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.
Offseason
Regular season
This was Mario Lemieux's best season offensively. He led the league in goals, assists, points, power-play goals and shorthanded goals.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.
Highlights
- December 31, 1988 – Mario Lemieux scores five goals in an 8–6 win over the New Jersey Devils. Lemieux scores the five goals in five different ways: even strength, shorthanded, power play, penalty shot, and empty net.
Season standings
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.Playoff log
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 26.
- 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 7.
- 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 14.
- 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 20.
- 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 27.
- 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 30.
- 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 26.
- 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 22.
- Mario Lemieux established a new franchise record for goals, assists and points in a season. He had set all three records the previous season.
- Mario Lemieux established a new franchise record for assists and points. He broke the previous records of 349 assists and 636 points
- Paul Coffey established a new franchise record for goals, assists and points 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. 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. He broke the previous high of +36 set by Lowell MacDonald in 1973.
- Mario Lemieux, NHL Record, Most Shorthanded Goals, One Season
Transactions
Trades
| September 1, 1988 | To Philadelphia Flyers ---- 1990 3rd round pick | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- Wendell Young 1990 7th round pick |
| October 3, 1988 | To Buffalo Sabres ---- Wayne Van Dorp | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- 1990 7th round pick |
| November 1, 1988 | To Minnesota North Stars ---- rights to Rob Gaudreau | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- Richard Zemlak |
| November 12, 1988 | To Buffalo Sabres ---- Doug Bodger Darrin Shannon | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- Tom Barrasso 1990 3rd round pick |
| December 17, 1988 | To Minnesota North Stars ---- Steve Gotaas Ville Siren | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- Scott Bjugstad Gord Dineen |
| January 9, 1989 | To Calgary Flames ---- Steve Guenette | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- 1989 6th round pick |
| March 6, 1989 | To Los Angeles Kings ---- Pat Mayer | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- Tim Tookey |
Free agents lost
Waiver Draft
Player signings
Other
Roster
Draft picks
Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1988 NHL Entry Draft.| Round | # | Player | Pos | Nationality | College/Junior/Club Team |
| 1 | 4 | Darrin Shannon | L | Canada | Windsor Compuware Spitfires |
| 2 | 25 | Mark Major | L | Canada | North Bay Centennials |
| 3 | 62 | Daniel Gauthier | L | Canada | Victoriaville Tigres |
| 4 | 67 | Mark Recchi | R | Canada | Kamloops Blazers |
| 5 | 88 | Greg Andrusak | D | Canada | U. of Minnesota-Duluth |
| 7 | 130 | Troy Mick | L | Canada | Portland Winter Hawks |
| 8 | 151 | Jeffrey Blaeser | L | United States | St. John's Prep |
| 9 | 172 | Robert Gaudreau | C | United States | Bishop Hendricken H.S. |
| 10 | 193 | Donald Pancoe | L | Canada | Hamilton Steelhawks |
| 11 | 214 | Cory Laylin | L | United States | St. Cloud Apollo H.S. |
| 12 | 235 | Darren Stolk | D | Canada | Lethbridge Broncos |
| S | 4 | Paul Polillo | C | Canada | Western Michigan University |
| S | 9 | Shawn Lillie | C | Canada | Colgate University |
;Draft notes
- 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 to the Penguins in exchange for a future considerations.
- The Montreal Canadiens' third-round pick went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as a result of a December 17, 1987, trade that sent future considerations to the Candiens in exchange for Perry Ganchar and future considerations.
- 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.