1968–69 NHL season


The 1968–69 NHL season was the 52nd season of the National Hockey League. Twelve teams each played 76 games. For the second time in a row, the Montreal Canadiens faced the St. Louis Blues in the Stanley Cup finals. Montreal won their second consecutive Stanley Cup as they swept the Blues in four, an identical result to the previous season.

Regular season

Prior to this season no player in NHL history had ever achieved 100 points in a season, but 1968–69 saw three achieve the feat. The Boston Bruins' Phil Esposito led the way with 49 goals and 77 assists for a new record of 126 points, as well as setting a record with linemates Wayne Cashman and Ron Murphy for most points in a season by a forward line. Bobby Hull of Chicago set a new record for goals with 58 and came in second in overall scoring with 107. Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings came in third with 103 points.
Red Berenson came up one goal short of tying an NHL record, scoring six goals for the St. Louis Blues in an 8–0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on November 7. He became the first player to score a double hat trick in a road game.
Despite finishing last in the West Division, Minnesota was led by rookie left wing Danny Grant, who along with Oakland rookie Norm Ferguson tied Nels Stewart's forty-year-old record for most goals by a rookie with 34.
On December 21, with Montreal goalies Gump Worsley and Rogie Vachon both unavailable, rookie Tony Esposito and Boston's Gerry Cheevers both achieved shutouts in a rare scoreless tie. Esposito made 41 saves, and Cheevers made 34 saves.
Los Angeles introduced rookie goaltender Gerry Desjardins, who took over the starter's job from Wayne Rutledge, who was bothered by groin injuries most of the season. Desjardins recorded 4 shutouts during the season in helping the Kings make the playoffs and win their first round series over Oakland.
On March 2, Phil Esposito became the first NHL player to score 100 points in a season in a 4–0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
In Boston-Chicago game on March 20, two milestones were accomplished. Bobby Hull broke his own record for goals with his 55th goal, and Bobby Orr broke Flash Hollett's record for goals by a defenseman with his 21st goal.
This would be the last time until the 1997–98 season that the Chicago Black Hawks missed the playoffs.
The league held a beauty pageant for the first time this season, with a contestant from every franchise. Miss Minnesota North Stars Lynn Marie Stewart was named Miss NHL 1968, and was named the NHL "ambassador" for the 1968–69 season, making various appearances and helping to present the Stanley Cup. The league held just two more pageants in 1970 and 1972 before abandoning the concept.

Final standings

Playoffs

Playoff bracket

Quarterfinals

(E1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (E3) New York Rangers

(E2) Boston Bruins v. (E4) Toronto Maple Leafs

(W1) St. Louis Blues vs. (W3) Philadelphia Flyers

(W2) Oakland Seals vs. (W4) Los Angeles Kings

Semifinals

(E1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (E2) Boston Bruins

(W1) St. Louis Blues vs. (W4) Los Angeles Kings

Stanley Cup Finals

The Montreal Canadiens swept the St. Louis Blues in a rematch of the 1968 final.

Awards

All-Star teams

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes
PlayerTeamGPGAPTSPIM
Phil EspositoBoston Bruins74497712679
Bobby HullChicago Black Hawks74584910748
Gordie HoweDetroit Red Wings76445910358
Stan MikitaChicago Black Hawks7430679752
Ken HodgeBoston Bruins7545459075
Yvan CournoyerMontreal Canadiens7643448731
Alex DelvecchioDetroit Red Wings722558838
Red BerensonSt. Louis Blues7635478243
Jean BeliveauMontreal Canadiens6933498255
Frank MahovlichDetroit Red Wings7649297838
Jean RatelleNew York Rangers7532467826

Source: NHL.

Leading goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts
PlayerTeamGPMINGAGAAWLTSO
Jacques PlanteSt. Louis Blues372139701.96181265
Glenn HallSt. Louis Blues412354852.17191288
Gump WorsleyMontreal Canadiens301703642.2619545
Roy EdwardsDetroit Red Wings402099892.54181164
Eddie GiacominNew York Rangers7041141752.55372377
Bernie ParentPhiladelphia Flyers5833651512.691723161
Bruce GambleToronto Maple Leafs6134461612.802820113
Gerry CheeversBoston Bruins5231121452.802812123
Johnny BowerToronto Maple Leafs20779372.855432
Rogie VachonMontreal Canadiens362051982.8722932

Other statistics

The 1968 Miss NHL Pageant was the first of three in NHL history and was held in Toronto on June 27, 1968. There were twelve contestants in the pageant, one from each of the twelve NHL teams. The winner would be named Miss NHL 1968 and would be the NHL ambassador for the 1968–69 season.
Miss Boston BruinsValerie Miller
Miss Chicago Black HawksPatricia Anne Cooper
Miss Detroit Red WingsBarbara Thomas
Miss Los Angeles KingsJulia Martin
Miss Minnesota North StarsLynn Marie Stewart
Miss Montreal CanadiensMary Ann Lambert
Miss New York RangersDonna Hardy
Miss Oakland SealsDebra Lynne Smith
Miss Philadelphia FlyersRhonda Moore
Miss Pittsburgh PenguinsKaren Antkiewicz
Miss St. Louis BluesTerri Sherwood
Miss Toronto Maple LeafsAngela Miller

East

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1968–69 :
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1968–69 :