1986–87 Pittsburgh Penguins season

1986–87 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division	5th Patrick
Conference	9th Wales
1986–87 record	30–38–12
Home record	19–15–6
Road record	11–23–6
Goals for	297
Goals against	290
Team information
General manager	Eddie Johnston
Coach	Bob Berry
Captain	Mike Bullard (Oct-Nov) Terry Ruskowski (Nov-Apr)
Alternate captains	Mario Lemieux (Nov-Apr) Moe Mantha Terry Ruskowski (Oct-Nov)
Arena	Pittsburgh Civic Arena
Team leaders
Goals	Mario Lemieux (54)
Assists	Mario Lemieux (53)
Points	Mario Lemieux (107)
Penalty minutes	Dan Frawley (218)
Wins	Gilles Meloche (13)
Goals against average	Pat Riggin (3.34)

The 1986–87 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the Penguins' 20th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Penguins did not qualify for the playoffs.

Offseason

Regular season

Despite a strong start at the beginning of the season, the Penguins managed to find themselves unqualified for the playoffs for the fifth straight year.

Final standings

Patrick Division^[1]

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
Philadelphia Flyers	80	46	26	8	310	245	100
Washington Capitals	80	38	32	10	285	278	86
New York Islanders	80	35	33	12	279	281	82
New York Rangers	80	34	38	8	307	323	76
Pittsburgh Penguins	80	30	38	12	297	290	72
New Jersey Devils	80	29	45	6	293	368	64

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 1986–87 NHL records[2] Team NJD NYI NYR PHI PIT WSH Total New Jersey — 2–5 4–3 2–4–1 4–3 1–6 13–21–1 N.Y. Islanders 5–2 — 3–3–1 3–4 5–0–2 2–3–2 18–12–2 N.Y. Rangers 3–4 3–3–1 — 4–3 3–2–2 4–3 17–15–3 Philadelphia 4–2–1 4–3 3–4 — 4–1–2 5–1–1 20–11–4 Pittsburgh 3–4 0–5–2 2–3–2 1–4–2 — 4–3 10–19–6 Washington 6–1 3–2–2 3–4 1–5–1 3–4 — 16–16–3 Vs. Adams Division 1986–87 NHL records Team BOS BUF HFD MTL QUE Total New Jersey 1–1–1 1–2 1–1–1 1–2 0–1–2 4–7–4 N.Y. Islanders 0–2–1 1–1–1 1–2 1–1–1 2–1 5–7–3 N.Y. Rangers 2–1 2–1 0–3 0–2–1 2–1 6–8–1 Philadelphia 2–1 2–1 1–2 2–0–1 2–0–1 9–4–2 Pittsburgh 1–2 2–0–1 0–3 1–1–1 3–0 7–6–2 Washington 1–1–1 1–2 1–2 3–0 0–2–1 6–7–2 Vs. Campbell Conference Vs. Norris Division 1986–87 NHL records Team CHI DET MIN STL TOR Total New Jersey 1–2 2–1 1–2 2–1 1–2 7–8–0 N.Y. Islanders 1–2 2–1 3–0 1–1–1 2–1 9–5–1 N.Y. Rangers 1–1–1 1–2 1–1–1 1–2 1–1–1 5–7–3 Philadelphia 2–0–1 2–1 1–2 3–0 1–1–1 9–4–2 Pittsburgh 2–1 1–2 3–0 1–0–2 1–2 8–5–2 Washington 1–1–1 2–0–1 2–0–1 2–0–1 2–1 9–2–4 Vs. Smythe Division 1986–87 NHL records Team CGY EDM LAK VAN WIN Total New Jersey 1–2 1–2 1–2 2–0–1 0–3 5–9–1 N.Y. Islanders 0–2–1 0–2–1 1–2 1–2 1–1–1 3–9–2 N.Y. Rangers 1–2 0–3 2–0–1 2–1 1–2 6–8–1 Philadelphia 1–2 2–1 1–2 2–1 2–1 8–7–0 Pittsburgh 1–2 1–2 1–2 1–0–2 1–2 5–8–2 Washington 1–2 2–1 0–3 3–0 1–1–1 7–7–1

