1979–80 Pittsburgh Penguins season
NHL team season
The 1979–80 Pittsburgh Penguins season was their 13th in the National Hockey League .
Regular season
The Penguins changed their team colors from two-tone blue to Black and Gold in January. This move was done in part to honor the other two professional teams in Pittsburgh (the Steelers and Pirates ) both of whom won their respective championships in 1979. The Boston Bruins initially challenged the change in colors as the new scheme closely matched their own. However, as the original NHL franchise in Pittsburgh, the Pirates , had nearly the same colors from their inception while the Bruins wore brown and yellow sweaters, NHL president John Ziegler Jr. eventually denied the Bruins claim. The new Pittsburgh jerseys were debuted on January 30 against the visiting St. Louis Blues .[ 1]
Division standings
[ 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.
Divisions: ADM – Adams, NRS – Norris, PTK – Patrick, SMY – Smythe
bold – The top 16 teams in the league qualified for the playoffs, regardless of division or conference.x – Won division; y – Won Conference (and division); p – Won Presidents' Trophy (and conference and division)
Record vs. opponents
Norris Division record vs. opponents
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Norris Division
Vs. Adams Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
MIN
QUE
TOR
Total
Detroit
1–2–1
1–3
2–1–1
2–1–1
0–4
6–11–3
Hartford
1–2–1
1–3
0–4
1–1–2
2–2
5–12–3
Los Angeles
1–2–1
0–3–1
2–0–2
3–1
3–0–1
9–6–5
Montreal
3–1
1–1–2
3–1
2–1–1
3–1
12–5–3
Pittsburgh
2–2
0–4
1–3
2–2
2–2
7–13–0
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Patrick Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
ATL
NYI
NYR
PHI
WSH
Total
Detroit
1–2–1
3–1
1–3
0–3–1
2–1–1
7–10–3
Hartford
3–1
1–3
1–2–1
0–2–2
1–2–1
6–10–4
Los Angeles
1–2–1
1–2–1
1–3
0–4
1–3
4–14–2
Montreal
3–0–1
0–3–1
3–0–1
2–1–1
2–1–1
10–5–5
Pittsburgh
2–1–1
1–0–3
2–2
0–3–1
3–1
8–7–5
Vs. Smythe Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
CHI
COL
EDM
STL
VAN
WIN
Total
Detroit
1−3
1−3
2−1–1
1−2−1
2−2
3−1
10−12−2
Hartford
1–1–2
2−1−1
2–1–1
2–2
1−1−2
2−2
10−8−6
Los Angeles
3−0−1
4−0
1−2−1
1−3
2−2
1−2−1
12−9−3
Montreal
2−2
3−1
3−1
2−2
2−2
3−1
15−9−0
Pittsburgh
0−2–2
2−2
1−3
1−2–1
2−1–1
4−0
10−10−4
Schedule and results
1979–80 Schedule
October: 4–4–1 (home: 3–1–1; road: 1–3–0), 9 Points
November: 5–4–3 (home: 3–1–2; road: 2–3–1), 13 Points
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
Location (Attendance)
Record
Points
10
Nov 3
Atlanta Flames
3–3
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (8,543)
4–4–2
10
11
Nov 7
Montreal Canadiens
3–3
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (9,064)
4–4–3
11
12
Nov 10
Boston Bruins
6–1
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (12,208)
4–5–3
11
13
Nov 11
Pittsburgh Penguins
4–1
New York Rangers
Madison Square Garden (IV) (17,419)
5–5–3
13
14
Nov 15
Pittsburgh Penguins
3–3
Los Angeles Kings
The Forum (7,698)
5–5–4
14
15
Nov 16
Pittsburgh Penguins
2–5
Vancouver Canucks
Pacific Coliseum (15,127)
5–6–4
14
16
Nov 18
Pittsburgh Penguins
3–2
Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg Arena (12,668)
6–6–4
16
17
Nov 21
St. Louis Blues
2–5
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (11,547)
7–6–4
18
18
Nov 23
Pittsburgh Penguins
1–4
Atlanta Flames
Omni Coliseum (13,081)
7–7–4
18
19
Nov 24
New York Rangers
3–5
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (11,629)
8–7–4
20
20
Nov 28
Quebec Nordiques
2–7
