1968–69 Pittsburgh Penguins season

NHL team season

1968–69 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division5th West
1968–69 record20–45–11
Goals for189
Goals against248
Team information
General managerJack Riley
CoachGeorge "Red" Sullivan
CaptainVacant
Alternate captainsLou Angotti
Noel Price
Ken Schinkel
Bob Woytowich
ArenaPittsburgh Civic Arena
Average attendance6,008
Team leaders
GoalsKeith McCreary (25)
AssistsCharlie Burns (38)
PointsKen Schinkel (52)
Penalty minutesDunc McCallum (81)
WinsLes Binkley, Joe Daley (10)
Goals against averageMarv Edwards (3.00)

The 1968–69 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the franchise's second season in the National Hockey League.

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

West Division[1]
  • v
  • t
  • e
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1 St. Louis Blues 76 37 25 14 204 157 +47 88
2 Oakland Seals 76 29 36 11 219 251 −32 69
3 Philadelphia Flyers 76 20 35 21 174 225 −51 61
4 Los Angeles Kings 76 24 42 10 185 260 −75 58
5 Pittsburgh Penguins 76 20 45 11 189 252 −63 51
6 Minnesota North Stars 76 18 43 15 189 270 −81 51

Record vs. opponents

Vs. West Division

1968–69 NHL records[2]
Team LAK MIN OAK PHI PIT STL Total
Los Angeles — 1–4–3 4–2–2 3–4–1 5–2–1 1–6–1 14–18–8
Minnesota 4–1–3 — 3–4–1 2–3–3 3–5 2–4–2 14–17–9
Oakland 2–4–2 4–3–1 — 4–2–2 4–2–2 1–7 15–18–7
Philadelphia 4–3–1 3–2–3 2–4–2 — 4–1–3 1–6–1 14–16–10
Pittsburgh 2–5–1 5–3 2–4–2 1–4–3 — 3–4–1 13–20–7
St. Louis 6–1–1 4–2–2 7–1 6–1–1 4–3–1 — 27–8–5

Vs. East Division

1968–69 NHL records
Team BOS CHI DET MTL NYR TOR Total
Los Angeles 1–5 1–5 2–4 0–4–2 3–3 3–3 10–24–2
Minnesota 0–4–2 0–5–1 2–4 0–5–1 1–5 1–3–2 4–26–6
Oakland 1–3–2 5–1 2–3–1 3–2–1 1–5 2–4 14–18–4
Philadelphia 2–4 0–3–3 1–3–2 1–5 1–3–2 1–1–4 6–19–11
Pittsburgh 1–5 2–4 2–4 1–4–1 1–5 0–3–3 7–25–4
St. Louis 2–2–2 2–3–1 4–0–2 0–5–1 1–3–2 1–4–1 10–17–9


