1968–69 Toronto Maple Leafs season

The 1968-69 Toronto Maple Leafs season was Toronto's 52nd season in the NHL. The Maple Leafs finished 4th in the East Division and were swept in the Quarter-finals by the Boston Bruins 4 games to 0.
==Off-season==
===NHL Draft===
Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	Club Team
==Regular Season==
===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 	W 	October 13, 1968 	2–1 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1968–69) 	1–0–0
2 	T 	October 16, 1968 	2–2 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1968–69) 	1–0–1
3 	L 	October 19, 1968 	1–3 	Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69) 	1–1–1
4 	W 	October 23, 1968 	6–4 	St. Louis Blues (1968–69) 	2–1–1
5 	W 	October 26, 1968 	2–0 	Boston Bruins (1968–69) 	3–1–1
6 	W 	October 27, 1968 	5–3 	@ New York Rangers (1968–69) 	4–1–1
7 	L 	October 30, 1968 	0–5 	Montreal Canadiens (1968–69) 	4–2–1
8 	L 	November 2, 1968 	2–3 	Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69) 	4–3–1
9 	W 	November 6, 1968 	1–0 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1968–69)	5–3–1
10 	L 	November 9, 1968 	1–3 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1968–69) 	5–4–1
11 	W 	November 10, 1968 	3–1 	@ Oakland Seals (1968–69) 	6–4–1
12 	T 	November 13, 1968 	1–1 	Boston Bruins (1968–69) 	6–4–2
13 	W 	November 14, 1968 	5–3 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1968–69) 	7–4–2
14 	W 	November 16, 1968 	3–1 	Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69) 	8–4–2
15 	T 	November 17, 1968 	1–1 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69) 	8–4–3
16 	W 	November 20, 1968 	5–2 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1968–69) 	9–4–3
17 	L 	November 23, 1968 	2–5 	Detroit Red Wings (1968–69) 	9–5–3
18 	L 	November 24, 1968 	4–7 	@ Boston Bruins (1968–69) 	9–6–3
19 	T 	November 27, 1968 	3–3 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1968–69) 	9–6–4
20 	T 	November 30, 1968 	3–3 	Minnesota North Stars (1968–69) 	9–6–5
21 	L 	December 1, 1968 	1–3 	@ New York Rangers (1968–69) 	9–7–5
22 	W 	December 4, 1968 	4–2 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1968–69)	10–7–5
23 	W 	December 7, 1968 	5–2 	New York Rangers (1968–69) 	11–7–5
24 	W 	December 8, 1968 	4–1 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1968–69) 	12–7–5
25 	T 	December 11, 1968 	4–4 	Montreal Canadiens (1968–69) 	12–7–6
26 	W 	December 12, 1968 	1–0 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69) 	13–7–6
27 	W 	December 14, 1968 	3–2 	St. Louis Blues (1968–69) 	14–7–6
28 	W 	December 18, 1968 	5–2 	Oakland Seals (1968–69) 	15–7–6
29 	W 	December 21, 1968 	8–3 	Detroit Red Wings (1968–69) 	16–7–6
30 	L 	December 22, 1968 	2–3 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1968–69) 	16–8–6
31 	W 	December 25, 1968 	4–3 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69) 	17–8–6
32 	L 	December 26, 1968 	2–4 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1968–69) 	17–9–6
33 	L 	December 28, 1968 	1–4 	Los Angeles Kings (1968–69) 	17–10–6
34 	W 	January 1, 1969 	7–3 	Oakland Seals (1968–69) 	18–10–6
35 	W 	January 4, 1969 	5–3 	New York Rangers (1968–69) 	19–10–6
36 	T 	January 5, 1969 	2–2 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69) 	19–10–7
37 	T 	January 8, 1969 	4–4 	Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69) 	19–10–8
38 	L 	January 9, 1969 	2–3 	@ Boston Bruins (1968–69) 	19–11–8
39 	W 	January 11, 1969 	4–2 	Los Angeles Kings (1968–69) 	20–11–8
40 	T 	January 15, 1969 	5–5 	Boston Bruins (1968–69) 	20–11–9
41 	T 	January 18, 1969 	1–1 	Detroit Red Wings (1968–69) 	20–11–10
42 	L 	January 19, 1969 	3–5 	@ Boston Bruins (1968–69) 	20–12–10
43 	W 	January 23, 1969 	3–2 	@ St. Louis Blues (1968–69) 	21–12–10
44 	W 	January 25, 1969 	2–0 	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1968–69) 	22–12–10
45 	L 	January 26, 1969 	2–3 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1968–69) 	22–13–10
