1968–69 Chicago Black Hawks season

The 1968–69 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 43rd season in the NHL. The Hawks finished 6th in the East Division and did not qualify for the playoffs.
==Off-season==
The NHL announced during the summer that the league would once again increase its schedule, as it went from 74 games to 76.
During the off-season, the Black Hawks traded team captain Pierre Pilote to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Jim Pappin. Pilote had been the captain since the 1961-62 season, and head coach Billy Reay decided to not name a captain for the club for the season.
==Pre-season==
The Black Hawks held their training camp in Chicago.
==Regular Season==
The Black Hawks would start the season off on the right foot, beginning the year with a four game winning streak, however, the team would eventually fall into a slump, and sit with a 6-6-0 record twelve games in. Chicago would then get hot again, and eventually found themselves a season high eight games over .500 during their streak, and found themselves in a heated playoff race with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings for the fourth and final playoff position in the East. The Hawks would then fall into a slump, as they had winless streaks of five games and eight games, to fall out of the race, and into the cellar of the East Division. Chicago would end the year with an over .500 record, as they were 34-33-9, earning 77 points, however, the team finished in last, and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1957-58.1968-69 Chicago Black Hawks Games - Hockey-Reference.com
The December 14, 1968 Boston-Chicago game saw four different Bruins score 4 points and Bobby Orr net his first career hat trick (and 5 points) as Boston thumped Chicago 10-5. Having started 19 games in a row, Gerry Cheevers was pulled with 8:56 to go and backup Joe Junkin played in his only NHL game. Junkin held the fort and shutout Chicago for the remainder of the match. A major development during this game would affect the Bruins for the next decade. Tom Williams, an offensive bright spot for the Bruins for the last seven seasons, suffered a season-ending left knee injury during the first shift of the game when kneed by Howie Young. Wayne Cashman would win a regular spot in the line-up with Williams' injury.
On March 20, 1969 in Boston, the Bruins jumped out to a four goal lead against Chicago when Derek Sanderson scored a shorthanded goal early in the second period. Dennis Hull and Jim Pappin scored goals less than a minute apart to cut the Bruins lead to 4-2 heading into the third period. After former Bruin Doug Mohns pulled Chicago within one, Bobby Hull fired in two goals 13 second apart on the power play. These were his 54th and 55th goals of the season, setting a new NHL goal record. The Bruins fans gave Hull a standing ovation. Pulling Gerry Cheevers for an extra attacker, Bobby Orr tipped in Fred Stanfield's point shot with a second left to salvage a 5-5 tie. It was Orr's 21st goal of the season, scored on his 21st birthday, breaking the record for defensemen set by Flash Hollett.
Offensively, the Hawks were led by Bobby Hull, who once again set an NHL record for goals in a season, as he scored 58 times, and he became the second player in league history to record 100 points, as he finished the season with 107 points, which was second in league scoring. Stan Mikita had another excellent season also, scoring 30 goals and earning 97 points as he finished fourth in NHL scoring. Newly acquired Jim Pappin fit right in, scoring 30 goals and 70 points. Kenny Wharram and Dennis Hull also scored 30 goals to give the Hawks five players with 30+ goals in the season. Pat Stapleton led the defense with 56 points, while Gilles Marotte led the team with 120 penalty minutes, and tied Stapleton with the team lead in plus/minus, with a +23.
