1968–69 Pittsburgh Penguins season

1968–69 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division	West 5th
1968–69 record	20-45-11
Goals for	189
Goals against	248
Team information
General manager	Jack Riley
Coach	George "Red" Sullivan
Alternate captains	Lou Angotti Noel Price Ken Schinkel Bob Woytowich
Arena	Pittsburgh Civic Arena
Average attendance	6,008
Team leaders
Goals	Keith McCreary (25)
Assists	Charlie Burns (38)
Points	Ken Schinkel (52)
Penalty minutes	Dunc McCallum (81)
Wins	Les Binkley Joe Daley (10)
Goals against average	Marv Edwards (3.00)

The 1968–69 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the franchise's 2nd season in the National Hockey League. The Penguins finished 5th in the West Division and did not qualify for the playoffs.

Off-season

Andy Bathgate, the team leading scorer from the 1967-68 season was loaned to the Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League. His scoring was replaced with the acquisition of Jean Pronovost from the Boston Bruins.

Val Fonteyne and Les Binkley's 1968-69 jerseys.

The Penguins made a significant change to their jersey design from that introduced in the 1967-68 season. While retaining the powder blue, navy blue and white colour scheme, shoulder yolks were added to both the powder blue home and white away jerseys along with a simplified three stripe pattern on the arms and body, dark blue sleeve ends and a different font for the outlined numbers. A new logo featuring a hockey playing penguin against a yellow triangle enclosed in a circle which had the team name written in it completed the new jerseys, which would remain for the next two seasons.

Regular Season

Doug Barrie played his first NHL game in the 6-4 loss to the Chicago Black Hawks on November 14, 1968 while Bill LeCaine played his first of four NHL games on November 20, 1968 as the Penguins lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2.

Gordie Howe scores his 700th career goal, December 4, 1968.

Gordie Howe scored the 700th goal of his career during the 7-2 win over the Penguins on December 4, 1968.

Jean-Guy Lagace played his first NHL game during the 4-3 loss to the Oakland Seals on December 28, 1968. Garry Swain played the first of a nine game NHL career on January 25, 1969 in the 2-0 loss to the Maple Leafs. After a 13 year career in the minors, goalie Marv Edwards played his first NHL game in a 3-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on February 20, 1969.

The Penguins scored at a similiar level to the previous season but suffered from a steep increase in goals against, despite having basically the same defensive core, strengthened with the addition of Bob Woytowich. A six game unbeaten streak to finish the season, coupled with the Minnesota North Stars having a seven game winless run, saw the Penguins tied with Minnesota for last place in the West Division and the league. However, the Penguins had more wins and were awarded the tie breaker. Ron Snell was called up for the last four games of the season and scored in his first game, a 3-1 win over the North Stars on March 25, 1969. Snell had a goal and an assist in the next game on March 26 and then another goal on March 29 and finished with 4 points in 4 games.

Jean Pronovost had an excellent rookie season, the first of ten he'd spend with the Penguins in his 998 game NHL career.

Final Standings

West Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PTS
St. Louis Blues	76	37	25	14	204	157	88
Oakland Seals	76	29	36	11	219	251	69
Philadelphia Flyers	76	20	35	21	174	225	61
Los Angeles Kings	76	24	42	10	185	260	58
Pittsburgh Penguins	76	20	45	11	189	252	51
Minnesota North Stars	76	18	43	15	189	270	51