46 	L 	January 29, 1969 	1–3 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1968–69) 	22–14–10
47 	L 	January 31, 1969 	4–5 	@ Oakland Seals (1968–69) 	22–15–10
48 	L 	February 2, 1969 	3–5 	@ St. Louis Blues (1968–69) 	22–16–10
49 	T 	February 5, 1969 	5–5 	Minnesota North Stars (1968–69) 	22–16–11
50 	L 	February 8, 1969 	1–4 	Oakland Seals (1968–69) 	22–17–11
51 	W 	February 9, 1969 	5–3 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69) 	23–17–11
52 	W 	February 12, 1969 	7–1 	Minnesota North Stars (1968–69) 	24–17–11
53 	W 	February 15, 1969 	6–2 	New York Rangers (1968–69) 	25–17–11
54 	L 	February 16, 1969 	2–4 	@ New York Rangers (1968–69) 	25–18–11
55 	W 	February 19, 1969 	5–1 	Montreal Canadiens (1968–69) 	26–18–11
56 	L 	February 20, 1969 	1–2 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1968–69) 	26–19–11
57 	L 	February 22, 1969 	2–4 	Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69) 	26–20–11
58 	L 	February 23, 1969 	2–7 	@ Minnesota North Stars (1968–69)	26–21–11
59 	W 	February 26, 1969 	3–2 	St. Louis Blues (1968–69) 	27–21–11
60 	T 	February 27, 1969 	1–1 	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69) 	27–21–12
61 	T 	March 1, 1969 	3–3 	Pittsburgh Penguins (1968–69) 	27–21–13
62 	W 	March 2, 1969 	2–1 	Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69) 	28–21–13
63 	W 	March 5, 1969 	6–4 	Los Angeles Kings (1968–69) 	29–21–13
64 	L 	March 6, 1969 	3–5 	@ Montreal Canadiens (1968–69) 	29–22–13
65 	T 	March 8, 1969 	2–2 	Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69) 	29–22–14
66 	W 	March 12, 1969 	4–0 	@ Los Angeles Kings (1968–69) 	30–22–14
67 	W 	March 13, 1969 	3–1 	@ Oakland Seals (1968–69) 	31–22–14
68 	W 	March 15, 1969 	7–4 	Boston Bruins (1968–69) 	32–22–14
69 	L 	March 16, 1969 	3–11 	@ Boston Bruins (1968–69) 	32–23–14
70 	T 	March 19, 1969 	1–1 	@ St. Louis Blues (1968–69) 	32–23–15
71 	W 	March 22, 1969 	3–1 	Detroit Red Wings (1968–69) 	33–23–15
72 	L 	March 23, 1969 	1–4 	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69) 	33–24–15
73 	W 	March 26, 1969 	6–4 	Montreal Canadiens (1968–69) 	34–24–15
74 	W 	March 27, 1969 	4–2 	@ Detroit Red Wings (1968–69) 	35–24–15
75 	L 	March 29, 1969 	2–4 	New York Rangers (1968–69) 	35–25–15
76 	L 	March 30, 1969 	0–4 	@ New York Rangers (1968–69) 	35–26–15
==Playoffs==
===Boston Bruins 4, Toronto Maple Leafs 0===
The teams last met a decade before in the 1959 Semi-finals where the Leafs edged the Bruins 4 games to 3. The Bruins ran roughshod over the Maple Leafs in the 1969 Quarter-finals, led by Phil Esposito who had 10 points, 5 goals from Derek Sanderson and Gerry Cheevers who had 2 shutouts and allowed only 5 goals in Boston's four game sweep.
Game 1 at the Boston Garden was a wide open, penalty-filled affair dominated by the Bruins who outshot the Leafs 51-40. Boston scored two quick Power play goals by Esposito and John Bucyk and led 2-0 before four minutes were played. Esposito potted another before the first period ended. Johnny Bower was pulled and gave way to Bruce Gamble at the start of the second period. Bucyk scored his second goal and then Sanderson his first at 10:40. With the Bruins leading 5-0, the roughness picked up with the Leafs Forbes Kennedy drawing a double minor. Esposito scored on the power play for his first playoff Hat trick. 
Sanderson and Tim Horton fought and with two minutes to go in the period, Pat Quinn caught Bobby Orr with his head down and hit him with a high check. Orr lay motionless and the crowd began to bay for Quinn's head. Eventually, Orr regained consciousness and skated off the ice unsteadily (he was not stretchered off). He even exchanged a few words with Quinn on his way to the dressing room. Though taken to hospital with a concussion, he played in the next game. Quinn received a 5 minute elbowing penalty and went to the penalty box where he was attacked by fans. The glass behind the box shattered, police had to intervene and the Leafs bench cleared to help Quinn, who escaped the box and went to the dressing room. 
