1967–68 Pittsburgh Penguins season

NHL team season inaugural March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1967–68 1967 Pittsburgh Penguins West 5th 27–34–13 15–12–10 12–22–3 195 216 Jack Riley Red Sullivan Ab McDonald Leo BoivinEarl IngarfieldAl MacNeil Pittsburgh Civic Arena 7,405 (59.2%)(36 games)The Civic Arena (Mellon Arena) Attendance Records http://pittsburghhockey.net/old-site/Common/CivicArena/CivicAttend.html Pittsburgh Hockey March 3, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20120505083751/http://pittsburghhockey.net/old-site/Common/CivicArena/CivicAttend.html 2012-05-05 dead Ab McDonald (22) Andy Bathgate (39) Andy Bathgate (59) Leo Boivin (74) Les Binkley (20) Hank Bassen (2.86) The 1967–68 Pittsburgh Penguins season was their first in the NHL. Pittsburgh was one of six cities awarded an expansion team during the 1967 NHL expansion. After deciding on the "Penguin" nickname (which was inspired by the fact that the team was going to play in an "Igloo",Professional Sports Team Histories: Hockey 1994 Gale Research University of Michigan 9780810388628 324 https://books.google.com/books?id=w6YYAAAAIAAJ&q=Igloo Michael L. LaBlanc illustrated Mary K. Ruby Michael L. LaBlanc, Mary K. Ruby the nickname of the Pittsburgh Civic Center), a logo was chosen, that had a penguin in front of a triangle, which is thought to be in tribute to the "Golden Triangle".Pittsburgh Penguins Logo History http://pittsburghhockey.net/penguins/uniforms-overview/penguins-logo-history Pittsburgh Hockey March 4, 2013 Offseason On February 8, 1966, the NHL awarded a franchise to the Hockey Club of Pittsburgh, Incorporated: a partnership of several investors headed by Pennsylvania State Senator Jack McGregor and his friend and business associate Peter Block. McGregor became the public face of the ownership, as president and chief executive officer, and representing the club at Board of Governors meetings. Later that year McGregor and Block began assembling their new hockey team. American Hockey League executive Jack Riley was named the club's general manager, and began immediately acquiring the services of players. He signed minor-leaguers Les Binkley, Ted Lanyon, Dick Mattiussi and Bill Speer to contracts before the club had ever taken to the ice. The name of the new team was chosen by a contest in a local newspaper: on February 10, 1967, the new team became known as the Penguins. In the 1967 NHL expansion draft Riley chose experienced players, particularly former New York Rangers players. Coincidentally Penguins head coach Red Sullivan was a former Ranger player and head coach. Earl Ingarfield, Ken Schinkel, Val Fonteyne, Mel Pearson, Al MacNeil, Noel Price, Billy Dea and Art Stratton had each spent time in their careers with the Rangers, but the Penguins' most prized acquisition was former Rangers star Andy Bathgate. Bathgate, then 34 years old, was near the end of his career and deemed expendable by the Red Wings, who had previously acquired his rights. The rest of the roster was filled with minor-leaguers, particularly members of the Pittsburgh Hornets, the American Hockey League club which had served the Pittsburgh market since the late 1930s. Expansion Draft 1967 NHL Expansion Draft#Pittsburgh Penguins selections 1967 NHL Expansion Draft Pittsburgh Penguins selections The Pittsburgh Penguins made 20 selections in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft held in Montreal from June 5–7.1967 NHL Expansion Draft Picks http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1967x.html hockeyDB March 3, 2013 Round # Player Position Drafted from 1 Joe Daley Goaltender Detroit Red Wings 2 Roy Edwards Goaltender Chicago Black Hawks 3 Earl Ingarfield Center New York Rangers 4 Al MacNeil Defense New York Rangers 5 Larry Jeffrey Left wing Toronto Maple Leafs 6 Ab McDonald Left wing Detroit Red Wings 7 Leo Boivin Defense Detroit Red Wings 8 Noel Price Defense Montreal Canadiens 9 Keith McCreary Right wing Montreal Canadiens 10 Ken Schinkel Right wing New York Rangers 11 Bob Dillabough Center Boston Bruins 12 Art Stratton Center Chicago Black Hawks 13 Val Fonteyne Left wing Detroit Red Wings 14 Jeannot Gilbert Center Boston Bruins 15 Tom McCarthy Left wing Montreal Canadiens 16 Billy Dea Left wing Chicago Black Hawks 17 Bob Rivard Center Montreal Canadiens 18 Mel Pearson Left wing Chicago Black Hawks 19 Andy Bathgate Right wing Detroit Red Wings 20 Les Hunt Defense New York Rangers Regular season The Penguins' first general manager was Jack Riley. His team (along with the other expansion teams) was hampered by restrictive rules that kept most major talent with the "Original Six." Beyond aging sniper Andy Bathgate and tough defenceman Leo Boivin, the first Penguins team was manned by a cast of former minor-leaguers. The club missed the playoffs, but were a mere six points out of 1st place in the close-fought West Division. October 11, 1967 – Andy Bathgate of the Pittsburgh Penguins scores a goal in a 2–1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. It was the first goal ever scored by a player for an expansion team. Final standings PIT Record vs. opponents PIT Schedule and results background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 5px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 5px solid; 1967–68 regular season1967-68 Pittsburgh Penguins Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/PIT/1968_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 27, 2025 y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 2px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 2px solid; October: 3–6–1 (home: 2–3–1; road: 1–3–0) 7 points # Oct Visitor Score Home Location/Attendance Record Points |- | 1 || 11 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (9,307) || 0–1–0 || 0 |- | 2 || 