1969–70 Pittsburgh Penguins season

The 1969–70 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the franchise's 3rd season in the National Hockey League. The Penguins finished 2nd in the West Division and made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. In the Division Semi-finals, they defeated the Oakland Seals 4 games to 0 and then lost in the Division Finals to the St. Louis Blues 4 games to 2.
==Off-season==
Having not made the playoffs in their first two seasons, GM Jack Riley overhauled the Penguins via the inter and intra-league draft. He added five players who became regulars including Dean Prentice, Nick Harbaruk, Glen Sather, Bob Blackburn and most significantly, goalie Al Smith.
Via the amateur draft, Riley picked promising center Michel Brière and traded for Ron Schock and Bryan Hextall. Hextall played the next four seasons for the Penguins while Schock played eight and became the team's captain.
The Penguins jerseys remained the same as in the 1968-69 season.
==Regular Season==
Rick Kessell played his first NHL game on March 21, 1970 in the 5-3 loss to the Chicago Black Hawks.
Tragedy struck the Penguins in 1970 when promising rookie center Michel Briere, who finished third in scoring on the team, was injured in a car crash. After spending a year in the hospital, he died.
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results 	Regular Season Results
No. 	R 	Date 	Score 	Opponent 	Record
1 	T 	October 11, 1969 	2–2 	Oakland Seals (1969–70) 	0–0–1
2 	T 	October 15, 1969 	3–3 	Philadelphia Flyers (1969–70) 	0–0–2
3 	T 	October 18, 1969 	3–3 	Boston Bruins (1969–70) 	0–0–3
4 	L 	October 19, 1969 	0–4 	@ Boston Bruins (1969–70) 	0–1–3
5 	L 	October 21, 1969 	3–4 	@ Oakland Seals (1969–70) 	0–2–3
6 	L 	October 22, 1969 	0–2 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1969–70) 	0–3–3
7 	W 	October 25, 1969 	4–1 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1969–70)	1–3–3
8 	L 	October 29, 1969 	1–3 	New York Rangers (1969–70) 	1–4–3
9 	W 	November 1, 1969 	6–3 	Minnesota North Stars (1969–70) 	2–4–3
10 	L 	November 2, 1969 	3–4 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1969–70) 	2–5–3
11 	L 	November 5, 1969 	2–4 	Detroit Red Wings (1969–70) 	2–6–3
12 	L 	November 8, 1969 	1–4 	Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70) 	2–7–3
13 	W 	November 12, 1969 	3–0 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70) 	3–7–3
14 	L 	November 13, 1969 	0–4 	@ St. Louis Blues (1969–70) 	3–8–3
15 	W 	November 15, 1969 	3–1 	Los Angeles Kings (1969–70) 	4–8–3
16 	L 	November 19, 1969 	0–4 	St. Louis Blues (1969–70) 	4–9–3
17 	W 	November 22, 1969 	5–3 	Philadelphia Flyers (1969–70) 	5–9–3
18 	L 	November 23, 1969 	2–3 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70) 	5–10–3
19 	T 	November 26, 1969 	4–4 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1969–70)	5–10–4
20 	W 	November 29, 1969 	5–3 	Oakland Seals (1969–70) 	6–10–4
21 	T 	November 30, 1969 	3–3 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1969–70) 	6–10–5
22 	W 	December 3, 1969 	2–1 	Detroit Red Wings (1969–70) 	7–10–5
23 	L 	December 6, 1969 	0–5 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70) 	7–11–5
24 	W 	December 7, 1969 	3–2 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70) 	8–11–5
