1987–88 Pittsburgh Penguins season

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 Quinn Unknown
Arena	Pittsburgh Civic Arena
Team leaders
Goals	Mario Lemieux (70)
Assists	Mario Lemieux (98)
Points	Mario Lemieux (168)
Penalties in minutes	Rod Buskas (206)
Wins	Steve Guenette (12)
Goals against average	Steve Guenette (3.35)
<1986–87 1988–89>

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.

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, to move back ahead of 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 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

^[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 # 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 Rexall Place 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 Rexall Place 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[3] Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM Lemieux, MarioMario Lemieux 77 70 98 168 23 92 Quinn, DanDan Quinn 70 40 39 79 –8 50 Cunneyworth, RandyRandy Cunneyworth 71 35 39 74 13 141 Coffey, PaulPaul Coffey 46 15 52 67 –1 93 Bodger, DougDoug Bodger 69 14 31 45 –4 103 Brown, RobertRobert Brown 51 24 20 44 8 56 Hunter, DavidDavid Hunter† 59 11 18 29 8 77 Simmer, CharlesCharles Simmer 50 11 17 28 6 24 Callander, JockJock Callander 41 11 16 27 –13 45 Simpson, CraigCraig Simpson‡ 21 13 13 26 5 34 Siren, VilleVille Siren 58 1 20 21 14 62 McLlwain, DaveDave McLlwain 66 11 8 19 –1 40 Loney, TroyTroy Loney 65 5 13 18 –3 151 Bourque, PhilPhil Bourque 21 4 12 16 3 20 Frawley, WilliamWilliam Frawley 47 6 8 14 0 152 Hillier, RandyRandy Hillier 55 1 12 13 –6 144 Johnson, JamesJames Johnson 55 1 12 13 –4 87 Buskas, RodRod Buskas 76 4 8 12 6 206 Gotaas, SteveSteve Gotaas 36 5 6 11 –11 45 Zalapski, ZarleyZarley Zalapski 15 3 8 11 10 7 Mantha, MauriceMaurice Mantha‡ 21 2 8 10 6 23 Dahlquist, ChristopherChristopher Dahlquist 44 3 6 9 3 69 Errey, BobBob Errey 17 3 6 9 6 18 Kachowski, MarkMark Kachowski 38 5 3 8 1 126 Kontos, ChrisChris Kontos‡ 36 1 7 8 –3 12 Paiement, WilfWilf Paiement 23 2 6 8 –4 39 Ganchar, PerryPerry Ganchar† 30 2 5 7 0 36 Hannan, DavidDavid Hannan‡ 21 4 3 7 –2 23 Stevens, KevinKevin Stevens 16 5 2 7 –6 8 Mathiasen, DwightDwight Mathiasen 23 0 6 6 –7 14 Erickson, BryanBryan Erickson† 11 1 4 5 2 0 Van Dorp, WayneWayne Van Dorp 25 1 3 4 2 75 Joseph, ChrisChris Joseph‡ 17 0 4 4 2 12 Schmidt, NormNorm Schmidt 5 1 2 3 1 0 Giffin, LeeLee Giffin 19 0 2 2 –2 9 Charlesworth, ToddTodd Charlesworth 6 2 0 2 0 2 Aitken, BradBrad Aitken 5 1 1 2 1 0 Gruhl, KennethKenneth Gruhl 6 1 0 1 0 0 Mann, JamesJames Mann 9 0 0 0 0 53 Young, WarrenWarren Young 7 0 0 0 –4 15 Goertz, DaveDave Goertz 2 0 0 0 –1 2 Mayer, PatrickPatrick Mayer 1 0 0 0 0 4

Goaltenders

Regular Season^[4]

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SA	SV%	SO	G	A	PIM
Guenette, SteveSteve Guenette	19	1091:05	12	7	0	61	3.35	582	0.895	1	0	0	2
Pietrangelo, FrankFrank Pietrangelo	21	1202:47	9	11	0	80	3.99	599	0.866	1	0	2	2
Meloche, GillesGilles Meloche	27	1390:26	8	9	5	95	4.10	720	0.868	0	0	0	0
Riggin, PatrickPatrick Riggin	22	1168:55	7	8	4	76	3.90	579	0.869	0	0	0	12

^†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.

