1969–70 Pittsburgh Penguins season

1969–70 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division2nd West
1969–70 record26–38–12
Goals for182
Goals against238
Team information
General managerJack Riley
CoachRed Kelly
CaptainVacant
Alternate captainsKeith McCreary
Duane Rupp
Ken Schinkel
Bob Woytowich
ArenaPittsburgh Civic Arena
Average attendance6,998
Team leaders
GoalsDean Prentice (26)
AssistsMichel Briere (32)
PointsDean Prentice (51)
Penalty minutesBryan Watson (189)
WinsAl Smith (15)
Goals against averageJoe Daley (2.95)

The 1969–70 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the franchise's third season in the National Hockey League. The season saw the Penguins qualify for the playoffs, for the first time in franchise history. The Penguins finished the season in second place in the West Division, 22 points behind the first place St. Louis Blues.

Offseason

Regular season

Tragedy struck the Penguins in 1970 when promising rookie center Michel Briere, who finished third in scoring on the team, was injured in a single-vehicle car crash in Quebec on May 15, 1970. His Mercury Cougar hit a frost bump and swerved off the road. It is not known if he was driving or not. Two friends who were in the vehicle with him suffered less serious injuries. After nearly spending a year in the hospital in a coma, Briere died of his head injuries. Given his junior league statistics, many hockey experts predicted that Briere would have been a star in the NHL.

Final standings

West Division[1]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1 St. Louis Blues 76 37 27 12 224 179 +45 86
2 Pittsburgh Penguins 76 26 38 12 182 238 −56 64
3 Minnesota North Stars 76 19 35 22 224 257 −33 60
4 Oakland Seals 76 22 40 14 169 243 −74 58
5 Philadelphia Flyers 76 17 35 24 197 225 −28 58
6 Los Angeles Kings 76 14 52 10 168 290 −122 38