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (8,396)
9–7–4
22
21
Nov 30
Pittsburgh Penguins
5–7
Hartford Whalers
Springfield Civic Center (7,627)
9–8–4
22
December: 5–3–7 (home: 3–1–3; road: 2–2–4), 17 Points
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
Location (Attendance)
Record
Points
22
Dec 1
Colorado Rockies
4–5
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (12,051)
10–8–4
24
23
Dec 5
Vancouver Canucks
3–3
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (7,511)
10–8–5
25
24
Dec 7
Pittsburgh Penguins
5–3
Washington Capitals
Capital Centre (7,652)
11–8–5
27
25
Dec 8
Chicago Black Hawks
3–3
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (10,284)
11–8–6
28
26
Dec 11
Pittsburgh Penguins
3–3
St. Louis Blues
The Checkerdome (8,605)
11–8–7
29
27
Dec 12
New York Islanders
3–3
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (8,036)
11–8–8
30
28
Dec 15
Pittsburgh Penguins
3–3
New York Islanders
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (14,995)
11–8–9
31
29
Dec 16
Pittsburgh Penguins
1–4
Quebec Nordiques
Quebec Coliseum (10,279)
11–9–9
31
30
Dec 19
Pittsburgh Penguins
0–0
Chicago Black Hawks
Chicago Stadium (8,215)
11–9–10
32
31
Dec 20
Pittsburgh Penguins
1–1
Philadelphia Flyers
The Spectrum (17,077)
11–9–11
33
32
Dec 22
New York Rangers
4–3
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (11,587)
11–10–11
33
33
Dec 26
Detroit Red Wings
4–6
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (11,243)
12–10–11
35
34
Dec 28
Pittsburgh Penguins
4–2
Atlanta Flames
Omni Coliseum (9,133)
13–10–11
37
35
Dec 29
Atlanta Flames
2–3
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (10,416)
14–10–11
39
36
Dec 31
Pittsburgh Penguins
2–4
Minnesota North Stars
Met Center (11,475)
14–11–11
39
January: 5–10–0 (home: 3–5–0; road: 2–5–0), 10 Points
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
Location (Attendance)
Record
Points
37
Jan 2
Montreal Canadiens
3–5
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (13,309)
15–11–11
41
38
Jan 3
Pittsburgh Penguins
4–3
New York Islanders
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum (14,580)
16–11–11
43
39
Jan 5
Buffalo Sabres
5–4
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (15,583)
16–12–11
43
40
Jan 7
Pittsburgh Penguins
5–9
Toronto Maple Leafs
Maple Leaf Gardens (16,485)
16–13–11
43
41
Jan 9
Vancouver Canucks
2–4
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (8,784)
17–13–11
45
42
Jan 12
Chicago Black Hawks
3–2
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (13,825)
17–14–11
45
43
Jan 16
Toronto Maple Leafs
4–6
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (9,002)
18–14–11
47
44
Jan 17
Pittsburgh Penguins
1–7
Hartford Whalers
Springfield Civic Center (7,627)
18–15–11
47
45
Jan 19
Edmonton Oilers
5–2
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (12,896)
18–16–11
47
46
Jan 23
Pittsburgh Penguins
3–4
Edmonton Oilers
Northlands Coliseum (15,423)
18–17–11
47
47
Jan 24
Pittsburgh Penguins
1–4
Colorado Rockies
McNichols Sports Arena (7,615)
18–18–11
47
48
Jan 26
Boston Bruins
6–4
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (16,033)
18–19–11
47
49
Jan 27
Pittsburgh Penguins
5–3
Boston Bruins
Boston Garden (13,131)
19–19–11
49
50
Jan 30
St. Louis Blues
4–3
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (12,345)
19–20–11
49
51
Jan 31
Pittsburgh Penguins
3–4
Detroit Red Wings
Joe Louis Arena (14,432)
19–21–11
49
February: 4–7–0 (home: 3–2–0; road: 1–5–0), 8 Points
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