25 	W 	December 10, 1969 	2–0 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1969–70) 	9–11–5
26 	L 	December 12, 1969 	1–4 	@ Oakland Seals (1969–70) 	9–12–5
27 	L 	December 14, 1969 	1–2 	@ Boston Bruins (1969–70) 	9–13–5
28 	L 	December 17, 1969 	2–5 	Montreal Canadiens (1969–70) 	9–14–5
29 	L 	December 20, 1969 	4–6 	Boston Bruins (1969–70) 	9–15–5
30 	L 	December 21, 1969 	0–4 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1969–70) 	9–16–5
31 	W 	December 26, 1969 	3–2 	@ New York Rangers (1969–70) 	10–16–5
32 	L 	December 27, 1969 	0–3 	Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70) 	10–17–5
33 	W 	December 31, 1969 	4–2 	Montreal Canadiens (1969–70) 	11–17–5
34 	L 	January 3, 1970 	0–6 	@ St. Louis Blues (1969–70) 	11–18–5
35 	T 	January 4, 1970 	4–4 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70) 	11–18–6
36 	L 	January 7, 1970 	3–5 	New York Rangers (1969–70) 	11–19–6
37 	L 	January 8, 1970 	1–3 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1969–70) 	11–20–6
38 	L 	January 10, 1970 	3–5 	Detroit Red Wings (1969–70) 	11–21–6
39 	L 	January 14, 1970 	0–5 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70) 	11–22–6
40 	L 	January 17, 1970 	0–4 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70) 	11–23–6
41 	W 	January 18, 1970 	6–4 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1969–70) 	12–23–6
42 	T 	January 21, 1970 	3–3 	Oakland Seals (1969–70) 	12–23–7
43 	W 	January 24, 1970 	4–2 	Los Angeles Kings (1969–70) 	13–23–7
44 	L 	January 25, 1970 	1–3 	@ Boston Bruins (1969–70) 	13–24–7
45 	T 	January 28, 1970 	4–4 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70) 	13–24–8
46 	W 	January 31, 1970 	2–1 	St. Louis Blues (1969–70) 	14–24–8
47 	L 	February 1, 1970 	0–6 	@ New York Rangers (1969–70) 	14–25–8
48 	W 	February 4, 1970 	7–5 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1969–70)	15–25–8
49 	W 	February 7, 1970 	3–1 	Los Angeles Kings (1969–70) 	16–25–8
50 	W 	February 8, 1970 	6–3 	Minnesota North Stars (1969–70) 	17–25–8
51 	L 	February 11, 1970 	1–7 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70) 	17–26–8
52 	L 	February 14, 1970 	0–3 	Boston Bruins (1969–70) 	17–27–8
53 	W 	February 15, 1970 	4–2 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1969–70) 	18–27–8
54 	W 	February 17, 1970 	4–2 	Philadelphia Flyers (1969–70) 	19–27–8
55 	W 	February 19, 1970 	6–1 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1969–70) 	20–27–8
56 	L 	February 21, 1970 	3–6 	@ Oakland Seals (1969–70) 	20–28–8
57 	L 	February 25, 1970 	2–3 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1969–70) 	20–29–8
58 	W 	February 26, 1970 	1–0 	Los Angeles Kings (1969–70) 	21–29–8
59 	W 	February 28, 1970 	3–2 	Oakland Seals (1969–70) 	22–29–8
60 	W 	March 4, 1970 	2–1 	Montreal Canadiens (1969–70) 	23–29–8
61 	L 	March 5, 1970 	3–5 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1969–70) 	23–30–8
62 	T 	March 7, 1970 	2–2 	St. Louis Blues (1969–70) 	23–30–9
63 	T 	March 8, 1970 	0–0 	@ New York Rangers (1969–70) 	23–30–10
64 	T 	March 11, 1970 	2–2 	@ Oakland Seals (1969–70) 	23–30–11
65 	L 	March 12, 1970 	1–4 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1969–70) 	23–31–11