Schedule and results

1986–87 regular season[3]
October: 8–3–0 (home: 6–1–0; road: 2–2–0), 16 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 1 Oct 9 Washington Capitals 4–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 1–0–0 2 2 Oct 11 New York Rangers 5–6 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 2–0–0 4 3 Oct 12 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–1 Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Stadium 3–0–0 6 4 Oct 14 Los Angeles Kings 3–4 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 4–0–0 8 5 Oct 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–3 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 5–0–0 10 6 Oct 18 New Jersey Devils 4–8 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 6–0–0 12 7 Oct 22 Buffalo Sabres 4–5 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 7–0–0 14 8 Oct 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 7–1–0 14 9 Oct 25 Philadelphia Flyers 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 8–1–0 16 10 Oct 28 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–5 Hartford Whalers XL Center 8–2–0 16 11 Oct 29 New Jersey Devils 8–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 8–3–0 16
November: 5–5–4 (home: 2–1–0; road: 3–4–2), 14 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 12 Nov 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 OT St. Louis Blues The Checkerdome 8–3–1 17 13 Nov 4 Vancouver Canucks 2–2 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 8–3–2 18 14 Nov 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 Minnesota North Stars Met Center 9–3–2 20 15 Nov 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–2 Detroit Red Wings Joe Louis Arena 9–4–2 20 16 Nov 12 Boston Bruins 1–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 10–4–2 22 17 Nov 14 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–5 New Jersey Devils Izod Center 10–5–2 22 18 Nov 15 Quebec Nordiques 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 11–5–2 24 19 Nov 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Winnipeg Jets Winnipeg Arena 11–6–2 24 20 Nov 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–2 Calgary Flames Scotiabank Saddledome 12–6–2 26 21 Nov 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–4 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 13–6–2 28 22 Nov 25 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–5 New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 13–7–2 28 23 Nov 26 New York Islanders 3–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 13–8–2 28 24 Nov 29 New York Rangers 5–5 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 13–8–3 29 25 Nov 30 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–2 OT New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 13–8–4 30
December: 2–7–3 (home: 2–4–1; road: 0–3–2), 7 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 26 Dec 5 Edmonton Oilers 4–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 13–9–4 30 27 Dec 6 Minnesota North Stars 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 14–9–4 32 28 Dec 10 Calgary Flames 6–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 14–10–4 32 29 Dec 12 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–8 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 15–10–4 34 30 Dec 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 OT Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens 15–11–4 34 31 Dec 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–3 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 15–12–4 34 32 Dec 20 Philadelphia Flyers 6–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 15–13–4 34 33 Dec 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–4 OT Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 15–13–5 35 34 Dec 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 OT New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 15–14–5 35 35 Dec 26 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 OT Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 15–14–6 36 36 Dec 27 New York Islanders 3–3 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 15–14–7 37 37 Dec 30 New York Rangers 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 15–15–7 37
January: 4–8–1 (home: 3–2–0; road: 1–6–1), 9 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 38 Jan 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 OT Washington Capitals Capital Centre 15–16–7 37 39 Jan 3 Montreal Canadiens 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 16–16–7 39 40 Jan 7 Washington Capitals 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 17–16–7 41 41 Jan 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 17–17–7 41 42 Jan 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 OT New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 17–17–8 42 43 Jan 14 Winnipeg Jets 4–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 17–18–8 42 44 Jan 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–4 Boston Bruins Boston Garden 17–19–8 42 45 Jan 18 Detroit Red Wings 1–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 17–20–8 42 46 Jan 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–10 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 17–21–8 42 47 Jan 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–0 Vancouver Canucks Pacific Coliseum 18–21–8 44 48 Jan 24 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–4 Edmonton Oilers Northlands Coliseum 18–22–8 44 49 Jan 27 Washington Capitals 5–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 19–22–8 46 50 Jan 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 19–23–8 46
