1968–69 Pittsburgh Penguins season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1968–69
Year:	1968
Team:	Pittsburgh Penguins
Divisionrank:	5th
Record:	20–45–11
Goalsfor:	189
Goalsagainst:	248
Captain:	Vacant
Attendance:	6,008
Goalsleader:	Keith McCreary (25)
Assistsleader:	Charlie Burns (38)
Pointsleader:	Ken Schinkel (52)
Pimleader:	Dunc McCallum (81)
Winsleader:	Les Binkley, Joe Daley (10)
Gaaleader:	Marv Edwards (3.00)

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

Regular season

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

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

Playoffs

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

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular Season^[1]

Player					data-sort-type="number"
	76	18	34	52	-39	18
	76	13	38	51	-8	22
	70	25	23	48	-19	42
	76	16	25	41	-2	41
	71	17	20	37	-22	36
	74	12	17	29	-25	2
	62	10	19	29	-20	17
	71	9	20	29	-27	64
^‡	49	15	11	26	-1	14
^‡	40	8	15	23	-17	4
^†	55	7	13	20	-19	8
	73	2	18	20	-29	61
	66	10	8	18	-33	6
^‡	41	5	13	18	-6	26
	62	5	13	18	-35	81
	25	7	6	13	-10	2
^†	30	3	10	13	-10	24
^†	19	1	6	7	-5	28
	34	1	4	5	-17	27
	18	0	5	5	-3	34
	4	3	1	4	4	6
^†	18	0	4	4	-12	35
	8	1	1	2	0	8
	9	1	1	2	-1	0
	17	0	2	2	-14	35
^‡	12	0	2	2	-2	14
	17	0	1	1	-8	14
	14	0	0	0	-6	2
	4	0	0	0	0	0
Total		189	330	519	—	671

Goaltenders

Regular Season^[2]

Player
	29	27	1611:59	10	13	--	3	86	3.20	956	0.910	2	0	0	2
	50	48	2878:34	10	31	--	8	158	3.29	1609	0.902	0	0	0	0
	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

style='width:22%;'	July 4, 1968	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Oakland Seals----George Konik	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Pittsburgh Penguins----cash
style='width:22%;'	September 1, 1968	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Philadelphia Flyers----loan of Bob Rivard	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Pittsburgh Penguins----cash
style='width:22%;'	October 1, 1968	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Minnesota North Stars----1972 1st round pick	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Bob Woytowich
style='width:22%;'	October 1, 1968	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Detroit Red Wings----cash	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Doug Barrie
style='width:22%;'	November 22, 1968	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Montreal Canadiens----Larry Hillman	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Jean-Guy Lagace cash
style='width:22%;'	November 29, 1968	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Oakland Seals----Bob Dillabough	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Billy Harris
style='width:22%;'	January 24, 1969	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Minnesota North Stars----Leo Boivin	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Duane Rupp
style='width:22%;'	January 30, 1969	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Oakland Seals----Earl Ingarfield Sr. Dick Mattiussi Gene Ubriaco	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Tracy Pratt George Swarbrick Bryan Watson
style='width:22%;'	May 30, 1969	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Toronto Maple Leafs----cash	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Forbes Kennedy
style='width:22%;'	June 6, 1969	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To St. Louis Blues----Lou Angotti 1971 1st round pick	style='width:39%;' valign='top'	To Pittsburgh Penguins----Craig Cameron Ron Schock 1972 2nd round pick

Additions and subtractions

Additions Player Former team Via Intra-League Draft (1968–06–12) 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		Niagara Falls Flyers (OHA)
2	14	Ron Snell	Right Wing		Regina Pats (WCHL)
3	21	Dave Simpson	Defense		Port Arthur Marrs (TBJHL)

External links

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: 1968–1969 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats. NHL.
2. Web site: 1968–1969 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats. NHL.