# 1968–69 Pittsburgh Penguins season

The 1968–69 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the franchise's second season in the National Hockey League. The Penguins were unable to make the playoffs for the second straight year.

## Regular season
### Final standings

West Division vte :
| | | 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
## Schedule and results

1968–69 Schedule :
October: 1–4–2 (Home: 1–2–1; Road: 0–2–1), 4 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocation (Attendance)RecordPoints
1Oct 12Montreal Canadiens1–1Pittsburgh PenguinsMontreal Forum (10,701)0–0–11
2Oct 16Pittsburgh Penguins2–2Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leaf Gardens (16,321)0–0–22
3Oct 17Pittsburgh Penguins0–3Philadelphia FlyersThe Spectrum (9,862)0–1–22
4Oct 19Boston Bruins5–1Pittsburgh PenguinsBoston Garden (8,071)0–2–22
5Oct 23Chicago Black Hawks8–5Pittsburgh PenguinsChicago Stadium (5,889)0–3–22
6Oct 26St. Louis Blues2–4Pittsburgh PenguinsSt. Louis Arena (7,026)1–3–24
7Oct 30Pittsburgh Penguins3–7New York RangersMadison Square Garden (IV) (13,111)1–4–24 :
November: 4–8–2 (Home: 1–4–2; Road: 3–4–0), 10 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocation (Attendance)RecordPoints
8Nov 2Pittsburgh Penguins2–3Los Angeles KingsThe Forum (6,602)1–5–24
9Nov 3Pittsburgh Penguins3–1Oakland SealsOakland Coliseum Arena (2,166)2–5–26
10Nov 6St. Louis Blues3–1Pittsburgh PenguinsSt. Louis Arena (8,526)2–6–26
11Nov 7Pittsburgh Penguins4–5Montreal CanadiensMontreal Forum (16,704)2–7–26
12Nov 9Philadelphia Flyers3–0Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Spectrum (7,284)2–8–26
13Nov 13Pittsburgh Penguins5–6Chicago Black HawksChicago Stadium (16,666)2–9–26
14Nov 14Chicago Black Hawks6–4Pittsburgh PenguinsChicago Stadium (5,386)2–10–26
15Nov 16New York Rangers2–1Pittsburgh PenguinsMadison Square Garden (IV) (7,062)2–11–26
16Nov 20Pittsburgh Penguins2–5Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leaf Gardens (16,356)2–12–26
17Nov 21Oakland Seals1–3Pittsburgh PenguinsOakland Coliseum Arena (3,506)3–12–28
18Nov 23Los Angeles Kings2–2Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Forum (6,242)3–12–39
19Nov 27Toronto Maple Leafs3–3Pittsburgh PenguinsMaple Leaf Gardens (7,107)3–12–410
20Nov 28Pittsburgh Penguins3–2Chicago Black HawksChicago Stadium (16,666)4–12–412
21Nov 30Pittsburgh Penguins4–2Los Angeles KingsThe Forum (7,243)5–12–414 :
December: 2–10–2 (Home: 1–6–0; Road: 1–4–2), 6 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocation (Attendance)RecordPoints
22Dec 1Pittsburgh Penguins4–4Oakland SealsOakland Coliseum Arena (2,676)5–12–515
23Dec 4Detroit Red Wings7–2Pittsburgh PenguinsOlympia Stadium (4,451)5–13–515
24Dec 7Pittsburgh Penguins1–1St. Louis BluesSt. Louis Arena (15,057)5–13–616
25Dec 8Toronto Maple Leafs4–1Pittsburgh PenguinsMaple Leaf Gardens (5,167)5–14–616
26Dec 11Pittsburgh Penguins4–2Minnesota North StarsMet Center (10,068)6–14–618
27Dec 14Los Angeles Kings2–1Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Forum (6,346)6–15–618
28Dec 15Pittsburgh Penguins3–5Boston BruinsBoston Garden (14,436)6–16–618
29Dec 17Pittsburgh Penguins2–8Philadelphia FlyersThe Spectrum (6,986)6–17–618
30Dec 21Minnesota North Stars3–1Pittsburgh PenguinsMet Center (5,307)6–18–618
31Dec 22Pittsburgh Penguins1–3Chicago Black HawksChicago Stadium (16,666)6–19–618
32Dec 25Detroit Red Wings3–6Pittsburgh PenguinsOlympia Stadium (2,420)7–19–620
33Dec 26Pittsburgh Penguins2–3St. Louis BluesSt. Louis Arena (15,056)7–20–620
34Dec 28Oakland Seals4–3Pittsburgh PenguinsOakland Coliseum Arena (8,196)7–21–620
35Dec 31Montreal Canadiens4–3Pittsburgh PenguinsMontreal Forum (3,979)7–22–620 :
January: 3–10–1 (Home: 1–4–1; Road: 2–6–0), 7 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocation (Attendance)RecordPoints
36Jan 2Pittsburgh Penguins5–2Montreal CanadiensMontreal Forum (16,104)8–22–622
37Jan 4Philadelphia Flyers1–1Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Spectrum (6,329)8–22–723