66 	L 	March 14, 1970 	3–6 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1969–70)	23–32–11
67 	L 	March 18, 1970 	0–2 	New York Rangers (1969–70) 	23–33–11
68 	L 	March 19, 1970 	1–3 	@ St. Louis Blues (1969–70) 	23–34–11
69 	L 	March 21, 1970 	3–5 	Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70) 	23–35–11
70 	L 	March 22, 1970 	4–5 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1969–70) 	23–36–11
71 	W 	March 25, 1970 	2–0 	Minnesota North Stars (1969–70) 	24–36–11
72 	W 	March 28, 1970 	2–1 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1969–70) 	25–36–11
73 	T 	March 29, 1970 	5–5 	St. Louis Blues (1969–70) 	25–36–12
74 	W 	April 1, 1970 	4–1 	Philadelphia Flyers (1969–70) 	26–36–12
75 	L 	April 4, 1970 	1–3 	@ St. Louis Blues (1969–70) 	26–37–12
76 	L 	April 5, 1970 	1–5 	Minnesota North Stars (1969–70) 	26–38–12
==Playoffs==
===Pittsburgh Penguins 4, Oakland Seals 0===
In Game 1, Nick Harbaruk's goal midway through the third period was the winner as Pittsburgh won 2–1. In Game 2, Gary Jarrett gave Oakland a 1–0 lead, but Pittsburgh came back to win 3–1. Game 3 at Oakland featured a hat trick by Ken Schinkel of the Penguins as Pittsburgh won 5–2. In Game 4, Oakland had 1–0 and 2–1 leads, but the Seals just couldn't hold on and the game was tied 2–2 at the end of regulation time. Michel Brière scored the winner as the Penguins won the first playoff series in their history.
===St. Louis Blues 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 2===
The Penguins would reach the playoffs for the first time in 1970, advancing to the Western Conference Finals where they lost to the St. Louis Blues. In the West Division Finals, the St. Louis Blues beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.
1970 Playoffs 	1970 Playoffs 	1970 Playoffs 	1970 Playoffs 	1970 Playoffs 	1970 Playoffs 	1970 Playoffs 	1970 Playoffs 	1970 Playoffs 	1970 Playoffs 	1970 Playoffs 	1970 Playoffs
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Conference Semi-finals vs Oakland: 4–0 (Home: 2–0 ; Road: 2–0)	Conference Semi-finals vs Oakland: 4–0 (Home: 2–0 ; Road: 2–0)	Conference Semi-finals vs Oakland: 4–0 (Home: 2–0 ; Road: 2–0)	Conference Semi-finals vs Oakland: 4–0 (Home: 2–0 ; Road: 2–0)	Conference Semi-finals vs Oakland: 4–0 (Home: 2–0 ; Road: 2–0)	Conference Semi-finals vs Oakland: 4–0 (Home: 2–0 ; Road: 2–0)	Conference Semi-finals vs Oakland: 4–0 (Home: 2–0 ; Road: 2–0)	Conference Semi-finals vs Oakland: 4–0 (Home: 2–0 ; Road: 2–0)	Conference Semi-finals vs Oakland: 4–0 (Home: 2–0 ; Road: 2–0)	Conference Semi-finals vs Oakland: 4–0 (Home: 2–0 ; Road: 2–0)	Conference Semi-finals vs Oakland: 4–0 (Home: 2–0 ; Road: 2–0)	Conference Semi-finals vs Oakland: 4–0 (Home: 2–0 ; Road: 2–0)
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	Series 	 	 	 	 	 	
1 	April 8 	Oakland Seals 	1 – 2 	Pittsburgh 	1–0 	 	 	 	 	 	
2 	April 9 	Oakland 	1 – 3 	Pittsburgh 	2–0 	 	 	 	 	 	
3 	April 11 	Pittsburgh 	5 – 2 	Oakland 	3–0 	 	 	 	 	 	
4 	April 12 	Pittsburgh 	3 – 2 	Oakland 	4–0 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Player Stats==
===Forwards===
Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points
# 	Player 	GP	G 	AST	PTS	PIM
20	Dean Prentice 	75	26	25 	51 	14
12	Ken Schinkel 	72	20	25 	45 	19
