Nov 28 Washington Capitals 5–5 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 9–10–5 23
December # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 25 Dec 2 New York Islanders 7–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 9–11–5 23 26 Dec 5 Vancouver Canucks 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 10–11–5 25 27 Dec 9 Calgary Flames 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 11–11–5 27 28 Dec 11 New York Islanders 4–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 12–11–5 29 29 Dec 12 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–5 St. Louis Blues The Checkerdome 12–12–5 29 30 Dec 15 Philadelphia Flyers 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 12–13–5 29 31 Dec 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–4 New Jersey Devils Izod Center 13–13–5 31 32 Dec 19 New York Rangers 3–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 14–13–5 33 33 Dec 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 8–4 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 15–13–5 35 34 Dec 23 New Jersey Devils 6–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 15–14–5 35 35 Dec 26 Detroit Red Wings 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 16–14–5 37 36 Dec 27 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 OT Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 16–14–6 38 37 Dec 29 Boston Bruins 4–4 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 16–14–7 39
January # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 38 Jan 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 16–15–7 39 39 Jan 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 16–16–7 39 40 Jan 5 Los Angeles Kings 4–4 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 16–16–8 40 41 Jan 7 Boston Bruins 3–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 16–17–8 40 42 Jan 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–5 OT Hartford Whalers XL Center 16–18–8 40 43 Jan 10 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–7 Detroit Red Wings Joe Louis Arena 16–19–8 40 44 Jan 12 New York Islanders 5–5 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 16–19–9 41 45 Jan 15 Philadelphia Flyers 5–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 16–20–9 41 46 Jan 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–3 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens 17–20–9 43 47 Jan 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–4 New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 18–20–9 45 48 Jan 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 8–3 Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Stadium 19–20–9 47 49 Jan 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–3 OT Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 20–20–9 49 50 Jan 25 Edmonton Oilers 6–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 20–21–9 49 51 Jan 27 Winnipeg Jets 4–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 20–22–9 49 52 Jan 28 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–6 New Jersey Devils Izod Center 20–23–9 49 53 Jan 30 Chicago Blackhawks 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 21–23–9 51
February # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 54 Feb 2 Washington Capitals 2–3 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 22–23–9 53 55 Feb 4 Minnesota North Stars 0–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 23–23–9 55 56 Feb 6 Hartford Whalers 4–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 24–23–9 57 57 Feb 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–6 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 24–24–9 57 58 Feb 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–5 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 25–24–9 59 59 Feb 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–5 Vancouver Canucks Pacific Coliseum 25–25–9 59 60 Feb 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–7 Edmonton Oilers Northlands Coliseum 25–26–9 59 61 Feb 21 St. Louis Blues 5–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 25–27–9 59 62 Feb 23 Winnipeg Jets 4–3 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 25–28–9 59 63 Feb 25 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–2 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 25–29–9 59 64 Feb 28 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–7 Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Stadium 25–30–9 59
March # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 65 Mar 1 Minnesota North Stars 3–8 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 26–30–9 61 66 Mar 5 New York Islanders 3–8 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 27–30–9 63 67 Mar 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–4 Calgary Flames Scotiabank Saddledome 28–30–9 65 68 Mar 10 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–6 St. Louis Blues The Checkerdome 28–31–9 65 69 Mar 12 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–6 Minnesota North Stars Met Center 28–32–9 65 70 Mar 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–4 Winnipeg Jets Winnipeg Arena 29–32–9 67 71 Mar 16 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 30–32–9 69 72 Mar 19 Philadelphia Flyers 0–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 31–32–9 71 73 Mar 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–4 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 31–33–9 71 74 Mar 23 Washington Capitals 1–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 32–33–9 73 75 Mar 25 Montreal Canadiens 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 33–33–9 75 76 Mar 27 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–3 Quebec Nordiques Quebec Coliseum 34–33–9 77 77 Mar 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–4 New Jersey Devils Izod Center 34–34–9 77 78 Mar 31 New Jersey Devils 7–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 34–35–9 77
April # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 79 Apr 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–6 OT Washington Capitals Capital Centre 35–35–9 79 80 Apr 3 Hartford Whalers 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 36–35–9 81
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Playoffs

