1968–69 Pittsburgh Penguins season

The 1968–69 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the franchise's 2nd season in the National Hockey League. The Penguins finished 5th in the West Division and did not qualify for the playoffs.
==Off-season==
Andy Bathgate, the team leading scorer from the 1967-68 season was loaned to the Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League. His scoring was replaced with the acquisition of Jean Pronovost from the Boston Bruins.
The Penguins made a significant change to their jersey design from that introduced in the 1967-68 season. While retaining the powder blue, navy blue and white colour scheme, shoulder yolks were added to both the powder blue home and white away jerseys along with a simplified three stripe pattern on the arms and body, dark blue sleeve ends and a different font for the outlined numbers. A new logo featuring a hockey playing penguin against a yellow triangle enclosed in a circle which had the team name written in it completed the new jerseys, which would remain for the next two seasons.
==Regular Season==
Doug Barrie played his first NHL game in the 6-4 loss to the Chicago Black Hawks on November 14, 1968 while Bill LeCaine played his first of four NHL games on November 20, 1968 as the Penguins lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2.
Gordie Howe scored the 700th goal of his career during the 7-2 win over the Penguins on December 4, 1968.
Jean-Guy Lagace played his first NHL game during the 4-3 loss to the Oakland Seals on December 28, 1968. Garry Swain played the first of a nine game NHL career on January 25, 1969 in the 2-0 loss to the Maple Leafs. After a 13 year career in the minors, goalie Marv Edwards played his first NHL game in a 3-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on February 20, 1969.
The Penguins scored at a similiar level to the previous season but suffered from a steep increase in goals against, despite having basically the same defensive core, strengthened with the addition of Bob Woytowich. A six game unbeaten streak to finish the season, coupled with the Minnesota North Stars having a seven game winless run, saw the Penguins tied with Minnesota for last place in the West Division and the league. However, the Penguins had more wins and were awarded the tie breaker. Ron Snell was called up for the last four games of the season and scored in his first game, a 3-1 win over the North Stars on March 25, 1969. Snell had a goal and an assist in the next game on March 26 and then another goal on March 29 and finished with 4 points in 4 games.
Jean Pronovost had an excellent rookie season, the first of ten he'd spend with the Penguins in his 998 game NHL career.
===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 12, 1968 	1–1 	Montreal Canadiens (1968–69) 	0–0–1
2 	T 	October 16, 1968 	2–2 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69) 	0–0–2
3 	L 	October 17, 1968 	0–3 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69) 	0–1–2
4 	L 	October 19, 1968 	1–5 	Boston Bruins (1968–69) 	0–2–2
5 	L 	October 23, 1968 	5–8 	Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69) 	0–3–2
6 	W 	October 26, 1968 	4–2 	St. Louis Blues (1968–69) 	1–3–2
7 	L 	October 30, 1968 	3–7 	@ New York Rangers (1968–69) 	1–4–2
8 	L 	November 2, 1968 	2–3 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1968–69) 	1–5–2
9 	W 	November 3, 1968 	3–1 	@ Oakland Seals (1968–69) 	2–5–2
10 	L 	November 6, 1968 	1–3 	St. Louis Blues (1968–69) 	2–6–2
11 	L 	November 7, 1968 	4–5 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1968–69) 	2–7–2
12 	L 	November 9, 1968 	0–3 	Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69) 	2–8–2
13 	L 	November 13, 1968 	5–6 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69) 	2–9–2
14 	L 	November 14, 1968 	4–6 	Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69) 	2–10–2
15 	L 	November 16, 1968 	1–2 	New York Rangers (1968–69) 	2–11–2
16 	L 	November 20, 1968 	2–5 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69) 	2–12–2
17 	W 	November 21, 1968 	3–1 	Oakland Seals (1968–69) 	3–12–2
18 	T 	November 23, 1968 	2–2 	Los Angeles Kings (1968–69) 	3–12–3
19 	T 	November 27, 1968 	3–3 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69) 	3–12–4
20 	W 	November 28, 1968 	3–2 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69) 	4–12–4
