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1974–75 Pittsburgh Penguins season

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1974–75 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division3rd Norris
Conference5th Wales
1974–75 record37–28–15
Goals for326
Goals against289
Team information
General managerJack Button
CoachMarc Boileau
CaptainRon Schock
Alternate captainsSyl Apps
Dave Burrows
Bob Paradise
ArenaPittsburgh Civic Arena
Team leaders
GoalsJean Pronovost (43)
AssistsRon Schock (63)
PointsRon Schock (86)
Penalty minutesColin Campbell (172)
WinsGary Inness (24)
Goals against averageGary Inness (3.09)

The 1974–75 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the franchise's eighth season in the National Hockey League. It was also the Penguins first season in the Norris division of the Prince of Wales Conference. The team qualified for the playoffs for the third time in franchise history, losing to the New York Islanders after gaining a 3–0 lead (in a best-of-seven series) in the quarter-final round.

Offseason

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In early 1975, newspapers reported that the California Golden Seals and Penguins were to be relocated to Denver and Seattle respectively, in an arrangement that would have seen the two teams sold to groups in those cities that had already been awarded "conditional" franchises for the 1976–77 season. After staunchly rejecting previous franchise relocation attempts, league president Clarence Campbell saw this as a method by which the NHL might extricate itself from two problem markets, while honoring the expansion commitments it had made. However Seattle Totems owner Vince Abbey missed an opportunity to acquire the Penguins when they were sold in a bankruptcy auction for $4.4 million in June 1975.[1] The Penguins ended up staying in Pittsburgh and ultimately, over time, made Pittsburgh one of the NHL's stronger markets.[2][3]

Regular season

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Final standings

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Norris Division[4]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1 Montreal Canadiens 80 47 14 19 374 225 +149 113
2 Los Angeles Kings 80 42 17 21 269 185 +84 105
3 Pittsburgh Penguins 80 37 28 15 326 289 +37 89
4 Detroit Red Wings 80 23 45 12 259 335 −76 58
5 Washington Capitals 80 8 67 5 181 446 −265 21


Record vs. opponents

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Norris Division record vs. opponents