In goal, Denis DeJordy saw most of the action, playing in 53 games, earning a team high 22 victories, and a team best 3.14 GAA, along with 2 shutouts.Chicago Blackhawks goaltending history : Denis Dejordy Backup Dave Dryden played well, earning 11 victories, while earning a team best 3 shutouts.Chicago Blackhawks goaltending history : Dave Dryden
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record 	Pts
1 	October 11 	St. Louis Blues 	3–4 	Chicago Black Hawks 	1–0–0 	2
2 	October 13 	New York Rangers 	2–5 	Chicago Black Hawks 	2–0–0 	4
3 	October 16 	Minnesota North Stars	4-10 	Chicago Black Hawks 	3–0-0 	6
4 	October 19 	Chicago Black Hawks 	3–1 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	4–0–0 	8
5 	October 20 	Oakland Seals 	4–3 	Chicago Black Hawks 	4–1–0 	8
6 	October 23 	Chicago Black Hawks 	8–5 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	5–1–0 	10
7 	October 27 	Chicago Black Hawks 	3–4 	Detroit Red Wings 	5–2–0 	10
8 	October 30 	Chicago Black Hawks 	4–2 	Los Angeles Kings 	6–2–0 	12
9 	November 1 	Chicago Black Hawks 	2–5 	Oakland Seals 	6–3–0 	12
10	November 3 	Chicago Black Hawks 	3–5 	Boston Bruins 	6–4–0 	12
11	November 6 	Detroit Red Wings 	6–5 	Chicago Black Hawks 	6–5–0 	12
12	November 10	New York Rangers 	4–2 	Chicago Black Hawks 	6–6–0 	12
13	November 13	Pittsburgh Penguins 	5–6 	Chicago Black Hawks 	7–6–0 	14
14	November 14	Chicago Black Hawks 	6–4 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	8–6–0 	16
15	November 16	Chicago Black Hawks 	1–3 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	8–7–0 	16
16	November 17	Toronto Maple Leafs 	1–1 	Chicago Black Hawks 	8–7–1 	17
17	November 20	Chicago Black Hawks 	2–0 	Minnesota North Stars	9-7–1 	19
18	November 23	Chicago Black Hawks 	0-1 	St. Louis Blues 	9–8–1 	19
19	November 24	Minnesota North Stars	0-6 	Chicago Black Hawks 	10–8–1 	21
20	November 27	Chicago Black Hawks 	4–2 	New York Rangers 	11–8–1 	23
21	November 28	Pittsburgh Penguins 	3–2 	Chicago Black Hawks 	11–9–1 	23
22	December 1 	Montreal Canadiens 	3–1 	Chicago Black Hawks 	11–10–1	23
23	December 4 	Chicago Black Hawks 	3-3 	St. Louis Blues 	11–10–2	24
24	December 7 	Chicago Black Hawks 	3–6 	Montreal Canadiens 	11–11–2	24
25	December 8 	Boston Bruins 	4–7 	Chicago Black Hawks 	12–11–2	26
26	December 11	St. Louis Blues 	3-6 	Chicago Black Hawks 	13–11–2	28
27	December 14	Chicago Black Hawks 	5–10 	Boston Bruins 	13–12–2	28
28	December 15	Oakland Seals 	4-7 	Chicago Black Hawks 	14–12–2	30
29	December 18	Chicago Black Hawks 	3–1 	New York Rangers 	15–12–2	32
30	December 19	Chicago Black Hawks 	2–0 	Detroit Red Wings 	16–12–2	34
31	December 22	Pittsburgh Penguins 	1–3 	Chicago Black Hawks 	17–12–2	36
32	December 25	Toronto Maple Leafs 	4–3 	Chicago Black Hawks 	17–13–2	36
33	December 28	Chicago Black Hawks 	5–2 	Minnesota North Stars	18–13–2	38
34	December 29	Los Angeles Kings 	1–4 	Chicago Black Hawks 	19–13–2	40
35	January 1 	Detroit Red Wings 	1–4 	Chicago Black Hawks 	20–13–2	42
36	January 2 	Chicago Black Hawks 	2-2 	Philadelphia Flyers 	20–13–3	43
37	January 4 	Chicago Black Hawks 	6–3 	Montreal Canadiens 	21–13–3	45
38	January 5 	Montreal Canadiens 	4–2 	Chicago Black Hawks 	21–14–3	45
39	January 8 	St. Louis Blues 	1–3 	Chicago Black Hawks 	22–14–3	47
40	January 11 	Chicago Black Hawks 	1–6 	St. Louis Blues 	22–15–3	47
41	January 12 	Los Angeles Kings 	2–4 	Chicago Black Hawks 	23–15–3	49
42	January 15 	Chicago Black Hawks 	3–4 	Oakland Seals 	23-16–3	49
43	January 16 	Chicago Black Hawks 	2–3 	Los Angeles Kings 	23–17–3	49
44	January 18 	Chicago Black Hawks 	1–3 	Montreal Canadiens 	23-18–3	49
45	January 23 	Philadelphia Flyers 	2–2 	Chicago Black Hawks 	23–18–4	50
46	January 25 	Chicago Black Hawks 	0–3 	New York Rangers 	23–19–4	50
47	January 26 	Los Angeles Kings 	3–9 	Chicago Black Hawks 	24–19–4	52
48	January 30 	Chicago Black Hawks 	12–0 	Philadelphia Flyers 	25–19–4	54