February: 4–7–2 (home: 2–4–1; road: 2–3–1), 10 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 51 Feb 1 Hartford Whalers 8–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 19–24–8 46 52 Feb 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–6 Boston Bruins Boston Garden 19–25–8 46 53 Feb 7 Chicago Blackhawks 1–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 20–25–8 48 54 Feb 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–1 OT New Jersey Devils Izod Center 21–25–8 50 55 Feb 14 Vancouver Canucks 3–3 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 21–25–9 51 56 Feb 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 21–26–9 51 57 Feb 17 Calgary Flames 3–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 21–27–9 51 58 Feb 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–4 OT Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 21–27–10 52 59 Feb 21 New Jersey Devils 6–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 21–28–10 52 60 Feb 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 22–28–10 54 61 Feb 24 Edmonton Oilers 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 23–28–10 56 62 Feb 26 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–5 New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 23–29–10 56 63 Feb 28 Chicago Blackhawks 2–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 23–30–10 56
March: 5–8–2 (home: 2–3–2; road: 3–5–0), 12 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 64 Mar 1 St. Louis Blues 5–5 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 23–30–11 57 65 Mar 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 8–1 Quebec Nordiques Quebec Coliseum 24–30–11 59 66 Mar 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–7 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens 24–31–11 59 67 Mar 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–3 Minnesota North Stars Met Center 25–31–11 61 68 Mar 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–3 Winnipeg Jets Winnipeg Arena 26–31–11 63 69 Mar 10 New York Islanders 6–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 26–32–11 63 70 Mar 12 Quebec Nordiques 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 27–32–11 65 71 Mar 14 New York Rangers 3–2 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 27–33–11 65 72 Mar 18 St. Louis Blues 4–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 28–33–11 67 73 Mar 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 28–34–11 67 74 Mar 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 28–35–11 67 75 Mar 24 Philadelphia Flyers 3–3 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 28–35–12 68 76 Mar 28 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–5 Hartford Whalers XL Center 28–36–12 68 77 Mar 29 Montreal Canadiens 4–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 28–37–12 68 78 Mar 31 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 New Jersey Devils Izod Center 28–38–12 68
April: 2–0–0 (home: 2–0–0; road: 0–0–0), 4 points # Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points 79 Apr 2 New Jersey Devils 2–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 29–38–12 70 80 Apr 4 Detroit Red Wings 3–4 OT Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 30–38–12 72
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular Season[4] Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM Mario Lemieux 63 54 53 107 13 57 Dan Quinn^† 64 28 43 71 14 40 Randy Cunneyworth 79 26 27 53 14 142 Craig Simpson 72 26 25 51 11 57 Terry Ruskowski 70 14 37 51 8 145 Doug Bodger 76 11 38 49 6 52 Moe Mantha Jr. 62 9 31 40 –6 44 John Chabot 72 14 22 36 –7 8 Bob Errey 72 16 18 34 –5 46 Jim Johnson 80 5 25 30 –6 116 Kevin LaVallee 33 8 20 28 –2 4 Dan Frawley 78 14 14 28 –10 218 Dave Hannan 58 10 15 25 –2 56 Willy Lindström 60 10 13 23 9 6 Ville Sirén 69 5 17 22 8 50 Warren Young 50 8 13 21 –5 103 Rod Buskas 68 3 15 18 2 123 Ron Duguay^‡ 40 5 13 18 –8 30 Chris Kontos 31 8 9 17 –6 6 Troy Loney 23 8 7 15 0 22 Randy Hillier 55 4 8 12 12 97 Mike Bullard^‡ 14 2 10 12 –5 17 Dwight Schofield 25 1 6 7 4 59 Norm Schmidt 20 1 5 6 –8 4 Jim McGeough 11 1 4 5 –5 8 Phil Bourque 22 2 3 5 –2 32 Mitch Wilson 17 2 1 3 –3 83 Mike Blaisdell 10 1 1 2 2 2 Lee Giffin 8 1 1 2 2 0 Chris Dahlquist 19 0 1 1 –2 20 Dwight Mathiasen 6 0 1 1 –1 2 Neil Belland 3 0 1 1 0 0 Alain Lemieux 1 0 0 0 –1 0 Todd Charlesworth 1 0 0 0 0 0 Mike Rowe 2 0 0 0 –2 0 Carl Mokosak 3 0 0 0 –4 4 Total 297 497 794 — 1,653