21	Michel Briere 	76	12	32 	44 	20
19	Jean Pronovost 	72	20	21 	41 	45
7 	Bryan Hextall 	66	12	19 	31 	87
17	Ron Schock 	76	8 	21 	29 	40
10	Keith McCreary 	60	18	8 	26 	67
16	Glen Sather 	76	12	14 	26 	114
8 	Val Fonteyne 	68	11	15 	26 	2
18	Wally Boyer 	72	11	12 	23 	34
11	Nick Harbaruk 	74	5 	17 	22 	56
14	Rick Kessell 	8 	1 	2 	3 	2
25	Ron Snell 	3 	0 	1 	1 	0
15	George Swarbrick	12	0 	1 	1 	8
===Defencemen===
Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points
# 	Player 	GP	G	AST	PTS	PIM
3, 23 	Bob Woytowich	68	8	25 	33 	49
26, 27	Jim Morrison 	59	5	15 	20 	40
2 	Duane Rupp 	64	2	14 	16 	18
6 	Tracy Pratt 	65	5	7 	12 	124
4 	Bob Blackburn	60	4	7 	11 	51
5 	Bryan Watson 	61	1	9 	10 	189
26 	Mike McMahon 	12	1	3 	4 	19
26 	Dunc McCallum	14	0	0 	0 	16
===Goaltending===
Note: GP= Games played; MIN= Minutes; W= Wins; L= Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against
# 	Player 	GP	MIN 	W 	L 	T	SO	GAA
1 	Joe Daley 	9 	528 	1 	5 	3	0 	2.95
29	Al Smith 	46	2555	15	20	8	2 	3.03
30	Les Binkley	27	1477	10	13	1	3 	3.21
==Awards and Records==
*The Penguins did not win any awards this season.
==Transactions==
The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1969–70 season:
===Trades===
May 20, 1969 	To Pittsburgh PenguinsBryan Hextall 	To Vancouver Canucks (WHL)Paul AndreaJohn Arbourloan of Andy Bathgate
June 6, 1969 	To Pittsburgh PenguinsCraig CameronRon Schock	To St. Louis BluesLou Angotti1st round pick in 1971 Draft (Gene Carr)
October 28, 1969	To Pittsburgh PenguinsMike McMahon 	To Detroit Red WingsBilly Dea
November, 1969 	To Pittsburgh PenguinsJim Morrison 	To Baltimore Clippers (AHL)Bob Rivardcash
===Additions and Subtractions===
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"	Additions 	Additions 	Additions	Additions	Additions	Additions	Additions	Additions	Additions	Additions
Player 	Former team 	Via 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Nick Harbaruk	Vancouver Canucks (WHL)	Inter-League Draft (1969–06) 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Bob Blackburn	New York Rangers 	Intra-League Draft (1969–06–11)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Dean Prentice	Detroit Red Wings 	Intra-League Draft (1969–06–11)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Glen Sather 	Boston Bruins 	Intra-League Draft (1969–06–11)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Al Smith 	Detroit Red Wings 	Intra-League Draft (1969–06–11)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Draft Picks==
Round	Pick	Player 	Nationality
2 	15 	Rick Kessell 	
3 	26 	Michel Briere	
4 	38 	Yvon Labre 	
5 	50 	Ed Patenaude 	
6 	62 	Paul Hoganson	
==Trivia==
*Penguins who recorded a hat trick this season include:
**Ken Schinkel during the 7-5 win over the Minnesota North Stars on February 4, 1970.
==Gallery==
Cashman-18Oct1969.gif|Wayne Cashman scores on Joe Daley, October 18, 1969.
McKenzie_goal-20Dec1969.gif|John McKenzie scores, assisted by John Bucyk and one of Bobby Orr's 5 assists, December 20, 1969.
69-70NHLPittsburghGameAd.jpg|Regular season
69-70NHLQFPittsburghGameAd.jpg|Playoffs
==References==
* 
* Player stats on Hockey Database
* Game log on NHL Database
Category:Pittsburgh Penguins seasons
Category:1969 in hockey
Category:1970 in hockey