# 1968–69 St. Louis Blues season

The 1968–69 St. Louis Blues season was the second in the history of the franchise. The Blues won the NHL's West Division title for the first time in their history. In the playoffs, the Blues swept the Philadelphia Flyers and the Los Angeles Kings, winning both series four games to none, before losing the Stanley Cup Finals in four straight to the Montreal Canadiens for the second straight season.

## Regular season

On November 7, 1968, Red Berenson scored six goals in a road game versus the Philadelphia Flyers. He became the first player to score a double hat trick on a road game. Goaltenders Glenn Hall and Jacques Plante shared the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goalie tandem for that season, and set the Blues' record (broken in 2011–12) of 13 shutouts. For Hall, it was his third Vezina, while Plante, who had come out of retirement during the summer of 1968, took home his seventh. It was the second major award that an NHL expansion team has earned. Hall also earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as the NHL Playoffs MVP the previous 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

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

## Playoffs
### Stanley Cup Finals

Claude Ruel became the eleventh rookie coach to win the Stanley Cup. Montreal goaltender Rogie Vachon limited St. Louis to three goals in four games and his first career playoff shutout.
Montreal Canadiens vs. St. Louis Blues
| Date | Visitors | Score | Home | Score |
| April 27 | St. Louis | 1 | Montreal | 3 |
| April 29 | St. Louis | 1 | Montreal | 3 |
| May 1 | Montreal | 4 | St. Louis | 0 |
| May 4 | Montreal | 2 | St. Louis | 1 |
Montreal wins the series 4–0.

## Player statistics
### Regular season
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Red Berenson | C | 76 | 35 | 47 | 82 | 43 | 7 | 1 | 6 |
| Gary Sabourin | RW | 75 | 25 | 23 | 48 | 58 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Ab McDonald | LW | 68 | 21 | 21 | 42 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Camille Henry | C | 64 | 17 | 22 | 39 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| Ron Schock | C | 67 | 12 | 27 | 39 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Frank St. Marseille | RW | 72 | 12 | 26 | 38 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Tim Ecclestone | LW | 68 | 11 | 23 | 34 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Jim Roberts | D/RW | 72 | 14 | 19 | 33 | 81 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Bill McCreary | LW | 71 | 13 | 17 | 30 | 50 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Barclay Plager | D | 61 | 4 | 26 | 30 | 120 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Noel Picard | D | 67 | 5 | 19 | 24 | 131 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Doug Harvey | D | 70 | 2 | 20 | 22 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Craig Cameron | RW | 72 | 11 | 5 | 16 | 40 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Terry Crisp | C | 57 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Larry Keenan | LW | 46 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Jean-Guy Talbot | D | 69 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Al Arbour | D | 67 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Bob Plager | D | 32 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Terry Gray | RW | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Glenn Hall | G | 41 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Myron Stankiewicz | LW | 16 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ray Fortin | D | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Norm Dennis | C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Edwards | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Robbie Irons | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ted Ouimet | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Plager | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jacques Plante | G | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Glenn Hall | 2354 | 41 | 19 | 12 | 8 | 85 | 2.17 | 8 |
| Jacques Plante | 2139 | 37 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 70 | 1.96 | 5 |
| Gary Edwards | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 |
| Robbie Irons | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 |
| Ted Ouimet | 60 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2.00 | 0 |
| Team: | 4560 | 76 | 37 | 25 | 14 | 157 | 2.07 | 13 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Gary Sabourin | RW | 12 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Red Berenson | C | 12 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Larry Keenan | LW | 12 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Terry Crisp | C | 12 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Camille Henry | C | 11 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Frank St. Marseille | RW | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill McCreary | LW | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Terry Gray | RW | 11 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Noel Picard | D | 12 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Roberts | D/RW | 12 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tim Ecclestone | LW | 12 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Barclay Plager | D | 12 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Plager | D | 9 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ab McDonald | LW | 12 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Schock | C | 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jean-Guy Talbot | D | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jacques Plante | G | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Al Arbour | D | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Craig Cameron | RW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Glenn Hall | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Plager | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Jacques Plante | 589 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 14 | 1.43 | 3 |
| Glenn Hall | 131 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2.29 | 0 |
| Team: | 720 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 19 | 1.58 | 3 |
    Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
    Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

## Awards and records

* Red Berenson, most goals in one road game (6), achieved on November 7, 1968, vs. Philadelphia

## Draft picks

St. Louis's picks at the 1968 NHL entry draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 6 | Gary Edwards | Goaltender | Canada | Toronto Marlboros (OHA) |
| 2 | 16 | Curt Bennett | Left Wing | United States | Brown Bears (NCAA) |