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)

This sports-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Roster

#	Nat	Player	Pos	S/G	Age	NHL Draft	Birthplace
35		Aitken, BradBrad Aitken	LW	L	20	1986	Scarborough, Ontario
3		Bodger, DougDoug Bodger	D	L	21	1984	Chemainus, British Columbia
29		Bourque, PhilPhil Bourque	LW	L	25	Undrafted	Chelmsford, Massachusetts
44		Brown, RobertRobert Brown	RW	L	20	1986	Kingston, Ontario
7		Buskas, RodRod Buskas	D	R	27	1981	Wetaskiwin, Alberta
36		Callander, JockJock Callander	RW	R	27	Undrafted	Regina, Saskatchewan
2		Charlesworth, ToddTodd Charlesworth	D	R	23	1983	Calgary, Alberta
77		Coffey, PaulPaul Coffey	D	L	26	1980	Weston, Ontario
15		Cunneyworth, RandyRandy Cunneyworth	LW	L	27	1980	Etobicoke, Ontario
4		Dahlquist, ChristopherChristopher Dahlquist	D	L	25	Undrafted	Fridley, Minnesota
14		Erickson, BryanBryan Erickson	C	R	28	Undrafted	Roseau, Minnesota
12		Errey, BobBob Errey	LW	L	23	1983	Montreal, Quebec
28		Frawley, WilliamWilliam Frawley	RW	R	25	1980	Sturgeon Falls, Ontario
8		Ganchar, PerryPerry Ganchar	RW	R	24	1982	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
17		Giffin, LeeLee Giffin	RW	R	21	1985	Comrose, Saskatchewan
32		Goertz, DaveDave Goertz	D	R	23	1983	Edmonton, Alberta
16		Gotaas, SteveSteve Gotaas	C	R	21	1985	Chatham, Ontario
38		Gruhl, KennethKenneth Gruhl	LW	L	28	Undrafted	Port Colborne, Ontario
30		Guenette, SteveSteve Guenette	G	L	22	Undrafted	Gloucester, Ontario
23		Hillier, RandyRandy Hillier	D	L	28	1980	Toronto, Ontario
20		Hunter, DavidDavid Hunter	LW	R	30	1978	Petrolia, Ontario
6		Johnson, JamesJames Johnson	D	L	25	Undrafted	New Hope, Minnesota
26		Kachowski, MarkMark Kachowski	LW	L	23	Undrafted	Edmonton, Alberta
11		Kurkinen, RistoRisto Kurkinen	LW	R	25	1987	Jyväskylä, Finland
66		Lemieux, MarioMario Lemieux	C	R	22	1984	Montreal, Quebec
24		Loney, TroyTroy Loney	LW	L	24	1982	Bow Island, Alberta
18		Mann, JamesJames Mann	RW	R	29	1979	Montreal, Quebec
34		Mathiasen, DwightDwight Mathiasen	RW	R	24	Undrafted	Brandon, Manitoba
32		Mayer, PatrickPatrick Mayer	D	R	26	Undrafted	Royal Oak, Michigan
19		McLlwain, DaveDave McLlwain	C	L	20	1986	Seaforth, Ontario
27		Meloche, GillesGilles Meloche	G	R	37	1970	Montreal, Quebec
9		Paiement, WilfWilf Paiement	RW	R	32	1974	Earleton, Ontario
40		Pietrangelo, FrankFrank Pietrangelo	G	L	23	1983	Niagara Falls, Ontario
10		Quinn, DanDan Quinn	C	L	22	1983	Ottawa, Ontario
1		Riggin, PatrickPatrick Riggin	G	R	29	1979	Kincardine, Ontario
25		Schmidt, NormNorm Schmidt	D	R	25	1981	Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
13/16		Simmer, CharlesCharles Simmer	LW	R	34	1974	Terrace Bay, Ontario
5		Siren, VilleVille Siren	D	L	24	1983	Tampere, Finland
25		Stevens, KevinKevin Stevens	LW	L	23	1983	Brockton, Massachusetts
22		Van Dorp, WayneWayne Van Dorp	LW	L	27	Undrafted	Burnaby, British Columbia
11		Young, WarrenWarren Young	C	R	32	1976	Toronto, Ontario
33		Zalapski, ZarleyZarley 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		JyP HT Jyvaskyla (FNL)
5	89	Jeff Waver	Defense	Canada	Hamilton Steelhawks (OHL)
6	110	Shawn McEachern	Left Wing	United States	Matignon H.S. (Mass.)
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 (Mass.)
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		Brynas IF Gavle (SEL)

See also

• 1987–88 NHL season

References

1. http://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.

• "1987–88 Pittsburgh Penguins Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-05-06.

External links