21 	W 	November 30, 1968 	4–2 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1968–69) 	5–12–4
22 	T 	December 1, 1968 	4–4 	@ Oakland Seals (1968–69) 	5–12–5
23 	L 	December 4, 1968 	2–7 	Detroit Red Wings (1968–69) 	5–13–5
24 	T 	December 7, 1968 	1–1 	@ St. Louis Blues (1968–69) 	5–13–6
25 	L 	December 8, 1968 	1–4 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69) 	5–14–6
26 	W 	December 11, 1968 	4–2 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1968–69)	6–14–6
27 	L 	December 14, 1968 	1–2 	Los Angeles Kings (1968–69) 	6–15–6
28 	L 	December 15, 1968 	3–5 	@ Boston Bruins (1968–69) 	6–16–6
29 	L 	December 17, 1968 	2–8 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69) 	6–17–6
30 	L 	December 21, 1968 	1–3 	Minnesota North Stars (1968–69) 	6–18–6
31 	L 	December 22, 1968 	1–3 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69) 	6–19–6
32 	W 	December 25, 1968 	6–3 	Detroit Red Wings (1968–69) 	7–19–6
33 	L 	December 26, 1968 	2–3 	@ St. Louis Blues (1968–69) 	7–20–6
34 	L 	December 28, 1968 	3–4 	Oakland Seals (1968–69) 	7–21–6
35 	L 	December 31, 1968 	3–4 	Montreal Canadiens (1968–69) 	7–22–6
36 	W 	January 2, 1969 	5–2 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1968–69) 	8–22–6
37 	T 	January 4, 1969 	1–1 	Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69) 	8–22–7
38 	L 	January 5, 1969 	1–2 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1968–69) 	8–23–7
39 	W 	January 9, 1969 	7–2 	Minnesota North Stars (1968–69) 	9–23–7
40 	L 	January 11, 1969 	2–4 	Oakland Seals (1968–69) 	9–24–7
41 	L 	January 12, 1969 	4–8 	@ Boston Bruins (1968–69) 	9–25–7
42 	W 	January 15, 1969 	3–1 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1968–69)	10–25–7
43 	L 	January 16, 1969 	2–3 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1968–69) 	10–26–7
44 	L 	January 18, 1969 	0–4 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1968–69) 	10–27–7
45 	L 	January 19, 1969 	3–6 	@ Oakland Seals (1968–69) 	10–28–7
46 	L 	January 23, 1969 	1–3 	Minnesota North Stars (1968–69) 	10–29–7
47 	L 	January 25, 1969 	0–2 	Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69) 	10–30–7
48 	L 	January 26, 1969 	3–5 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69) 	10–31–7
49 	L 	January 29, 1969 	1–2 	St. Louis Blues (1968–69) 	10–32–7
50 	T 	February 1, 1969 	2–2 	Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69) 	10–32–8
51 	L 	February 2, 1969 	3–7 	@ New York Rangers (1968–69) 	10–33–8
52 	W 	February 5, 1969 	3–2 	New York Rangers (1968–69) 	11–33–8
53 	L 	February 8, 1969 	2–4 	Los Angeles Kings (1968–69) 	11–34–8
54 	L 	February 9, 1969 	1–3 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1968–69)	11–35–8
55 	L 	February 12, 1969 	0–2 	@ St. Louis Blues (1968–69) 	11–36–8
56 	T 	February 15, 1969 	4–4 	Oakland Seals (1968–69) 	11–36–9
57 	L 	February 16, 1969 	0–4 	Montreal Canadiens (1968–69) 	11–37–9
58 	W 	February 19, 1969 	3–0 	Boston Bruins (1968–69) 	12–37–9
59 	L 	February 20, 1969 	0–3 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1968–69) 	12–38–9
60 	W 	February 22, 1969 	3–2 	Detroit Red Wings (1968–69) 	13–38–9
61 	W 	February 27, 1969 	4–3 	Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69) 	14–38–9
62 	T 	March 1, 1969 	3–3 	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69) 	14–38–10
63 	L 	March 2, 1969 	0–4 	@ Boston Bruins (1968–69) 	14–39–10
64 	W 	March 5, 1969 	4–2 	St. Louis Blues (1968–69) 	15–39–10
65 	L 	March 8, 1969 	3–5 	New York Rangers (1968–69) 	15–40–10
66 	L 	March 12, 1969 	3–4 	@ New York Rangers (1968–69) 	15–41–10
67 	L 	March 15, 1969 	1–3 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1968–69) 	15–42–10
68 	L 	March 16, 1969 	2–7 	@ Oakland Seals (1968–69) 	15–43–10
69 	L 	March 19, 1969 	2–3 	Boston Bruins (1968–69) 	15–44–10
70 	L 	March 20, 1969 	3–5 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1968–69) 	15–45–10
71 	W 	March 22, 1969 	2–1 	@ St. Louis Blues (1968–69) 	16–45–10
72 	W 	March 23, 1969 	5–0 	Minnesota North Stars (1968–69) 	17–45–10
73 	W 	March 25, 1969 	3–1 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1968–69)	18–45–10
74 	W 	March 26, 1969 	8–4 	Los Angeles Kings (1968–69) 	19–45–10
75 	T 	March 29, 1969 	3–3 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69) 	19–45–11
76 	W 	March 30, 1969 	2–1 	Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69) 	20–45–11
==Playoffs==
*The Penguins did not qualify for the post season.
