1988–89 Pittsburgh Penguins season

The 1988–89 Pittsburgh Penguins season saw the Penguins finish in second place in the Patrick Division with a record of 40 wins, 33 losses, and 7 ties for 87 points. They swept the New York Rangers in the Division Semi-finals before losing the Division Finals in seven games to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Regular season

This was Mario Lemieux's best season offensively. He led the league in goals (85), assists (114, tied with Wayne Gretzky), points (199), power-play goals (31) and shorthanded goals (13).

The Penguins finished the regular season with the most power-play opportunities against, with 482, the most power-play opportunities, with 491, and the most power-play goals scored, with 119.^[1]

Schedule and results

On January 4, 1989, the Penguins defeated the Red Army team 4-2 at the Civic Arena in an exhibition.

Playoffs

After six frustrating and disappointing seasons, the Penguins finally managed to get into the playoffs for the first time since the 1981-82 season. They swept New York Rangers in the Semifinals, but lost to their rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers in seven games.

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.

Awards and records

• Paul Coffey, Defence, NHL First All-Star Team
• Mario Lemieux, Center, NHL First All-Star Team
• Mario Lemieux, Art Ross Trophy
• Mario Lemieux, Center, NHL First All-Star Team
• Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 100 assists in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 6–8 loss to Hartford on February 26th.
• Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 170 points in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 2–3 loss to Los Angeles on March 7th.
• Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 180 points in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 2–8 loss to Boston on March 14th.
• Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 110 assists in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 2–7 loss to Minnesota on March 20th.
• Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 190 points in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 6–4 win over New York on March 27th.
• Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 80 goals in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 5–9 loss to Hartford on March 30th.
• Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 400 assists for the Penguins. He did so in a 6–8 loss to Hartford on February 26th.
• Mario Lemieux became the first person to score 700 points for the Penguins. He did so in a 4–5 loss to Washington on March 22nd.
• Mario Lemieux established a new franchise record for goals (85), assists (114) and points (199) in a season. He had set all three records the previous season.
• Mario Lemieux established a new franchise record for assists (415) and points (715). He broke the previous records of 349 assists (Syl Apps Jr.) and 636 points (Rick Kehoe)
• Paul Coffey established a new franchise record for goals (30), assists (83) and points (113) in a season by a defenseman. He broke the records of 16 goals, 67 assists and 83 points all set by Randy Carlyle in 1981.
• Rod Buskas established a new franchise record for penalty minutes (946). He broke the previous records of 871 PIM held by Bryan Watson.
• Mario Lemieux established a new franchise record for highest plus-minus in a season (+41). He broke the previous high of +36 set by Lowell MacDonald in 1973.

• Mario Lemieux, NHL Record, Most Shorthanded Goals, One Season (13) ^[7]