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Game Log

Regular Season Results
No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	T	October 12, 1968	1–1	Montreal Canadiens (1968–69)	0–0–1
2	T	October 16, 1968	2–2	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69)	0–0–2
3	L	October 17, 1968	0–3	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69)	0–1–2
4	L	October 19, 1968	1–5	Boston Bruins (1968–69)	0–2–2
5	L	October 23, 1968	5–8	Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69)	0–3–2
6	W	October 26, 1968	4–2	St. Louis Blues (1968–69)	1–3–2
7	L	October 30, 1968	3–7	@ New York Rangers (1968–69)	1–4–2
8	L	November 2, 1968	2–3	@ Los Angeles Kings (1968–69)	1–5–2
9	W	November 3, 1968	3–1	@ Oakland Seals (1968–69)	2–5–2
10	L	November 6, 1968	1–3	St. Louis Blues (1968–69)	2–6–2
11	L	November 7, 1968	4–5	@ Montreal Canadiens (1968–69)	2–7–2
12	L	November 9, 1968	0–3	Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69)	2–8–2
13	L	November 13, 1968	5–6	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69)	2–9–2
14	L	November 14, 1968	4–6	Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69)	2–10–2
15	L	November 16, 1968	1–2	New York Rangers (1968–69)	2–11–2
16	L	November 20, 1968	2–5	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69)	2–12–2
17	W	November 21, 1968	3–1	Oakland Seals (1968–69)	3–12–2
18	T	November 23, 1968	2–2	Los Angeles Kings (1968–69)	3–12–3
19	T	November 27, 1968	3–3	Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69)	3–12–4
20	W	November 28, 1968	3–2	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69)	4–12–4
21	W	November 30, 1968	4–2	@ Los Angeles Kings (1968–69)	5–12–4
22	T	December 1, 1968	4–4	@ Oakland Seals (1968–69)	5–12–5
23	L	December 4, 1968	2–7	Detroit Red Wings (1968–69)	5–13–5
24	T	December 7, 1968	1–1	@ St. Louis Blues (1968–69)	5–13–6
25	L	December 8, 1968	1–4	Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69)	5–14–6
26	W	December 11, 1968	4–2	@ Minnesota North Stars (1968–69)	6–14–6
27	L	December 14, 1968	1–2	Los Angeles Kings (1968–69)	6–15–6
28	L	December 15, 1968	3–5	@ Boston Bruins (1968–69)	6–16–6
29	L	December 17, 1968	2–8	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69)	6–17–6
30	L	December 21, 1968	1–3	Minnesota North Stars (1968–69)	6–18–6
31	L	December 22, 1968	1–3	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69)	6–19–6
32	W	December 25, 1968	6–3	Detroit Red Wings (1968–69)	7–19–6
33	L	December 26, 1968	2–3	@ St. Louis Blues (1968–69)	7–20–6
34	L	December 28, 1968	3–4	Oakland Seals (1968–69)	7–21–6
35	L	December 31, 1968	3–4	Montreal Canadiens (1968–69)	7–22–6
36	W	January 2, 1969	5–2	@ Montreal Canadiens (1968–69)	8–22–6
37	T	January 4, 1969	1–1	Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69)	8–22–7
38	L	January 5, 1969	1–2	@ Detroit Red Wings (1968–69)	8–23–7
39	W	January 9, 1969	7–2	Minnesota North Stars (1968–69)	9–23–7
40	L	January 11, 1969	2–4	Oakland Seals (1968–69)	9–24–7
41	L	January 12, 1969	4–8	@ Boston Bruins (1968–69)	9–25–7
42	W	January 15, 1969	3–1	@ Minnesota North Stars (1968–69)	10–25–7
43	L	January 16, 1969	2–3	@ Detroit Red Wings (1968–69)	10–26–7
44	L	January 18, 1969	0–4	@ Los Angeles Kings (1968–69)	10–27–7
45	L	January 19, 1969	3–6	@ Oakland Seals (1968–69)	10–28–7
46	L	January 23, 1969	1–3	Minnesota North Stars (1968–69)	10–29–7
47	L	January 25, 1969	0–2	Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69)	10–30–7
48	L	January 26, 1969	3–5	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69)	10–31–7
49	L	January 29, 1969	1–2	St. Louis Blues (1968–69)	10–32–7
50	T	February 1, 1969	2–2	Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69)	10–32–8
51	L	February 2, 1969	3–7	@ New York Rangers (1968–69)	10–33–8
52	W	February 5, 1969	3–2	New York Rangers (1968–69)	11–33–8
53	L	February 8, 1969	2–4	Los Angeles Kings (1968–69)	11–34–8
54	L	February 9, 1969	1–3	@ Minnesota North Stars (1968–69)	11–35–8
55	L	February 12, 1969	0–2	@ St. Louis Blues (1968–69)	11–36–8
56	T	February 15, 1969	4–4	Oakland Seals (1968–69)	11–36–9
57	L	February 16, 1969	0–4	Montreal Canadiens (1968–69)	11–37–9
58	W	February 19, 1969	3–0	Boston Bruins (1968–69)	12–37–9
59	L	February 20, 1969	0–3	@ Detroit Red Wings (1968–69)	12–38–9
60	W	February 22, 1969	3–2	Detroit Red Wings (1968–69)	13–38–9
61	W	February 27, 1969	4–3	Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69)	14–38–9
62	T	March 1, 1969	3–3	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69)	14–38–10
63	L	March 2, 1969	0–4	@ Boston Bruins (1968–69)	14–39–10
64	W	March 5, 1969	4–2	St. Louis Blues (1968–69)	15–39–10
65	L	March 8, 1969	3–5	New York Rangers (1968–69)	15–40–10
66	L	March 12, 1969	3–4	@ New York Rangers (1968–69)	15–41–10
67	L	March 15, 1969	1–3	@ Los Angeles Kings (1968–69)	15–42–10
68	L	March 16, 1969	2–7	@ Oakland Seals (1968–69)	15–43–10
69	L	March 19, 1969	2–3	Boston Bruins (1968–69)	15–44–10
70	L	March 20, 1969	3–5	@ Montreal Canadiens (1968–69)	15–45–10
71	W	March 22, 1969	2–1	@ St. Louis Blues (1968–69)	16–45–10
72	W	March 23, 1969	5–0	Minnesota North Stars (1968–69)	17–45–10
73	W	March 25, 1969	3–1	@ Minnesota North Stars (1968–69)	18–45–10
74	W	March 26, 1969	8–4	Los Angeles Kings (1968–69)	19–45–10
75	T	March 29, 1969	3–3	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69)	19–45–11
76	W	March 30, 1969	2–1	Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69)	20–45–11

Playoffs

• The Penguins did not qualify for the post season.