49	February 1 	Chicago Black Hawks 	5–5 	Minnesota North Stars	25–19–5	55
50	February 2 	Montreal Canadiens 	6–4 	Chicago Black Hawks 	25–20–5	55
51	February 5 	Boston Bruins 	7–2 	Chicago Black Hawks 	25–21–5	55
52	February 6 	Chicago Black Hawks 	1–6 	Detroit Red Wings 	25–22–5	55
53	February 8 	Detroit Red Wings 	3–1 	Chicago Black Hawks 	25–23–5	55
54	February 9 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	5–3 	Chicago Black Hawks 	25–24–5	55
55	February 11	Chicago Black Hawks 	3–7 	Boston Bruins 	25–25–5	55
56	February 12	Philadelphia Flyers 	3–3 	Chicago Black Hawks 	25–25–6	56
57	February 15	Chicago Black Hawks 	3–0 	Philadelphia Flyers 	26–25–6	58
58	February 16	Boston Bruins 	1–5 	Chicago Black Hawks 	27–25–6	60
59	February 19	Chicago Black Hawks 	2–5 	Oakland Seals 	27–26–6	60
60	February 20	Chicago Black Hawks 	6–2 	Los Angeles Kings 	28–26–6	62
61	February 22	Chicago Black Hawks 	4–2 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	29–26–6	64
62	February 26	Chicago Black Hawks 	3–5 	New York Rangers 	29–27–6	64
63	February 27	Chicago Black Hawks 	3–4 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	29–28–6	64
64	March 2 	Chicago Black Hawks 	1–2 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	29–29–6	64
65	March 3 	Minnesota North Stars	1-6 	Chicago Black Hawks 	30–29–6	66
66	March 5 	New York Rangers 	4–4 	Chicago Black Hawks 	30–29–7	67
67	March 12 	Oakland Seals 	4–1 	Chicago Black Hawks 	30–30–7	67
68	March 15 	Chicago Black Hawks 	1–3 	Montreal Canadiens 	30–31–7	67
69	March 16 	Philadelphia Flyers 	2–6 	Chicago Black Hawks 	31–31–7	69
70	March 19 	Montreal Canadiens 	5–2 	Chicago Black Hawks 	31–32–7	69
71	March 20 	Chicago Black Hawks 	5–5 	Boston Bruins 	31–32–8	70
72	March 22 	Boston Bruins 	5–3 	Chicago Black Hawks 	31–33–8	70
73	March 23 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	1–4 	Chicago Black Hawks 	32–33–8	72
74	March 26 	New York Rangers 	4–6 	Chicago Black Hawks 	33–33–8	74
75	March 29 	Chicago Black Hawks 	1–1 	Detroit Red Wings 	33–33–9	75
76	March 30 	Detroit Red Wings 	5–9 	Chicago Black Hawks 	34–33–9	77
==Playoffs==
*The Black Hawks did not qualify for the post season.
==Player Stats==
===Scoring Leaders===
Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Bobby Hull 	74	58	49	107	48
Stan Mikita 	74	30	67	97 	52
Jim Pappin 	75	30	40	70 	49
Kenny Wharram	76	30	39	69 	19
Dennis Hull 	72	30	34	64 	25
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI 	W 	L 	T	GA 	SO	GAA
Denis DeJordy	53	2981	22	22	7	156	2 	3.14
Dave Dryden 	30	1479	11	11	2	79 	3 	3.20
Jack Norris 	3 	100 	1 	0 	0	10 	0 	6.00
==Awards and Records==
*Bobby Hull, Left Wing, NHL First Team All-Star
==Draft Picks==
Chicago's draft picks at the 1968 NHL Amateur Draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec.
Round	#	Player 	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 	9	John Marks	 	University of North Dakota (NCAA)
==Trivia==
*Black Hawks who recorded a hat trick this season include:
**Jim Pappin during the 10-4 win over the Minnesota North Stars on October 16, 1968.
**Bobby Hull during the 6-4 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 14, 1968.
**Bobby Hull during the 7-4 win over the Boston Bruins on December 8, 1968.
**Kenny Wharram during the 9-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings on January 26, 1969.
**Jim Pappin during the 12-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on January 30, 1969.
**Bobby Hull during the 6-2 win over Los Angeles on February 20, 1969.
**Kenny Wharram during the 6-4 win over the New York Rangers on March 26, 1969.
**Pit Martin during the 9-5 win over the Detroit Red Wings on March 30, 1969.
==See Also==
*1968–69 NHL season
==References==
==Sources==
*Hockey-Reference
*Rauzulu's Street
*Goalies Archive
*HockeyDB
*National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007
Category:Chicago Blackhawks seasons
Category:1968 in hockey
Category:1969 in hockey