Goaltenders

Regular Season^[5]

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	T	GA	GAA	SA	SV%	SO
Gilles Meloche	43	2343:00	13	19	7	134	3.43	1123	0.881	0
Roberto Romano^‡	25	1438:00	9	11	2	87	3.63	713	0.878	0
Patrick Riggin^†	17	988:00	8	6	3	55	3.34	465	0.882	0
Steve Guenette	2	113:00	0	2	0	8	4.25	54	0.852	0
Total		4882:00	30	38	12	284	3.49	2355	0.879	0

^†Denotes player acquired mid-season. 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 established a new franchise record for goals in a season with 54, besting the previous high of 53 held by Pierre Larouche (1976).

Transactions

The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1986–87 season:

Trades

October 3, 1986	To Buffalo Sabres cash	To Pittsburgh Penguins Craig Muni
October 8, 1986	To Washington Capitals cash	To Pittsburgh Penguins Dwight Schofield
October 9, 1986	To Detroit Red Wings cash	To Pittsburgh Penguins Warren Young
November 12, 1986	To Calgary Flames Mike Bullard	To Pittsburgh Penguins Dan Quinn
January 21, 1987	To New York Rangers Ron Duguay	To Pittsburgh Penguins Chris Kontos
February 6, 1987	To Boston Bruins Roberto Romano	To Pittsburgh Penguins Pat Riggin
May 29, 1987	To Detroit Red Wings Warren Young	To Pittsburgh Penguins cash

Additions and subtractions

Additions Player Former team Via Carl Mokosak Philadelphia Flyers free agency (1986-07-23) Mitch Wilson New Jersey Devils free agency (1986-07-24) Kevin LaVallee St. Louis Blues free agency (1986-09-13) Neil Belland Vancouver Canucks free agency (1986-09-29) Alain Lemieux Quebec Nordiques free agency (1986-12)

Subtractions Player New team Via Tom Roulston EC Salzburg (Austria) free agency Mitch Lamoureux Philadelphia Flyers free agency (1986-06-30) Andy Brickley New Jersey Devils free agency (1986-07-08) Tom O'Regan Detroit Red Wings free agency (1986-09-29)

Draft picks

See also: List of Pittsburgh Penguins draft picks

The 1986 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 21, 1986, in Montreal.^[6]

Round	#	Player	Pos	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	4	Zarley Zalapski	Defense	Canada	Canadian National Team (Intl)
2	25	Dave Capuano	Left wing	United States	Mount St. Charles H.S. (R.I.)
3	46	Brad Aitken	Left wing	Canada	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
4	67	Robert Brown	Right wing	Canada	Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
5	88	Sandy Smith	Right wing	United States	Brainerd H.S. (Minn.)
6	109	Jeff Daniels	Left wing	Canada	Oshawa Generals (OHL)
7	130	Doug Hobson	Defense	Canada	Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
8	151	Steve Rohlik	Left wing	United States	Hill-Murray H.S. (Minn.)
9	172	Dave McLlwain	Center	Canada	North Bay Centennials (OHL)
10	193	Kelly Cain	Center	Canada	London Knights (OHL)
11	214	Stan Drulia	Right wing	United States	Belleville Bulls (OHL)
12	235	Robert Wilson	Defense	Canada	Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
S1	3	Jeff Lamb	Forward	United States	University of Denver (WCHA)
S2	7	Randy Taylor	Defense	Canada	Harvard University (ECAC)

See also

• 1986–87 NHL season

References

1. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.
2. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
3. "1986-87 Pittsburgh Penguins Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
4. "1986–1987 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
5. "1986–1987 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
6. "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". NHL.