Player Stats

Forwards

Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points

#	Player	GP	G	AST	PTS	PIM
12	Ken Schinkel	76	18	34	52	18
9	Charlie Burns	76	13	38	51	22
21	Keith McCreary	70	25	23	48	42
19	Jean Pronovost	76	16	25	41	41
7	Lou Angotti	71	17	20	37	36
8	Val Fonteyne	74	12	17	29	2
18	Wally Boyer	62	10	19	29	17
11	Gene Ubriaco	49	15	11	26	14
10	Earl Ingarfield	40	8	15	23	4
15	Billy Harris	54	7	13	20	8
14	Billy Dea	66	10	8	18	4
22	Paul Andrea	25	7	6	13	2
10	George Swarbrick	19	1	6	7	28
16	Ron Snell	4	3	1	4	6
24	Garry Swain	9	1	1	2	0
17	Bill LeCaine	4	0	0	0	0
15	Bob Dillabough	14	0	0	0	2

Defencemen

Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points

#	Player	GP	G	AST	PTS	PIM
20	Bob Woytowich	71	9	20	29	62
4	Noel Price	73	2	18	20	61
6	Dunc McCallum	62	5	13	18	81
2	Leo Boivin	41	5	13	18	26
2	Duane Rupp	30	3	10	13	24
17, 23	Bill Speer	34	1	4	5	27
11	Tracy Pratt	18	0	5	5	34
5	Bryan Watson	18	0	4	4	35
23	Doug Barrie	8	1	1	2	8
5	Dick Mattiussi	12	0	2	2	14
3	John Arbour	17	0	2	2	35
23	Jean-Guy Lagace	17	0	1	1	14

Goaltending

Note: GP= Games played; W= Wins; L= Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against

#	Player	GP	W	L	T	SO	GAA
30	Les Binkley	50	10	31	8	0	3.29
1	Joe Daley	29	10	13	3	2	3.23
30	Marv Edwards	1	0	1	0	0	3.00

Awards and Records

• The Penguins did not win any awards this season.

Transactions

The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1968–69 season:

Trades

May 21, 1968	To Pittsburgh Penguins John Arbour Jean Pronovost	To Boston Bruins cash
June 11, 1968	To Pittsburgh Penguins Lou Angotti	To St. Louis Blues Ab McDonald
June 12, 1968	To Pittsburgh Penguins Wally Boyer	To Montreal Canadiens Al MacNeil
October, 1968	To Pittsburgh Penguins future considerations	To Vancouver Canucks (WHL) loan of Andy Bathgate
October, 1968	To Pittsburgh Penguins Doug Barrie	To Detroit Red Wings cash
October 1, 1968	To Pittsburgh Penguins Bob Woytowich	To Minnesota North Stars 1st round pick in 1972 Draft (traded to Montreal Canadiens—Dave Gardner)
November 24, 1968	To Pittsburgh Penguins Jean-Guy Lagace	To Montreal Canadiens Larry Hillman
November 29, 1968	To Pittsburgh Penguins Billy Harris	To Oakland Seals Bob Dillabough
January 24, 1968	To Pittsburgh Penguins Duane Rupp	To Minnesota North Stars Leo Boivin
January 30, 1968	To Pittsburgh Penguins Tracy Pratt George Swarbrick Bryan Watson	To Oakland Seals Earl Ingarfield Dick Mattiussi Gene Ubriaco

Additions and Subtractions

Additions Player Former team Via Charlie Burns Oakland Seals Intra-League Draft (1968–06–12) Larry Hillman Minnesota North Stars waivers (1968–11–22)

Subtractions Player New team Via

Draft Picks

See also: 1968 NHL Amateur Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Nationality	Position
1	4	Garry Swain	Canada	Center
2	14	Ron Snell	Canada	Right wing
3	21	Dave Simpson	Canada	Defense

Trivia

• No Penguins recorded a Hat trick this season.

Gallery

Phil Esposito becomes the first NHLer to score 100 points in a season, March 2, 1969.

Phil Esposito scores his 100th point of the season, March 2, 1969.

References

• 1968–69 Pittsburgh Penguins Games. Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved on 2009-05-06.

External Links

• Player statistics on Hockey Database
• Game log on NHL Database