Esposito scored his fourth goal of the game during Quinn's penalty. With Boston leading 7-0 starting the third period, Fred Stanfield scored during the remainder of Quinn's penalty. Quinn returned to the ice and fans showered him with debris. With less than four minutes to play, multiple fights broke out beginning with Eddie Shack and Jim Dorey. Kennedy instigated a fight with Gerry Cheevers which resulted in multiple Bruins going after him. When he neared the boards, Kennedy was hit by a fan and he punched linesman George Ashley, who tried to restrain him. In all, 17 penalties were called. Kennedy received seven penalties and a game misconduct as part of 135 minutes in penalties in the game. Sanderson scored his second of the game and Ken Hodge his first as the Bruins destroyed the Leafs 10-0 powered by 6 points by Esposito.
Game 2 at Boston saw Toronto's Forbes Kennedy out of the line-up with a four game suspension and $1000 fine. It was a much tamer affair than Game 1 with only one fight. The Bruins continued to dominate the Leafs as John Bucyk opened the scoring in the first period, finishing off a 2 on 1 with Phil Esposito. Bucyk then blasted a slapshot from the left wing between Johnny Bower's pads. A Ted Green slapshot from the point sailed over Bower's shoulder to make it 3-0 Bruins at the end of the period. John McKenzie added another in the second period and Gamble was pulled in favour of Johnny Bower. Ken Hodge put the Bruins up 5-0 by the end of the second period and third period goals by Phil Esposito and Ron Murphy completed a 7-0 rout.
Game 3 at Maple Leaf Gardens was the closest game of the series as the Leafs came to life. The teams traded chances all game with Ed Westfall opening the scoring with a shorthanded goal to which Ron Ellis responded four minutes later. Ted Green's second of the series put the Bruins up 2-1 heading into the second period. Fred Stanfield extended the lead to 3-1 before Murray Oliver and Norm Ullman tied the game 3-3. Johnny Bower was pulled for the third game in a row for Bruce Gamble but Derek Sanderson's was set up by Bobby Orr for the third period's only goal as Boston edged Toronto 4-3. It was the first victory for Boston in Toronto since November 27, 1965.
Game 4 at Toronto saw Phil Esposito take a hooking penalty 23 seconds into the game. Ed Westfall picked off a pass by George Armstrong and sent Derek Sanderson in for a shorthanded goal at 1:21. Two minutes later on the power play, John Bucyk beat two Leafs to the puck in the left corner and passed it to Phil Esposito whose one-timer beat Johnny Bower for a 2-0 Bruins lead. The Leafs got one back on the power play as Murray Oliver made a nice move on Don Awrey and fed it to Ron Ellis who shot in the open right side of the net. In the second period, Westfall beat two Leafs to the puck and passed it out front to Eddie Shack. He pulled Tim Horton with him and then fed a pass to Derek Sanderson, who fired the game winner into the open left side of the net. With Mike Pelyk off for cross checking, Dave Keon scored a shorthanded goal on a 2 on 1 with Ellis. The Leafs couldn't even the score in the third period and the game ended with a 3-2 Boston win and a series sweep. It was the only game in which the Maple Leafs didn't pull their goalie. Immediately afterwards, Leafs GM and coach of over a decade, Punch Imlach, was let go.