38Jan 5Pittsburgh Penguins1–2Detroit Red WingsOlympia Stadium (10,973)8–23–723
39Jan 9Minnesota North Stars2–7Pittsburgh PenguinsMet Center (4,017)9–23–725
40Jan 11Oakland Seals4–2Pittsburgh PenguinsOakland Coliseum Arena (7,101)9–24–725
41Jan 12Pittsburgh Penguins4–8Boston BruinsBoston Garden (14,659)9–25–725
42Jan 15Pittsburgh Penguins3–1Minnesota North StarsMet Center (10,355)10–25–727
43Jan 16Pittsburgh Penguins2–3Detroit Red WingsOlympia Stadium (10,623)10–26–727
44Jan 18Pittsburgh Penguins0–4Los Angeles KingsThe Forum (9,172)10–27–727
45Jan 19Pittsburgh Penguins3–6Oakland SealsOakland Coliseum Arena (3,436)10–28–727
46Jan 23Minnesota North Stars3–1Pittsburgh PenguinsMet Center (3,806)10–29–727
47Jan 25Toronto Maple Leafs2–0Pittsburgh PenguinsMaple Leaf Gardens (10,109)10–30–727
48Jan 26Pittsburgh Penguins3–5Philadelphia FlyersThe Spectrum (10,987)10–31–727
49Jan 29St. Louis Blues2–1Pittsburgh PenguinsSt. Louis Arena (3,185)10–32–727 :
February: 4–6–2 (Home: 4–2–2; Road: 0–4–0), 10 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocation (Attendance)RecordPoints
50Feb 1Philadelphia Flyers2–2Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Spectrum (5,866)10–32–828
51Feb 2Pittsburgh Penguins3–7New York RangersMadison Square Garden (IV) (17,250)10–33–828
52Feb 5New York Rangers2–3Pittsburgh PenguinsMadison Square Garden (IV) (4,024)11–33–830
53Feb 8Los Angeles Kings4–2Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Forum (5,933)11–34–830
54Feb 9Pittsburgh Penguins1–3Minnesota North StarsMet Center (12,342)11–35–830
55Feb 12Pittsburgh Penguins0–2St. Louis BluesSt. Louis Arena (13,235)11–36–830
56Feb 15Oakland Seals4–4Pittsburgh PenguinsOakland Coliseum Arena (5,277)11–36–931
57Feb 16Montreal Canadiens4–0Pittsburgh PenguinsMontreal Forum (5,882)11–37–931
58Feb 19Boston Bruins0–3Pittsburgh PenguinsBoston Garden (3,189)12–37–933
59Feb 20Pittsburgh Penguins0–3Detroit Red WingsOlympia Stadium (12,331)12–38–933
60Feb 22Detroit Red Wings2–3Pittsburgh PenguinsOlympia Stadium (8,785)13–38–935
61Feb 27Chicago Black Hawks3–4Pittsburgh PenguinsChicago Stadium (6,271)14–38–937 :
March: 6–7–2 (Home: 4–2–0; Road: 2–5–2), 14 Points
#DateVisitorScoreHomeLocation (Attendance)RecordPoints
62Mar 1Pittsburgh Penguins3–3Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leaf Gardens (16,485)14–38–1038
63Mar 2Pittsburgh Penguins0–4Boston BruinsBoston Garden (14,659)14–39–1038
64Mar 5St. Louis Blues2–4Pittsburgh PenguinsSt. Louis Arena (4,310)15–39–1040
65Mar 8New York Rangers5–3Pittsburgh PenguinsMadison Square Garden (IV) (10,016)15–40–1040
66Mar 12Pittsburgh Penguins3–4New York RangersMadison Square Garden (IV) (17,250)15–41–1040
67Mar 15Pittsburgh Penguins1–3Los Angeles KingsThe Forum (8,218)15–42–1040
68Mar 16Pittsburgh Penguins2–7Oakland SealsOakland Coliseum Arena (3,608)15–43–1040
69Mar 19Boston Bruins3–2Pittsburgh PenguinsBoston Garden (3,942)15–44–1040
70Mar 20Pittsburgh Penguins3–5Montreal CanadiensMontreal Forum (16,827)15–45–1040
71Mar 22Pittsburgh Penguins2–1St. Louis BluesSt. Louis Arena (15,157)16–45–1042
72Mar 23Minnesota North Stars0–5Pittsburgh PenguinsMet Center (3,739)17–45–1044
73Mar 25Pittsburgh Penguins3–1Minnesota North StarsMet Center (11,572)18–45–1046
74Mar 26Los Angeles Kings4–8Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Forum (8,156)19–45–1048
75Mar 29Pittsburgh Penguins3–3Philadelphia FlyersThe Spectrum (11,039)19–45–1149
76Mar 30Philadelphia Flyers1–2Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Spectrum (5,783)20–45–1151 :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

## 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 | 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 | 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 (Dave Gardiner) | 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 (Gene Carr) | To Pittsburgh Penguins Craig Cameron Ron Schock 1972 2nd round pick (Bernie Lukowicz) |

### 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) |