Schedule and results

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1974–75 Schedule
October: 2–4–1 (Home: 1–2–1 ; Road: 1–2–0), 5 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
1 Oct 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 Minnesota North Stars Met Center 1–0–0 2
2 Oct 12 Detroit Red Wings 2–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 2–0–0 4
3 Oct 19 Philadelphia Flyers 6–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 2–1–0 4
4 Oct 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–5 Atlanta Flames Omni Coliseum 2–2–0 4
5 Oct 23 Boston Bruins 5–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 2–2–1 5
6 Oct 26 New York Rangers 5–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 2–3–1 5
7 Oct 28 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–2 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 2–4–1 5
November: 6–6–3 (Home: 3–2–2 ; Road: 3–4–1), 15 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
8 Nov 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–7 Vancouver Canucks Pacific Coliseum 2–5–1 5
9 Nov 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium 2–5–2 6
10 Nov 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–3 Kansas City Scouts Kemper Arena 3–5–2 8
11 Nov 7 Los Angeles Kings 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 3–6–2 8
12 Nov 9 California Golden Seals 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 4–6–2 10
13 Nov 10 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–8 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 4–7–2 10
14 Nov 13 New York Islanders 2–8 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 5–7–2 12
15 Nov 16 Washington Capitals 1–8 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 6–7–2 14
16 Nov 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–0 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 7–7–2 16
17 Nov 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 7–8–2 16
18 Nov 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 8–5 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens 8–8–2 18
19 Nov 23 Los Angeles Kings 0–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 8–8–3 19
20 Nov 24 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–7 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 8–9–3 19
21 Nov 27 Montreal Canadiens 3–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 8–10–3 19
22 Nov 30 Buffalo Sabres 5–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 8–10–4 20
December: 4–6–4 (Home: 3–0–4 ; Road: 1–6–0), 12 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
23 Dec 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–6 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 8–11–4 20
24 Dec 4 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 9–11–4 22
25 Dec 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–5 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 9–12–4 22
26 Dec 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Boston Bruins Boston Garden 9–13–4 22
27 Dec 12 Montreal Canadiens 3–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 9–13–5 23
28 Dec 14 Chicago Black Hawks 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 10–13–5 25
29 Dec 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium 11–13–5 27
30 Dec 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–6 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens 11–14–5 27
31 Dec 19 Kansas City Scouts 4–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 11–14–6 28
32 Dec 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–8 Minnesota North Stars Met Center 11–15–6 28
33 Dec 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–4 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 11–16–6 28
34 Dec 26 St. Louis Blues 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 11–16–7 29
35 Dec 28 Atlanta Flames 3–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 11–16–8 30
36 Dec 30 Toronto Maple Leafs 5–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 12–16–8 32
January: 8–3–2 (Home: 7–0–1 ; Road: 1–3–1), 18 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
37 Jan 2 Minnesota North Stars 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 13–16–8 34
38 Jan 4 Vancouver Canucks 3–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 14–16–8 36
39 Jan 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–7 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium 14–17–8 36
40 Jan 10 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Atlanta Flames Omni Coliseum 14–17–9 37
41 Jan 11 California Golden Seals 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 15–17–9 39
42 Jan 15 Atlanta Flames 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 16–17–9 41
43 Jan 18 Boston Bruins 4–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 16–17–10 42
44 Jan 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 17–17–10 44
45 Jan 22 California Golden Seals 5–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 18–17–10 46
46 Jan 25 New York Rangers 2–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 19–17–10 48
47 Jan 26 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–7 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 19–18–10 48
48 Jan 29 Chicago Black Hawks 1–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 20–18–10 50
49 Jan 30 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–5 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium 20–19–10 50
February: 7–3–3 (Home: 3–1–2 ; Road: 4–2–1), 17 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
50 Feb 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–4 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena 20–19–11 51
51 Feb 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 Vancouver Canucks Pacific Coliseum 21–19–11 53
52 Feb 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 22–19–11 55
53 Feb 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–1 California Golden Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena 23–19–11 57
54 Feb 11 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–2 New York Islanders Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 23–20–11 57
55 Feb 12 Buffalo Sabres 3–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 23–20–12 58
56 Feb 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 8–3 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens 24–20–12 60
57 Feb 16 New York Islanders 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 25–20–12 62
58 Feb 19 Los Angeles Kings 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 25–20–13 63
59 Feb 22 St. Louis Blues 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 26–20–13 65
60 Feb 23 Detroit Red Wings 3–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 26–21–13 65
61 Feb 25 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–6 Boston Bruins Boston Garden 26–22–13 65
62 Feb 26 Washington Capitals 1–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 27–22–13 67
March: 9–4–2 (Home: 7–0–0 ; Road: 2–4–2), 20 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
63 Mar 1 Vancouver Canucks 3–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 28–22–13 69
64 Mar 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 8–6 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) 29–22–13 71
65 Mar 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–4 Kansas City Scouts Kemper Arena 29–22–14 72
66 Mar 8 Philadelphia Flyers 2–8 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 30–22–14 74
67 Mar 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–8 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 30–23–14 74
68 Mar 12 Boston Bruins 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 31–23–14 76
69 Mar 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–6 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum 31–24–14 76
70 Mar 15 Washington Capitals 1–12 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 32–24–14 78
71 Mar 16 Kansas City Scouts 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 33–24–14 80
72 Mar 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–5 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena 33–25–14 80
73 Mar 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 California Golden Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena 33–25–15 81
74 Mar 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–4 Los Angeles Kings The Forum 33–26–15 81
75 Mar 26 Montreal Canadiens 4–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 34–26–15 83
76 Mar 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium 35–26–15 85
77 Mar 30 Minnesota North Stars 1–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 36–26–15 87
April: 1–2–0 (Home: 1–0–0 ; Road: 0–2–0), 2 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location Record Points
78 Apr 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–6 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum 36–27–15 87
79 Apr 5 Detroit Red Wings 1–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena 37–27–15 89
80 Apr 6 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–8 Washington Capitals Capital Centre 37–28–15 89
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Playoffs

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Preliminary Round vs. St. Louis Blues

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April 8 St. Louis Blues 3–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena
April 10 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–3 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena
Pittsburgh won series 2–0