The Penguins missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular Season[6] Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM Mario Lemieux 77 70 98 168 23 92 Dan Quinn 70 40 39 79 –8 50 Randy Cunneyworth 71 35 39 74 13 141 Paul Coffey 46 15 52 67 –1 93 Doug Bodger 69 14 31 45 –4 103 Rob Brown 51 24 20 44 8 56 Dave Hunter† 59 11 18 29 8 77 Charlie Simmer 50 11 17 28 6 24 Jock Callander 41 11 16 27 –13 45 Craig Simpson‡ 21 13 13 26 5 34 Ville Sirén 58 1 20 21 14 62 Dave McLlwain 66 11 8 19 –1 40 Troy Loney 65 5 13 18 –3 151 Phil Bourque 21 4 12 16 3 20 Dan Frawley 47 6 8 14 0 152 Jim Johnson 55 1 12 13 –4 87 Randy Hillier 55 1 12 13 –6 144 Rod Buskas 76 4 8 12 6 206 Zarley Zalapski 15 3 8 11 10 7 Steve Gotaas 36 5 6 11 –11 45 Moe Mantha Jr.‡ 21 2 8 10 6 23 Chris Dahlquist 44 3 6 9 3 69 Bob Errey 17 3 6 9 6 18 Mark Kachowski 38 5 3 8 1 126 Wilf Paiement 23 2 6 8 –4 39 Chris Kontos‡ 36 1 7 8 –3 12 Dave Hannan‡ 21 4 3 7 –2 23 Kevin Stevens 16 5 2 7 –6 8 Perry Ganchar† 30 2 5 7 0 36 Dwight Mathiasen 23 0 6 6 –7 14 Bryan Erickson† 11 1 4 5 2 0 Wayne Van Dorp 25 1 3 4 2 75 Chris Joseph‡ 17 0 4 4 2 12 Norm Schmidt 5 1 2 3 1 0 Brad Aitken 5 1 1 2 1 0 Lee Giffin 19 0 2 2 –2 9 Todd Charlesworth 6 2 0 2 0 2 Scott Gruhl 6 1 0 1 0 0 Warren Young 7 0 0 0 –4 15 Dave Goertz 2 0 0 0 –1 2 Pat Mayer 1 0 0 0 0 4 Jimmy Mann 9 0 0 0 0 53 Total 319 518 837 — 2,169

Goaltenders

Regular Season^[7]

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SA	SV%	SO	G	A	PIM
Steve Guenette	19	1091:05	12	7	0	61	3.35	582	0.895	1	0	0	2
Frank Pietrangelo	21	1202:47	9	11	0	80	3.99	599	0.866	1	0	2	2
Gilles Meloche	27	1390:26	8	9	5	95	4.10	720	0.868	0	0	0	0
Patrick Riggin	22	1168:55	7	8	4	76	3.90	579	0.869	0	0	0	12
Total		4853:13	36	35	9	312	3.86	2480	0.874	2	0	2	16

^†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 player to score 60 goals in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 2–4 loss to Philadelphia on March 20.
• Lemieux became the first player to score 150 points in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 7–1 win over Washington on March 23.
• Lemieux became the first player to score 160 points in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 6–3 win over Quebec on March 27.
• Lemieux became the first player to score 70 goals in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 4–2 win over Hartford on April 3.
• 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 Player Former team Via Jimmy Mann Quebec Nordiques free agency (1987-06-16) Pat Mayer Muskegon Lumberjacks (IHL) free agency (1987-07-10) Jock Callander St. Louis Blues free agency (1987-07-31) Mark Kachowski Flint Spirits (IHL) free agency (1987-08-31) Wilf Paiement Buffalo Sabres free agency (1987-09-10) Charlie Simmer Boston Bruins Waiver Draft (1987-10-05) Scott Gruhl Muskegon Lumberjacks (IHL) free agency (1987-12-14)

Subtractions Player New team Via John Chabot Detroit Red Wings free agency (1987-06-25) Neil Belland Lukko (SM-liiga) free agency Kevin LaVallee Innsbrucker EV (Austria) free agency Terry Ruskowski Minnesota North Stars free agency (1987-07) Dwight Schofield Winnipeg Jets free agency (1987-07) Mike Blaisdell Toronto Maple Leafs free agency (1987-07-10)

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	Czechoslovakia	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)
S1	5	Dan Shea	Left wing	United States	Boston College (Hockey East)
S2	9	John Leonard	Defense	United States	Bowdoin College (NESCAC)

Farm teams

See also

• 1987–88 NHL season

References

1. Masi, Vince (April 9, 2011). "Drama in New York NHL season finales". ESPN. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
2. Hafner, Dan (April 4, 1988). "NHL Roundup: Devils Need Overtime to Make the Playoffs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
3. "1987-88 NHL Summary".
4. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.
5. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
6. "1987–1988 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
7. "1987–1988 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.

• "1987–88 Pittsburgh Penguins Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2009.

External links