==Player Stats==
===Forwards===
Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points
# 	Player 	GP	G 	AST	PTS	PIM
12	Ken Schinkel 	76	18	34 	52 	18
9 	Charlie Burns 	76	13	38 	51 	22
21	Keith McCreary 	70	25	23 	48 	42
19	Jean Pronovost 	76	16	25 	41 	41
7 	Lou Angotti 	71	17	20 	37 	36
8 	Val Fonteyne 	74	12	17 	29 	2
18	Wally Boyer 	62	10	19 	29 	17
11	Gene Ubriaco 	49	15	11 	26 	14
10	Earl Ingarfield 	40	8 	15 	23 	4
15	Billy Harris 	54	7 	13 	20 	8
14	Billy Dea 	66	10	8 	18 	4
22	Paul Andrea 	25	7 	6 	13 	2
10	George Swarbrick	19	1 	6 	7 	28
16	Ron Snell 	4 	3 	1 	4 	6
24	Garry Swain 	9 	1 	1 	2 	0
17	Bill LeCaine 	4 	0 	0 	0 	0
15	Bob Dillabough 	14	0 	0 	0 	2
===Defencemen===
Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points
# 	Player 	GP	G	AST	PTS	PIM
20 	Bob Woytowich 	71	9	20 	29 	62
4 	Noel Price 	73	2	18 	20 	61
6 	Dunc McCallum 	62	5	13 	18 	81
2 	Leo Boivin 	41	5	13 	18 	26
2 	Duane Rupp 	30	3	10 	13 	24
17, 23	Bill Speer 	34	1	4 	5 	27
11 	Tracy Pratt 	18	0	5 	5 	34
5 	Bryan Watson 	18	0	4 	4 	35
23 	Doug Barrie 	8 	1	1 	2 	8
5 	Dick Mattiussi 	12	0	2 	2 	14
3 	John Arbour 	17	0	2 	2 	35
23 	Jean-Guy Lagace	17	0	1 	1 	14
===Goaltending===
Note: GP= Games played; W= Wins; L= Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against
# 	Player 	GP	W 	L 	T	SO	GAA
30	Les Binkley 	50	10	31	8	0 	3.29
1 	Joe Daley 	29	10	13	3	2 	3.23
30	Marv Edwards	1 	0 	1 	0	0 	3.00
==Awards and Records==
*The Penguins did not win any awards this season.
==Transactions==
The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1968–69 season:
===Trades===
May 21, 1968 	To Pittsburgh PenguinsJohn ArbourJean Pronovost 	To Boston Bruinscash
June 11, 1968 	To Pittsburgh PenguinsLou Angotti 	To St. Louis BluesAb McDonald
June 12, 1968 	To Pittsburgh PenguinsWally Boyer 	To Montreal CanadiensAl MacNeil
October, 1968 	To Pittsburgh Penguinsfuture considerations 	To Vancouver Canucks (WHL)loan of Andy Bathgate
October, 1968 	To Pittsburgh PenguinsDoug Barrie 	To Detroit Red Wingscash
October 1, 1968 	To Pittsburgh PenguinsBob Woytowich 	To Minnesota North Stars1st round pick in 1972 Draft (traded to Montreal Canadiens—Dave Gardner)
November 24, 1968	To Pittsburgh PenguinsJean-Guy Lagace 	To Montreal CanadiensLarry Hillman
November 29, 1968	To Pittsburgh PenguinsBilly Harris 	To Oakland SealsBob Dillabough
January 24, 1968 	To Pittsburgh PenguinsDuane Rupp 	To Minnesota North StarsLeo Boivin
January 30, 1968 	To Pittsburgh PenguinsTracy PrattGeorge SwarbrickBryan Watson	To Oakland SealsEarl IngarfieldDick MattiussiGene Ubriaco
===Additions and Subtractions===
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"	Additions 	Additions 	Additions	Additions	Additions	Additions	Additions	Additions	Additions	Additions
Player 	Former team 	Via 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Charlie Burns	Oakland Seals 	Intra-League Draft (1968–06–12)	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Larry Hillman	Minnesota North Stars	waivers (1968–11–22) 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Draft Picks==
Round	Pick	Player 	Nationality	Position
1 	4 	Garry Swain 	 	Center
2 	14 	Ron Snell 	 	Right wing
3 	21 	Dave Simpson	 	Defense
==Trivia==
*No Penguins recorded a Hat trick this season.
==Gallery==
Espo_100th_pt-2Mar1969.gif|Phil Esposito becomes the first NHLer to score 100 points in a season, March 2, 1969.
2Mar1969-Espo_100_pts.jpg|Phil Esposito scores his 100th point of the season, March 2, 1969.
68-69NHLPittsburghGameAd.jpg
==References==
* 
==External Links==
*Player statistics on Hockey Database
*Game log on NHL Database
Category:Pittsburgh Penguins seasons
Category:1968 in hockey
Category:1969 in hockey