Quarterfinals vs. New York Islanders

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April 13 New York Islanders 4–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena
April 15 New York Islanders 1–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena
April 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–4 New York Islanders Nassau Coliseum
April 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 New York Islanders Nassau Coliseum
April 22 New York Islanders 4–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena
April 24 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 New York Islanders Nassau Coliseum
April 26 New York Islanders 1–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena
New York won series 4–3


Player statistics

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Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season[8]
Player GP W L T GA SO
Gary Inness 57 24 18 10 161 2
Michel Plasse 20 9 5 4 73 0
Bob Johnson 12 3 4 1 40 0
Denis Herron 3 1 1 0 11 0
Total 37 28 15 285 2
Playoffs[9]
Player GP W L T GA SO
Gary Inness 9 5 4 0 24 0
Total 5 4 0 24 0

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

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  • Jean Pronovost became the first player to score 300 points for the Penguins. He did so in a 5–5 tie with Boston on October 23.
  • Syl Apps Jr. became the first player to record 200 assists for the Penguins. He did so in a 7–5 win over Toronto on December 30.
  • Jean Pronovost became the first person to play 500 games for the Penguins. He did so in an 8–6 win over New York on March 2.
  • Pierre Larouche established a rookie record for the Penguins in terms of goals (31) assists (37) and points (68).
  • Ron Schock established a new franchise record for assists in a season with 63, besting the previous high of 61 held by Syl Apps Jr.
  • Ron Schock established a new franchise record for points in a season with 86, besting the previous high of 85 held by Syl Apps Jr.
  • Ron Stackhouse established a new franchise defenseman record for assists (45) and points (60) in a season. He topped the previous highs held by Duane Rupp (28 assists) and Darryl Edestrand (39 points). He also tied Edstrand for the team record with 15 goals.

Transactions

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The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1974–75 season:

Trades

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June 4, 1974 To Vancouver Canucks

Ab DeMarco Jr.

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Barry Wilkins

September 13, 1974 To Toronto Maple Leafs

Blaine Stoughton
1977 1st round pick

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Rick Kehoe

November 2, 1974 To Vancouver Canucks

Ab DeMarco Jr.

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Barry Wilkins

December 14, 1974 To Washington Capitals

Ron Lalonde

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Lew Morrison

January 10, 1975 To Kansas City Scouts

Denis Herron
Jean-Guy Lagace

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Michel Plasse

January 20, 1975 To St. Louis Blues

Bernie Lukowich

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Bob Stumpf

January 21, 1975 To Washington Capitals

Ron Jones

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Pete Laframboise

Additions and subtractions

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Additions
Player Former team Via
Harvey Bennett Des Moines Capitols (IHL) free agency (1974–06–25)
Kelly Pratt Jacksonville Barons (AHL) free agency (1974–07–15)
Subtractions
Player New team Via
Andy Brown Indianapolis Racers (WHA) free agency (1974)
Duane Rupp Vancouver Blazers (WHA) free agency (1974–06)
Jim Wiley Vancouver Canucks Intra-League Draft (1974–06–10)
Robin Burns Kansas City Scouts Expansion Draft (1974–06–12)
Yvon Labre Washington Capitals Expansion Draft (1974–06–12)
Ted Snell Kansas City Scouts Expansion Draft (1974–06–12)

Draft picks

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Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1974 NHL amateur draft.[10]

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 8 Pierre Larouche C  Canada Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)
2 27[a] Jacques Cossette RW  Canada Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)
4 62 Mario Faubert D  Canada St. Louis University (NCAA)
5 80 Bruce Aberhart G  Canada London Knights (OHA)
6 98 William Schneider LW  United States University of Minnesota (NCAA)
7 116 Rob Laird LW  Canada Regina Pats (WCHL)
8 133 Larry Finck D  Canada St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)
9 150 Jim Chicoyne D  Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL)
10 166 Rick Uhrich RW  Canada Regina Pats (WCHL)
11 181 Serge Gamelin RW  Canada Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)
12 195 Rich Perron D  Canada Quebec Ramparts (QMJHL)
13 206 Rick Hindmarch RW  Canada University of Calgary (CIAU)
14 216 Bill Davis D  Canada Colgate University (NCAA)
15 223 James Mathers D  United States Northeastern University (NCAA)
Draft notes[11]

References

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  • "1974–75 Pittsburgh Penguins Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2009.
  • Player stats at Hockey Database
  • Game log on NHL Database