Schedule and results

1968–69 Schedule
October: 1–4–2 (Home: 1–2–1 ; Road: 0–2–1), 4 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location (Attendance) Record Points
1 Oct 12 Montreal Canadiens 1–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Montreal Forum (10,701) 0–0–1 1
2 Oct 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–2 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens (16,321) 0–0–2 2
3 Oct 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–3 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum (9,862) 0–1–2 2
4 Oct 19 Boston Bruins 5–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Boston Garden (8,071) 0–2–2 2
5 Oct 23 Chicago Black Hawks 8–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Chicago Stadium (5,889) 0–3–2 2
6 Oct 26 St. Louis Blues 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins St. Louis Arena (7,026) 1–3–2 4
7 Oct 30 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–7 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) (13,111) 1–4–2 4
November: 4–8–2 (Home: 1–4–2 ; Road: 3–4–0), 10 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location (Attendance) Record Points
8 Nov 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Los Angeles Kings The Forum (6,602) 1–5–2 4
9 Nov 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–1 Oakland Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena (2,166) 2–5–2 6
10 Nov 6 St. Louis Blues 3–1 Pittsburgh Penguins St. Louis Arena (8,526) 2–6–2 6
11 Nov 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–5 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum (16,704) 2–7–2 6
12 Nov 9 Philadelphia Flyers 3–0 Pittsburgh Penguins The Spectrum (7,284) 2–8–2 6
13 Nov 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–6 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium (16,666) 2–9–2 6
14 Nov 14 Chicago Black Hawks 6–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Chicago Stadium (5,386) 2–10–2 6
15 Nov 16 New York Rangers 2–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Madison Square Garden (IV) (7,062) 2–11–2 6
16 Nov 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–5 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens (16,356) 2–12–2 6
17 Nov 21 Oakland Seals 1–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Oakland Coliseum Arena (3,506) 3–12–2 8
18 Nov 23 Los Angeles Kings 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins The Forum (6,242) 3–12–3 9
19 Nov 27 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Maple Leaf Gardens (7,107) 3–12–4 10
20 Nov 28 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium (16,666) 4–12–4 12
21 Nov 30 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 Los Angeles Kings The Forum (7,243) 5–12–4 14
December: 2–10–2 (Home: 1–6–0 ; Road: 1–4–2), 6 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location (Attendance) Record Points
22 Dec 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–4 Oakland Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena (2,676) 5–12–5 15
23 Dec 4 Detroit Red Wings 7–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Olympia Stadium (4,451) 5–13–5 15
24 Dec 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–1 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena (15,057) 5–13–6 16
25 Dec 8 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Maple Leaf Gardens (5,167) 5–14–6 16
26 Dec 11 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 Minnesota North Stars Met Center (10,068) 6–14–6 18
27 Dec 14 Los Angeles Kings 2–1 Pittsburgh Penguins The Forum (6,346) 6–15–6 18
28 Dec 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 Boston Bruins Boston Garden (14,436) 6–16–6 18
29 Dec 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–8 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum (6,986) 6–17–6 18
30 Dec 21 Minnesota North Stars 3–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Met Center (5,307) 6–18–6 18
31 Dec 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium (16,666) 6–19–6 18
32 Dec 25 Detroit Red Wings 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Olympia Stadium (2,420) 7–19–6 20
33 Dec 26 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena (15,056) 7–20–6 20
34 Dec 28 Oakland Seals 4–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Oakland Coliseum Arena (8,196) 7–21–6 20
35 Dec 31 Montreal Canadiens 4–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Montreal Forum (3,979) 7–22–6 20
January: 3–10–1 (Home: 1–4–1 ; Road: 2–6–0), 7 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location (Attendance) Record Points
36 Jan 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–2 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum (16,104) 8–22–6 22
37 Jan 4 Philadelphia Flyers 1–1 Pittsburgh Penguins The Spectrum (6,329) 8–22–7 23
38 Jan 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–2 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium (10,973) 8–23–7 23
39 Jan 9 Minnesota North Stars 2–7 Pittsburgh Penguins Met Center (4,017) 9–23–7 25
40 Jan 11 Oakland Seals 4–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Oakland Coliseum Arena (7,101) 9–24–7 25
41 Jan 12 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–8 Boston Bruins Boston Garden (14,659) 9–25–7 25
42 Jan 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–1 Minnesota North Stars Met Center (10,355) 10–25–7 27
43 Jan 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium (10,623) 10–26–7 27
44 Jan 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–4 Los Angeles Kings The Forum (9,172) 10–27–7 27
45 Jan 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–6 Oakland Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena (3,436) 10–28–7 27
46 Jan 23 Minnesota North Stars 3–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Met Center (3,806) 10–29–7 27
47 Jan 25 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Maple Leaf Gardens (10,109) 10–30–7 27
48 Jan 26 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum (10,987) 10–31–7 27
49 Jan 29 St. Louis Blues 2–1 Pittsburgh Penguins St. Louis Arena (3,185) 10–32–7 27
February: 4–6–2 (Home: 4–2–2 ; Road: 0–4–0), 10 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location (Attendance) Record Points
50 Feb 1 Philadelphia Flyers 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins The Spectrum (5,866) 10–32–8 28
51 Feb 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–7 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) (17,250) 10–33–8 28
52 Feb 5 New York Rangers 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Madison Square Garden (IV) (4,024) 11–33–8 30
53 Feb 8 Los Angeles Kings 4–2 Pittsburgh Penguins The Forum (5,933) 11–34–8 30
54 Feb 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Minnesota North Stars Met Center (12,342) 11–35–8 30
55 Feb 12 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–2 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena (13,235) 11–36–8 30
56 Feb 15 Oakland Seals 4–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Oakland Coliseum Arena (5,277) 11–36–9 31
57 Feb 16 Montreal Canadiens 4–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Montreal Forum (5,882) 11–37–9 31
58 Feb 19 Boston Bruins 0–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Boston Garden (3,189) 12–37–9 33
59 Feb 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–3 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium (12,331) 12–38–9 33
60 Feb 22 Detroit Red Wings 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Olympia Stadium (8,785) 13–38–9 35
61 Feb 27 Chicago Black Hawks 3–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Chicago Stadium (6,271) 14–38–9 37
March: 6–7–2 (Home: 4–2–0 ; Road: 2–5–2), 14 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location (Attendance) Record Points
62 Mar 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens (16,485) 14–38–10 38
63 Mar 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–4 Boston Bruins Boston Garden (14,659) 14–39–10 38
64 Mar 5 St. Louis Blues 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins St. Louis Arena (4,310) 15–39–10 40
65 Mar 8 New York Rangers 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Madison Square Garden (IV) (10,016) 15–40–10 40
66 Mar 12 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) (17,250) 15–41–10 40
67 Mar 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Los Angeles Kings The Forum (8,218) 15–42–10 40
68 Mar 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–7 Oakland Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena (3,608) 15–43–10 40
69 Mar 19 Boston Bruins 3–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Boston Garden (3,942) 15–44–10 40
70 Mar 20 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum (16,827) 15–45–10 40
71 Mar 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–1 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena (15,157) 16–45–10 42
72 Mar 23 Minnesota North Stars 0–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Met Center (3,739) 17–45–10 44
73 Mar 25 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–1 Minnesota North Stars Met Center (11,572) 18–45–10 46
74 Mar 26 Los Angeles Kings 4–8 Pittsburgh Penguins The Forum (8,156) 19–45–10 48
75 Mar 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum (11,039) 19–45–11 49
76 Mar 30 Philadelphia Flyers 1–2 Pittsburgh Penguins The Spectrum (5,783) 20–45–11 51
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Playoffs

The Penguins were unable to make the playoffs for the second straight year.