Location (Attendance)
Record
Points
52
Feb 2
Philadelphia Flyers
4–0
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (16,033)
19–22–11
49
53
Feb 7
Pittsburgh Penguins
0–9
Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium (16,433)
19–23–11
49
54
Feb 9
Minnesota North Stars
5–2
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (13,011)
19–24–11
49
55
Feb 10
Pittsburgh Penguins
2–3
Chicago Black Hawks
Chicago Stadium (12,272)
19–25–11
49
56
Feb 13
Pittsburgh Penguins
4–2
Toronto Maple Leafs
Maple Leaf Gardens (16,485)
20–25–11
51
57
Feb 16
Pittsburgh Penguins
1–8
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Forum (17,075)
20–26–11
51
58
Feb 17
Pittsburgh Penguins
5–6
Philadelphia Flyers
The Spectrum (17,077)
20–27–11
51
59
Feb 20
Detroit Red Wings
5–7
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (8,077)
21–27–11
53
60
Feb 23
Quebec Nordiques
1–2
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (14,116)
22–27–11
55
61
Feb 24
Pittsburgh Penguins
0–2
Quebec Nordiques
Quebec Coliseum (10,227)
22–28–11
55
62
Feb 27
Winnipeg Jets
2–3
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (8,977)
23–28–11
57
March: 6–7–2 (home: 4–2–1; road: 2–5–1), 14 Points
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
Location (Attendance)
Record
Points
63
Mar 2
New York Islanders
0–0
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (14,879)
23–28–12
58
64
Mar 3
Pittsburgh Penguins
1–5
St. Louis Blues
The Checkerdome (12,752)
23–29–12
58
65
Mar 5
Toronto Maple Leafs
5–3
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (8,925)
23–30–12
58
66
Mar 8
Edmonton Oilers
4–5
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (10,660)
24–30–12
60
67
Mar 9
Pittsburgh Penguins
2–6
Detroit Red Wings
Joe Louis Arena (12,819)
24–31–12
60
68
Mar 11
Philadelphia Flyers
4–3
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (9,972)
24–32–12
60
69
Mar 12
Los Angeles Kings
2–4
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (9,294)
25–32–12
62
70
Mar 15
Minnesota North Stars
2–5
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (10,426)
26–32–12
64
71
Mar 18
Pittsburgh Penguins
3–4
Minnesota North Stars
Met Center (10,797)
26–33–12
64
72
Mar 21
Pittsburgh Penguins
2–9
Edmonton Oilers
Northlands Coliseum (15,423)
26–34–12
64
73
Mar 23
Pittsburgh Penguins
4–2
Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg Arena (12,377)
27–34–12
66
74
Mar 25
Pittsburgh Penguins
4–2
Vancouver Canucks
Pacific Coliseum (12,998)
28–34–12
68
75
Mar 27
Pittsburgh Penguins
2–2
Los Angeles Kings
The Forum (9,781)
28–34–13
69
76
Mar 28
Pittsburgh Penguins
0–5
Colorado Rockies
McNichols Sports Arena (11,610)
28–35–13
69
77
Mar 30
Washington Capitals
0–4
Pittsburgh Penguins
Civic Arena (9,638)
29–35–13
71
April: 1–2–0 (home: 1–1–0; road: 0–1–0), 2 Points
Legend: = Win = Loss = Tie
Playoffs
Preliminary round vs. Boston
Player statistics
Skaters
Goaltenders
† 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 1979–80 season:
Trades
August 30, 1979
To Montreal Canadiens
Denis Herron 1982 2nd round pick
To Pittsburgh Penguins
Rob Holland Pat Hughes
November 13, 1979
To St. Louis Blues
Blair Chapman
To Pittsburgh Penguins
Bob Stewart
Additions and subtractions
Additions
Player
Former team
Via
Draft picks
The 1979 NHL Entry Draft was held on August 9, 1979, in Montreal .[ 9]
References
1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
Patrick Adams Norris Smythe See also
Franchise History Personnel Arenas Rivalries Affiliates Media Culture and lore