1968–69 Pittsburgh Penguins season

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

1968–69 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division	5th West
1968–69 record	20–45–11
Goals for	189
Goals against	248
Team information
General manager	Jack Riley
Coach	George "Red" Sullivan
Captain	Vacant
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)

Regular season

Final standings

West Division

		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
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

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

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

See also: 1968 NHL amateur draft

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)

External links

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