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.

1968–69 St. Louis Blues
West Division champions
Division1st West
1968–69 record37–25–14
Team information
General managerScotty Bowman
CoachScotty Bowman
CaptainAl Arbour
ArenaSt. Louis Arena
Team leaders
GoalsRed Berenson (35)
AssistsRed Berenson (47)
PointsRed Berenson (82)
Penalty minutesNoel Picard (131)
WinsGlenn Hall (19)
Goals against averageJacques Plante (1.96)

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.[1] 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[2]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1St. Louis Blues76372514204157+4788
2Oakland Seals76293611219251−3269
3Philadelphia Flyers76203521174225−5161
4Los Angeles Kings76244210185260−7558
5Pittsburgh Penguins76204511189252−6351
6Minnesota North Stars76184315189270−8151

Record vs. opponents
1968-69 NHL Records
Team BOS CHI DET LAK MIN MON NYR OAK PHI PIT STL TOR
Boston —5–2–13–2–35–14–0–24–2–23–3–23–1–24–25–12–2–24–2–2
Chicago 2–5–1—3–4–15–15–0–11–74–3–11–53–0–34–23–2–13–4–1
Detroit 2–3–34–3–1—4–24–22–5–14–3–13–2–13–1–24–20–4–23–4–1
Los Angeles 1–51–52–4—1–4–30–4–23–34–2–23–4–15–2–11–6–13–3
Minnesota 0–4–20–5–12–44–1–3—0–5–11–53–4–12–3–33–52–4–21–3–2
Montreal 2–4–27–15–2–14–0–25–0–1—3–4–12–3–15–14–1–15–0–14–3–1
New York 3–3–23–4–13–4–13–35–14–3–1—5–13–1–25–13–1–24–4
Oakland 1–3–25–12–3–12–4–24–3–13–2–11–5—4–2–24–2–21–72–4
Philadelphia 2–40–3–31–3–24–3–13–2–31–51–3–22–4–2—4–1–31–6–11–1–4
Pittsburgh 1–52–42–42–5–15–31–4–11–52–4–21–4–3—3–4–10–3–3
St. Louis 2–2–22–3–14–0–26–1–14–2–20–5–11–3–27–16–1–14–3–1—1–4–1
Toronto 2–4–24–3–14–3–13–33–1–23–4–14–44–21–1–43–0–34–1–1—

Schedule and results
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1LOctober 11, 19683–4@ Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69)0–1–0
2WOctober 12, 19686–0Los Angeles Kings (1968–69)1–1–0
3LOctober 16, 19682–4Montreal Canadiens (1968–69)1–2–0
4WOctober 19, 19684–1Oakland Seals (1968–69)2–2–0
5LOctober 23, 19684–6@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69)2–3–0
6WOctober 24, 19682–1@ Boston Bruins (1968–69)3–3–0
7LOctober 26, 19682–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1968–69)3–4–0
8WOctober 30, 19684–1Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69)4–4–0
9LNovember 2, 19680–2Minnesota North Stars (1968–69)4–5–0
10TNovember 3, 19684–4@ Detroit Red Wings (1968–69)4–5–1
11WNovember 6, 19683–1@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1968–69)5–5–1
12WNovember 7, 19688–0@ Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69)6–5–1
13LNovember 9, 19681–4@ Montreal Canadiens (1968–69)6–6–1
14TNovember 10, 19681–1@ Boston Bruins (1968–69)6–6–2
15WNovember 13, 19683–1@ New York Rangers (1968–69)7–6–2
16TNovember 16, 19681–1Detroit Red Wings (1968–69)7–6–3
17TNovember 17, 19683–3Minnesota North Stars (1968–69)7–6–4
18WNovember 20, 19687–0Oakland Seals (1968–69)8–6–4
19WNovember 23, 19681–0Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69)9–6–4
20TNovember 27, 19684–4Boston Bruins (1968–69)9–6–5
21WNovember 28, 19683–1@ Detroit Red Wings (1968–69)10–6–5
22WNovember 30, 19681–0Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69)11–6–5
23TDecember 4, 19683–3Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69)11–6–6
24TDecember 7, 19681–1Pittsburgh Penguins (1968–69)11–6–7
25TDecember 8, 19684–4@ Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69)11–6–8
26LDecember 11, 19683–6@ Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69)11–7–8
27LDecember 12, 19684–5@ Montreal Canadiens (1968–69)11–8–8
28LDecember 14, 19682–3@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69)11–9–8
29WDecember 15, 19683–1Los Angeles Kings (1968–69)12–9–8
30WDecember 20, 19681–0@ Oakland Seals (1968–69)13–9–8
31TDecember 21, 19682–2New York Rangers (1968–69)13–9–9
32WDecember 25, 19682–0@ Minnesota North Stars (1968–69)14–9–9
33WDecember 26, 19683–2Pittsburgh Penguins (1968–69)15–9–9
34LDecember 28, 19682–6Boston Bruins (1968–69)15–10–9
35TJanuary 1, 19690–0@ Los Angeles Kings (1968–69)15–10–10
36WJanuary 3, 19693–1@ Oakland Seals (1968–69)16–10–10
37WJanuary 4, 19693–1Detroit Red Wings (1968–69)17–10–10
38WJanuary 7, 19695–0Los Angeles Kings (1968–69)18–10–10
39LJanuary 8, 19691–3@ Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69)18–11–10
40WJanuary 11, 19696–1Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69)19–11–10
41WJanuary 12, 19692–0@ Minnesota North Stars (1968–69)20–11–10
42WJanuary 15, 19694–3Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69)21–11–10
43TJanuary 18, 19692–2New York Rangers (1968–69)21–11–11
44WJanuary 19, 19693–1@ Minnesota North Stars (1968–69)22–11–11
45LJanuary 23, 19692–3Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69)22–12–11
46LJanuary 25, 19690–4@ Boston Bruins (1968–69)22–13–11
47WJanuary 26, 19693–1Oakland Seals (1968–69)23–13–11
48WJanuary 29, 19692–1@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1968–69)24–13–11
49LJanuary 30, 19693–4New York Rangers (1968–69)24–14–11
50WFebruary 1, 19692–0@ Detroit Red Wings (1968–69)25–14–11
51WFebruary 2, 19695–3Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69)26–14–11
52LFebruary 4, 19692–4@ Los Angeles Kings (1968–69)26–15–11
53WFebruary 6, 19693–1Boston Bruins (1968–69)27–15–11
54LFebruary 8, 19690–2@ New York Rangers (1968–69)27–16–11
55TFebruary 9, 19694–4Montreal Canadiens (1968–69)27–16–12
56WFebruary 12, 19692–0Pittsburgh Penguins (1968–69)28–16–12
57WFebruary 13, 19692–1@ Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69)29–16–12
58WFebruary 15, 19694–1Los Angeles Kings (1968–69)30–16–12
59WFebruary 16, 19696–0Minnesota North Stars (1968–69)31–16–12
60WFebruary 19, 19693–1Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69)32–16–12
61LFebruary 21, 19692–3@ Oakland Seals (1968–69)32–17–12
62WFebruary 22, 19693–1@ Los Angeles Kings (1968–69)33–17–12
63LFebruary 26, 19692–3@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69)33–18–12
64LMarch 1, 19690–3@ Montreal Canadiens (1968–69)33–19–12
65LMarch 2, 19691–2@ New York Rangers (1968–69)33–20–12
66LMarch 5, 19692–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1968–69)33–21–12
67WMarch 8, 19695–2Oakland Seals (1968–69)34–21–12
68TMarch 9, 19692–2@ Minnesota North Stars (1968–69)34–21–13
69LMarch 11, 19690–3Montreal Canadiens (1968–69)34–22–13
70WMarch 15, 19693–2Detroit Red Wings (1968–69)35–22–13
71LMarch 16, 19692–3Minnesota North Stars (1968–69)35–23–13
72TMarch 19, 19691–1Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69)35–23–14
73LMarch 22, 19691–2Pittsburgh Penguins (1968–69)35–24–14
74LMarch 23, 19693–4@ Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69)35–25–14
75WMarch 26, 19695–3@ Oakland Seals (1968–69)36–25–14
76WMarch 29, 19693–1@ Los Angeles Kings (1968–69)37–25–14
  • Green background indicates win.
  • Red background indicates regulation loss.
  • White background indicates tie.