Transactions

Roster

#	Nat	Player	Pos	S/G	Age	NHL Draft	Birthplace
7001350000000000000♠35		Tom Barrasso	G	R	24	1983	Boston, Massachusetts
7001270000000000000♠27		Barry Bjugstad	LW	L	27	1981	St. Paul, Minnesota
7001290000000000000♠29		Phil Bourque	LW	L	26	Undrafted	Chelmsford, Massachusetts
7001440000000000000♠44		Robert Brown	RW	L	21	1986	Kingston, Ontario
7000700000000000000♠7		Rod Buskas	D	R	28	1981	Wetaskiwin, Alberta
7001140000000000000♠14		Jock Callander	RW	R	28	Undrafted	Regina, Saskatchewan
7001160000000000000♠16		Jay Caufield	RW	R	28	Undrafted	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
7001770000000000000♠77		Paul Coffey (A)	D	L	27	1980	Weston, Ontario
7001110000000000000♠11		John Cullen	C	R	24	1986	Puslinch, Ontario
7001150000000000000♠15		Randy Cunneyworth (A)	LW	L	28	1980	Etobicoke, Ontario
7000400000000000000♠4		Christopher Dahlquist	D	L	26	Undrafted	Fridley, Minnesota
7000500000000000000♠5		Gordon Dineen	D	R	26	1981	Quebec City, Quebec
7001220000000000000♠22		Steve Dykstra	LW	R	26	Undrafted	Edmonton, Alberta
7001120000000000000♠12		Bob Errey	LW	L	24	1983	Montreal, Quebec
7001280000000000000♠28		William Frawley	RW	R	26	1980	Sturgeon Falls, Ontario
7001200000000000000♠20		Perry Ganchar	RW	R	25	1982	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
7001300000000000000♠30		Steve Guenette	G	L	23	Undrafted	Gloucester, Ontario
7001320000000000000♠32		David Hannan	C	L	27	1981	Sudbury, Ontario
7001230000000000000♠23		Randy Hillier	D	L	29	1980	Toronto, Ontario
7000600000000000000♠6		James Johnson	D	L	26	Undrafted	New Hope, Minnesota
7001260000000000000♠26		Mark Kachowski	LW	L	24	Undrafted	Edmonton, Alberta
7001660000000000000♠66		Mario Lemieux (C)	C	R	23	1984	Montreal, Quebec
7001240000000000000♠24		Troy Loney	LW	L	25	1982	Bow Island, Alberta
7001190000000000000♠19		Dave McLlwain	C	L	21	1986	Seaforth, Ontario
7001400000000000000♠40		Frank Pietrangelo	G	L	24	1983	Niagara Falls, Ontario
7001100000000000000♠10		Dan Quinn	C	L	23	1983	Ottawa, Ontario
7000800000000000000♠8		Mark Recchi	RW	L	21	1988	Kamloops, British Columbia
7001250000000000000♠25		Kevin Stevens	LW	L	24	1983	Brockton, Massachusetts
7001310000000000000♠31		Richard Tabaracci	G	L	20	1987	Toronto, Ontario
7000100000000000000♠1		Wendell Young	G	L	25	1981	Halifax, Nova Scotia
7001330000000000000♠33		Zarley Zalapski	D	L	21	1986	Edmonton, Alberta
7001180000000000000♠18		Richard Zemlak	C	R	26	1981	Wynyard, Saskatchewan

Draft picks

Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1988 NHL Entry Draft.^[8]

Round	#	Player	Pos	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1	4	Darrin Shannon	L	Canada	Windsor Compuware Spitfires (OHL)
2	25	Mark Major	L	Canada	North Bay Centennials (OHL)
3	62[a]	Daniel Gauthier	L	Canada	Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
4	67	Mark Recchi	R	Canada	Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
5	88	Greg Andrusak	D	Canada	U. of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)
7	130	Troy Mick	L	Canada	Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)
8	151	Jeffrey Blaeser	L	United States	St. John's Prep (Mass H.S.)
9	172	Robert Gaudreau	C	United States	Bishop Hendricken H.S. (RI)
10	193	Donald Pancoe	L	Canada	Hamilton Steelhawks (OHL)
11	214	Cory Laylin	L	United States	St. Cloud Apollo H.S. (Minn.)
12	235	Darren Stolk	D	Canada	Lethbridge Broncos (WHL)
S	4	Paul Polillo	C	Canada	Western Michigan University (CCHA)
S	9	Shawn Lillie	C	Canada	Colgate University (ECAC)

Draft notes^[9]

• The Pittsburgh Penguins' third-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a December 17, 1987, trade that sent Perry Ganchar and future considerations (1988 third-round pick (#62-Daniel Gauthier)) to the Penguins in exchange for a future considerations (this pick).
• ^a The Montreal Canadiens' third-round pick went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as a result of a December 17, 1987, trade that sent future considerations (1988 third-round pick (#46-Neil Carnes)) to the Candiens in exchange for Perry Ganchar and future considerations (this pick).
• The Pittsburgh Penguins' sixth-round pick went to the Los Angeles Kings as the result of a February 4, 1988, trade that sent Bryan Erickson to the Penguins in exchange for Chris Kontos and future considerations (this pick).

References

• Penguins on Hockey Database