Record vs. opponents


Schedule and results

1969–70 Schedule
October: 1–4–3 (Home: 0–1–3; Road: 1–3–0), 5 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location (Attendance) Record Points
1 Oct 11 Oakland Seals 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (8,230) 0–0–1 1
2 Oct 15 Philadelphia Flyers 3–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (3,010) 0–0–2 2
3 Oct 18 Boston Bruins 3–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (5,572) 0–0–3 3
4 Oct 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–4 Boston Bruins Boston Garden (14,831) 0–1–3 3
5 Oct 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 Oakland Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena (2,812) 0–2–3 3
6 Oct 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–2 Los Angeles Kings The Forum (5,558) 0–3–3 3
7 Oct 25 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–1 Minnesota North Stars Met Center (14,877) 1–3–3 5
8 Oct 29 New York Rangers 3–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (4,081) 1–4–3 5
November: 5–6–2 (Home: 4–3–0; Road: 1–3–2), 12 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location (Attendance) Record Points
9 Nov 1 Minnesota North Stars 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (5,595) 2–4–3 7
10 Nov 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium (12,787) 2–5–3 7
11 Nov 5 Detroit Red Wings 4–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (-) 2–6–3 7
12 Nov 8 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (6,727) 2–7–3 7
13 Nov 12 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–0 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens (16,320) 3–7–3 9
14 Nov 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–4 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena (15,995) 3–8–3 9
15 Nov 15 Los Angeles Kings 1–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (4,855) 4–8–3 11
16 Nov 19 St. Louis Blues 4–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (4,297) 4–9–3 11
17 Nov 22 Philadelphia Flyers 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (5,464) 5–9–3 13
18 Nov 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium (16,666) 5–10–3 13
19 Nov 26 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–4 Minnesota North Stars Met Center (14,159) 5–10–4 14
20 Nov 29 Oakland Seals 3–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (6,765) 6–10–4 16
21 Nov 30 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–3 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum (13,058) 6–10–5 17
December: 5–7–0 (Home: 3–3–0; Road: 2–4–0), 10 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location (Attendance) Record Points
22 Dec 3 Detroit Red Wings 1–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (4,116) 7–10–5 19
23 Dec 6 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–5 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens (16,449) 7–11–5 19
24 Dec 7 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (7,310) 8–11–5 21
25 Dec 10 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–0 Los Angeles Kings The Forum (5,366) 9–11–5 23
26 Dec 12 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Oakland Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena (4,760) 9–12–5 23
27 Dec 14 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–2 Boston Bruins Boston Garden (14,831) 9–13–5 23
28 Dec 17 Montreal Canadiens 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (6,381) 9–14–5 23
29 Dec 20 Boston Bruins 6–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (7,858) 9–15–5 23
30 Dec 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–4 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum (12,423) 9–16–5 23
31 Dec 26 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) (17,250) 10–16–5 25
32 Dec 27 Chicago Black Hawks 3–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (8,746) 10–17–5 25
33 Dec 31 Montreal Canadiens 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (5,202) 11–17–5 27
January: 3–7–3 (Home: 2–2–3; Road: 1–5–0), 9 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location (Attendance) Record Points
34 Jan 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–6 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena (16,566) 11–18–5 27
35 Jan 4 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (7,966) 11–18–6 28
36 Jan 7 New York Rangers 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (4,671) 11–19–6 28
37 Jan 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum (16,006) 11–20–6 28
38 Jan 10 Detroit Red Wings 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (9,471) 11–21–6 28
39 Jan 14 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–5 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium (16,666) 11–22–6 28
40 Jan 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–4 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens (16,471) 11–23–6 28
41 Jan 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–4 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum (16,666) 12–23–6 30
42 Jan 21 Oakland Seals 3–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (3,443) 12–23–7 31
43 Jan 24 Los Angeles Kings 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (7,581) 13–23–7 33
44 Jan 25 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Boston Bruins Boston Garden (14,835) 13–24–7 33
45 Jan 28 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (4,290) 13–24–8 34
46 Jan 31 St. Louis Blues 1–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (9,679) 14–24–8 36
February: 8–5–0 (Home: 5–1–0; Road: 3–4–0), 16 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location (Attendance) Record Points
47 Feb 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–6 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) (17,250) 14–25–8 36
48 Feb 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–5 Minnesota North Stars Met Center (11,973) 15–25–8 38
49 Feb 7 Los Angeles Kings 1–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (7,983) 16–25–8 40
50 Feb 8 Minnesota North Stars 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (7,954) 17–25–8 42
51 Feb 11 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–7 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium (16,666) 17–26–8 42
52 Feb 14 Boston Bruins 3–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (12,202) 17–27–8 42
53 Feb 15 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium (14,487) 18–27–8 44
54 Feb 17 Philadelphia Flyers 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (7,494) 19–27–8 46
55 Feb 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 6–1 Los Angeles Kings The Forum (5,298) 20–27–8 48
56 Feb 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–6 Oakland Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena (6,135) 20–28–8 48
57 Feb 25 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum (16,259) 20–29–8 48
58 Feb 26 Los Angeles Kings 0–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (4,826) 21–29–8 50
59 Feb 28 Oakland Seals 2–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (10,740) 22–29–8 52
March: 3–7–4 (Home: 2–2–2; Road: 1–5–2), 10 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location (Attendance) Record Points
60 Mar 4 Montreal Canadiens 1–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (8,047) 23–29–8 54
61 Mar 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium (14,411) 23–30–8 54
62 Mar 7 St. Louis Blues 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (12,881) 23–30–9 55
63 Mar 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–0 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (IV) (17,250) 23–30–10 56
64 Mar 11 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–2 Oakland Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena (3,775) 23–30–11 57
65 Mar 12 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Los Angeles Kings The Forum (6,027) 23–31–11 57
66 Mar 14 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–6 Minnesota North Stars Met Center (14,833) 23–32–11 57
67 Mar 18 New York Rangers 2–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (7,551) 23–33–11 57
68 Mar 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena (16,336) 23–34–11 57
69 Mar 21 Chicago Black Hawks 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (12,103) 23–35–11 57
70 Mar 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–5 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum (18,454) 23–36–11 57
71 Mar 25 Minnesota North Stars 0–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (6,017) 24–36–11 59
72 Mar 28 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–1 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum (14,606) 25–36–11 61
73 Mar 29 St. Louis Blues 5–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (7,887) 25–36–12 62
April: 1–2–0 (Home: 1–1–0; Road: 0–1–0), 2 Points
# Date Visitor Score Home Location (Attendance) Record Points
74 Apr 1 Philadelphia Flyers 1–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (7,984) 26–36–12 64
75 Apr 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena (17,017) 26–37–12 64
76 Apr 5 Minnesota North Stars 5–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (6,991) 26–38–12 64
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Playoffs

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 Pittsburgh-Oakland series, in game one, Nick Harbaruk's goal midway through the third period was the winner as Pittsburgh won 2–1. In game two, Gary Jarrett gave Oakland a 1–0 lead, but Pittsburgh came back to win 3–1. Game three at Oakland featured a hat trick by Ken Schinkel of the Penguins as Pittsburgh won 5–2. Game four featured Oakland having 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. Overtime was necessary and Michel Briere scored the series winning goal at 8:28 of overtime for Pittsburgh. In the West Division finals, the St. Louis Blues beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.