Playoffs

Stanley Cup Finals
Main article: 1969 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 Notes
April 27St. Louis1Montreal3
April 29St. Louis1Montreal3
May 1Montreal4St. Louis0
May 4Montreal2St. Louis1

Montreal wins the series 4–0.

Player statistics

Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG
Red BerensonC7635478243716
Gary SabourinRW7525234858303
Ab McDonaldLW6821214212204
Camille HenryC641722398701
Ron SchockC6712273914403
Frank St. MarseilleRW7212263822303
Tim EcclestoneLW6811233431104
Jim RobertsD/RW7214193381211
Bill McCrearyLW7113173050314
Barclay PlagerD6142630120001
Noel PicardD6751924131001
Doug HarveyD702202230100
Craig CameronRW721151640201
Terry CrispC57691514110
Larry KeenanLW4659146002
Jean-Guy TalbotD6954924001
Al ArbourD6716750001
Bob PlagerD3207743000
Terry GrayRW84044201
Glenn HallG4102220000
Myron StankiewiczLW1602211000
Ray FortinD111016000
Norm DennisC20002000
Gary EdwardsG10000000
Robbie IronsG10000000
Ted OuimetG10000000
Bill PlagerD20002000
Jacques PlanteG370002000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO
Glenn Hall23544119128852.178
Jacques Plante21393718126701.965
Gary Edwards4100000.000
Robbie Irons3100000.000
Ted Ouimet60101022.000
Team:4560763725141572.0713

Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG
Gary SabourinRW12651112102
Red BerensonC12731020201
Larry KeenanLW124598102
Terry CrispC1234720002
Camille HenryC112570100
Frank St. MarseilleRW123362000
Bill McCrearyLW1215614101
Terry GrayRW113258100
Noel PicardD1214530000
Jim RobertsD/RW1214510000
Tim EcclestoneLW1222420000
Barclay PlagerD1204431000
Bob PlagerD904447000
Ab McDonaldLW1221310000
Ron SchockC121236000
Jean-Guy TalbotD120226000
Jacques PlanteG100110000
Al ArbourD1200010000
Craig CameronRW20000000
Glenn HallG30000000
Bill PlagerD40004000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO
Jacques Plante5891082141.433
Glenn Hall13130252.290
Team:7201284191.583

[3]

Note:
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[4]

Roster
1968–1969 St. Louis Blues Roster
Goaltenders

Defensemen

Wingers

Centers

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)

References
  1. Hockey's Book of Firsts, p. 27, James Duplacey, JG Press, ISBN 978-1-57215-037-9.
  2. "1968–1969 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  3. "1968-69 St. Louis Blues Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
  4. National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 179, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-920445-98-5.
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