Player statistics

Skaters
Regular Season[3]
Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM
Ken Schinkel 76 18 34 52 -39 18
Charlie Burns 76 13 38 51 -8 22
Keith McCreary 70 25 23 48 -19 42
Jean Pronovost 76 16 25 41 -2 41
Lou Angotti 71 17 20 37 -22 36
Val Fonteyne 74 12 17 29 -25 2
Wally Boyer 62 10 19 29 -20 17
Bob Woytowich 71 9 20 29 -27 64
Gene Ubriaco‡ 49 15 11 26 -1 14
Earl Ingarfield‡ 40 8 15 23 -17 4
Billy Harris† 55 7 13 20 -19 8
Noel Price 73 2 18 20 -29 61
Billy Dea 66 10 8 18 -33 6
Leo Boivin‡ 41 5 13 18 -6 26
Dunc McCallum 62 5 13 18 -35 81
Paul Andrea 25 7 6 13 -10 2
Duane Rupp† 30 3 10 13 -10 24
George Swarbrick† 19 1 6 7 -5 28
Bill Speer 34 1 4 5 -17 27
Tracy Pratt 18 0 5 5 -3 34
Ron Snell 4 3 1 4 4 6
Bryan Watson† 18 0 4 4 -12 35
Doug Barrie 8 1 1 2 0 8
Garry Swain 9 1 1 2 -1 0
John Arbour 17 0 2 2 -14 35
Dick Mattiussi‡ 12 0 2 2 -2 14
Jean-Guy Lagace 17 0 1 1 -8 14
Bob Dillabough 14 0 0 0 -6 2
Bill Lecaine 4 0 0 0 0 0
Total 189 330 519 — 671

Goaltenders
Regular Season[4]
Player GP GS TOI W L OT T GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Joe Daley 29 27 1611:59 10 13 -- 3 86 3.20 956 0.910 2 0 0 2
Les Binkley 50 48 2878:34 10 31 -- 8 158 3.29 1609 0.902 0 0 0 0
Marv Edwards 1 1 60:00 0 1 -- 0 3 3.00 33 0.909 0 0 0 0
Total 76 4550:33 20 45 0 11 247 3.26 2598 0.905 2 0 0 2

†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

  • Leo Boivin became the first to play 100 games for the Penguins during a 1–2 loss to Los Angeles on December 14. He played 100 of Pittsburgh's first 101 games.
  • Ken Schinkel established a new franchise record for lowest plus-minus with –39. He topped the previous record of –23 held by Val Fonteyne.
  • Jean Pronovost established a rookie record for the Penguins in terms of assists (25) and points (41).
  • Bob Woytowich tied Leo Boivin's team record for goals in a season by a defenseman with 9.

Transactions

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

Trades

July 4, 1968 To Oakland Seals

George Konik

To Pittsburgh Penguins

cash

September 1, 1968 To Philadelphia Flyers

loan of Bob Rivard

To Pittsburgh Penguins

cash

October 1, 1968 To Minnesota North Stars

1972 1st round pick

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Bob Woytowich

October 1, 1968 To Detroit Red Wings

cash

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Doug Barrie

November 22, 1968 To Montreal Canadiens

Larry Hillman

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Jean-Guy Lagace
cash

November 29, 1968 To Oakland Seals

Bob Dillabough

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Billy Harris

January 24, 1969 To Minnesota North Stars

Leo Boivin

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Duane Rupp

January 30, 1969 To Oakland Seals

Earl Ingarfield Sr.
Dick Mattiussi
Gene Ubriaco

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Tracy Pratt
George Swarbrick
Bryan Watson

May 30, 1969 To Toronto Maple Leafs

cash

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Forbes Kennedy

June 6, 1969 To St. Louis Blues

Lou Angotti
1971 1st round pick

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Craig Cameron
Ron Schock
1972 2nd round pick

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

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 4 Garry Swain Center  Canada Niagara Falls Flyers (OHA)
2 14 Ron Snell Right Wing  Canada Regina Pats (WCHL)
3 21 Dave Simpson Defense  Canada Port Arthur Marrs (TBJHL)

References

  1. ^ "1968–1969 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  2. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  3. ^ "1968–1969 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  4. ^ "1968–1969 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.

External links

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