1970 Playoffs
Conference Semi-finals vs Oakland: 4–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 2–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home Series
1 April 8 Oakland 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 OT Oakland 4–0
Conference Finals vs St. Louis Blues: 2–4 (Home: 2–1; Road: 0–3)
# Date Visitor Score Home Series
1 April 19 Pittsburgh 1–3 St. Louis 0–1
2 April 21 Pittsburgh 1–4 St. Louis 0–2
3 April 23 St. Louis 2–3 Pittsburgh 1–2
4 April 26 St. Louis 1–2 Pittsburgh 2–2
5 April 28 Pittsburgh 0–5 St. Louis 2–3
6 April 30 St. Louis 4–3 Pittsburgh 2–4
Legend:        = Win        = Loss

Player statistics

Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season[5]
Player GP W L T GA SO
Allan Smith 46 15 20 8 129 2
Les Binkley 27 10 13 1 79 3
Thomas Daley 9 1 5 3 26 0
Total 26 38 12 234 5
Playoffs[6]
Player GP W L T GA SO
Les Binkley 7 5 2 0 15 0
Allan Smith 3 1 2 0 10 0
Total 6 4 0 25 0

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.

Awards and records

  • Ken Schinkel became the first player to score 100 points for the Penguins. He did so by scoring a goal in a 2–3 loss to Chicago on November 23.
  • Keith McCreary became the first player to score 50 goals for the Penguins. He did so with the first of his two goals in a 4–4 tie with Toronto on January 28.
  • Bryan Watson became the first player to earn 100 penalty minutes in one season for the Penguins. He did so by receiving 26 PIMs in a 1–7 loss to Chicago on February 11.
  • Ken Schinkel became the first to play 200 games for the Penguins. He did so in a 0–2 loss to New York on March 18.
  • Michel Brière established a rookie record for the Penguins in terms of assists (32) and points (44).
  • Bob Woytowich tied Noel Price's team record for points in a season by a defenseman with 33.

Transactions

The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1969–70 season:

Trades

June 12, 1969 To Montreal Canadiens

1969 8th round pick

To Pittsburgh Penguins

cash

June 12, 1969 To St. Louis Blues

1969 7th round pick

To Pittsburgh Penguins

cash

October 28, 1969 To Detroit Red Wings

Billy Dea

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Mike McMahon Jr.

Additions and subtractions

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)
Subtractions
Player New team Via
Noel Price Springfield Kings (AHL) Reverse Draft (1969–06–10)
Charlie Burns Minnesota North Stars Intra-league draft (1969–06–11)
Marv Edwards Toronto Maple Leafs Intra-league draft (1969–06–11)
Bill Speer Boston Bruins Intra-league draft (1969–06–11)

Draft picks

Main article: 1969 NHL amateur draft

Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1969 NHL entry draft.[7]

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
2 15 Rick Kessell Center  Canada Oshawa Generals (OHA)
3 26 Michel Briere Center  Canada Shawinigan
4 38 Yvon Labre Defense  Canada Toronto Marlboros (OHA)
5 50 Ed Patenaude Right Wing  Canada Calgary Centennials (WCHL)
6 62 Paul Hoganson Goaltender  Canada Toronto Marlboros (OHA)
Draft notes[8]
  • The Pittsburgh Penguins' first-round pick went to the Boston Bruins as the result of a May 21, 1968, trade that sent Jean Pronovost and John Arbour to the Penguins in exchange for this pick.
  • The Pittsburgh Penguins' seventh-round pick went to the St. Louis Blues as the result of a June 12, 1969, trade that sent cash options to the Penguins in exchange for this pick.
  • The Pittsburgh Penguins' eighth-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a June 12, 1969, trade that sent cash options to the Penguins in exchange for this pick.

References

  1. ^ "1969–1970 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  2. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  3. ^ "1969–1970 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  4. ^ "1969–1970 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  5. ^ "1969–1970 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  6. ^ "1969–1970 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  7. ^ "NHL entry draft Year by Year Results". NHL.com. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
  8. ^ "1969 NHL Entry Draft Pending Transactions". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved February 25, 2013.