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 2	Toronto Maple Leafs	0-10 	Boston Bruins 	0-1
2	April 3	Toronto Maple Leafs	0-7 	Boston Bruins 	0-2
3	April 5	Boston Bruins 	4-3 	Toronto Maple Leafs	3-0
4	April 6	Boston Bruins 	3-2 	Toronto Maple Leafs	4-0
==Player Stats==
===Regular Season===
;Scoring
Player	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
 	75	35	42	77 	41
 	75	27	34	61 	12
 	74	27	32	59 	16
 	76	14	36	50 	16
 	72	25	21	46 	12
 	66	22	21	43 	34
 	74	11	29	40 	107
 	64	15	19	34 	22
 	72	11	23	34 	20
 	61	8 	22	30 	200
 	53	11	16	27 	10
 	55	8 	19	27 	43
 	69	3 	18	21 	46
 	44	7 	5 	12 	14
 	65	3 	9 	12 	146
 	38	1 	11	12 	39
 	40	2 	7 	9 	95
 	14	2 	2 	4 	19
 	12	1 	3 	4 	6
 	34	1 	2 	3 	20
 	13	0 	3 	3 	24
 	25	0 	2 	2 	2
 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	5 	0 	0 	0 	2
 	7 	0 	0 	0 	2
 	7 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	20	0 	0 	0 	0
 	61	0 	0 	0 	2
;Goaltending
Player	MIN 	GP	W 	L 	T 	GA 	GAA 	SA	SV	SV%	SO
 	3446	61	28	20	11	161	2.80	 	 	 	3
 	779 	20	5 	4 	3 	37 	2.85	 	 	 	2
 	335 	7 	2 	2 	1 	16 	2.87	 	 	 	0
Team: 	4560	76	35	26	15	214	2.82	 	 	 	5
===Playoffs===
;Scoring
Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
 	4 	1	3	4 	2
 	4 	2	1	3 	2
 	4 	1	2	3 	0
 	4 	1	0	1 	0
 	4 	0	1	1 	21
 	4 	0	1	1 	0
 	4 	0	1	1 	4
 	1 	0	0	0 	38
 	3 	0	0	0 	9
 	3 	0	0	0 	5
 	4 	0	0	0 	0
 	4 	0	0	0 	7
 	4 	0	0	0 	8
 	4 	0	0	0 	2
 	4 	0	0	0 	13
 	4 	0	0	0 	4
 	4 	0	0	0 	0
 	4 	0	0	0 	4
 	3 	0	0	0 	0
 	4 	0	0	0 	0
;Goaltending
Player	MIN	GP	W	L	T	GA	GAA 	SA	SV	SV%	SO
 	154	4 	0	2	 	11	4.29	 	 	 	0
 	86 	3 	0	2	 	13	9.07	 	 	 	0
Team: 	240	4 	0	4	 	24	6.00	 	 	 	0
==Awards and Records==
*Forbes Kennedy set a league record for most penalties in a game (eight), most minutes (38), most penalties in a period (six) and most penalty minutes in a period (34) on April 2, 1969.
*Norris Trophy: Tim Horton, Runner-Up National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 222, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-920445-98-5
*Tim Horton, Defense, NHL First Team All-Star
==Transactions==
The Maple Leafs were involved in the following transactions during the 1968-69 season.
===Trades===
September 30, 1968	To Los Angeles KingsGary CroteauBrian MurphyWayne Thomas 	To Toronto Maple LeafsGrant MooreLou Deveault
October 1, 1968 	To Vancouver Canucks (WHL)Darryl Sly 	To Toronto Maple LeafsCash
March 2, 1969 	To Philadelphia FlyersGerry MeehanMike ByersBill Sutherland	To Toronto Maple LeafsBrit SelbyForbes Kennedy
May 1, 1969 	To Vancouver Canucks (WHL)Brad SelwoodRene Robert 	To Toronto Maple LeafsRon Ward
May 30, 1969 	To Pittsburgh PenguinsForbes Kennedy 	To Toronto Maple LeafsCash
===Intra-League Draft===
June 11, 1969	To Pittsburgh PenguinsAl Smith
June 11, 1969	To Montreal CanadiensLarry Mickey
June 11, 1969	From Pittsburgh PenguinsMarv Edwards
==Farm Teams==
==Trivia==
*Maple Leafs who recorded a hat trick this season include:
**Norm Ullman during the 5-2 win over the New York Rangers on December 7, 1968.
**Norm Ullman during the 5-3 win over New York on January 4, 1969.
**Ron Ellis during the 5-5 tie with the Minnesota North Stars on February 5, 1969.
==Gallery==
Esposito_goal-24Nov1968.gif|Phil Esposito scores on the power play, November 24, 1968.
2Apr1969-Orr_knocked_out.jpg|Bobby Orr after being knocked out by Pat Quinn, Quarter-finals Game 1, April 2, 1969.
2Apr1969-Fans_attack_Quinn.jpg|Pat Quinn being attacked by fans, April 2, 1969.
6Apr1969-Bruins_Leafs_handshake_line.jpg|Bruins-Leafs handshake line after Boston swept the series, April 6, 1969.
==Video==
Complete game with commercials from the Leafs-Bruins match on October 26, 1968. During the second intermission (at 1:34:00), Tim Horton talks about his donut stores.
1968 Leafs vs Boston part 1
Footage of the third period melee between the Bruins and Leafs during Game 1 of the 1969 Quarter-finals in which Forbes Kennedy has multiple fights, April 2, 1969.
Forbes Kennedy fights
==References==
* Maple Leafs on Hockey Database
Category:Toronto Maple Leafs seasons
Category:1968 in hockey
Category:1969 in hockey