13 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–1 || St. Louis Blues || St. Louis Arena (5,126) || 1–1–0 || 2 |- | 3 || 14 || St. Louis Blues || 4–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (6,166) || 1–2–0 || 2 |- | 4 || 18 || Minnesota North Stars || 3–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (3,885) || 1–2–1 || 3 |- | 5 || 19 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–1 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum (7,812) || 1–3–1 || 3 |- | 6 || 21 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (9,274) || 2–3–1 || 5 |- | 7 || 22 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–6 || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (III) (13,706) || 2–4–1 || 5 |- | 8 || 25 || California SealsCurrier Steve The California Golden Seals: a tale of white skates, red ink, and one of the NHLs most outlandish teams 2017 University of Nebraska Press Lincoln 978-0-8032-8848-5 52 || 1–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (3,819) || 3–4–1 || 7 |- | 9 || 28 || Los Angeles Kings || 5–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (6,536) || 3–5–1 || 7 |- | 10 || 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || Boston Bruins || Boston Garden (13,909) || 3–6–1 || 7 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 2px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 2px solid; November: 6–3–2 (home: 3–1–1; road: 3–2–1) 14 pints # Nov Visitor Score Home Location/Attendance Record Points |- | 11 || 1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || Minnesota North Stars || Met Center (7,535) || 4–6–1 || 9 |- | 12 || 4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–0 || California Seals || Oakland Coliseum Arena (4,549) || 5–6–1 || 11 |- | 13 || 8 || Philadelphia Flyers || 1–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (4,719) || 5–6–2 || 12 |- | 14 || 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–5 || Detroit Red Wings || Olympia Stadium (10,683) || 5–7–2 || 12 |- | 15 || 11 || St. Louis Blues || 5–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (7,183) || 5–8–2 || 12 |- | 16 || 15 || Philadelphia Flyers || 0–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (6,876) || 6–8–2 || 14 |- | 17 || 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–3 || St. Louis Blues || St. Louis Arena (7,715) || 7–8–2 || 16 |- | 18 || 22 || Boston Bruins || 1–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (9,701) || 8–8–2 || 18 |- | 19 || 24 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–5 || Los Angeles Kings || Great Western Forum (6,409) || 8–9–2 || 18 |- | 20 || 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 || California Seals || Oakland Coliseum Arena (5,977) || 8–9–3 || 19 |- | 21 || 29 || California Seals || 1–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (4,499) || 9–9–3 || 21 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 2px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 2px solid; December: 4–8–2 (home: 2–3–2; road: 2–5–0) 10 points # Dec Visitor Score Home Location/Attendance Record Points |- | 22 || 2 || New York Rangers || 4–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (9,725) || 9–10–3 || 21 |- | 23 || 3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–6 || Detroit Red Wings || Olympia Stadium (12,215) || 9–11–3 || 21 |- | 24 || 6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–7 || Chicago Black Hawks || Chicago Stadium (17,000) || 9–12–3 || 21 |- | 25 || 9 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–2 || Minnesota North Stars || Met Center (10,927) || 10–12–3 || 23 |- | 26 || 10 || Minnesota North Stars || 7–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (4,662) || 10–13–3 || 23 |- | 27 || 13 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–1 || Toronto Maple Leafs || Maple Leaf Gardens (15,718) || 11–13–3 || 25 |- | 28 || 16 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (9,174) || 11–13–4 || 26 |- | 29 || 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–2 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum (7,522) || 11–14–4 || 26 |- | 30 || 21 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || Los Angeles Kings || Great Western Forum (4,013) || 11–15–4 || 26 |- | 31 || 23 || Minnesota North Stars || 0–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (7,631) || 12–15–4 || 28 |- | 32 || 25 || Los Angeles Kings || 3–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (4,002) || 13–15–4 || 30 |- | 33 || 27 || Oakland Seals || 0–0 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (6,039) || 13–15–5 || 31 |- | 34 || 29 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–2 || St. Louis Blues || St. Louis Arena (8,286) || 13–16–5 || 31 |- | 35 || 30 || Detroit Red Wings || 5–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (9,041) || 13–17–5 || 31 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 2px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 2px solid; January: 4–7–2 (home: 3–2–1; road: 1–5–1) 10 points # Jan Visitor Score Home Location/Attendance Record Points |- | 36 || 4 || Los Angeles Kings || 3–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (4,202) || 14–17–5 || 33 |- | 37 || 6 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (7,351) || 14–17–6 || 34 |- | 38 || 7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum (7,935) || 14–18–6 || 34 |- | 39 || 10 || Montreal Canadiens || 4–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (5,580) || 14–19–6 || 34 |- | 40 || 12 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (8,292) || 15–19–6 || 36 |- | 41 || 13 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–7 || Toronto Maple Leafs || Maple Leaf Gardens (15,732) || 15–20–6 || 36 |- | 42 || 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–1 || Oakland Seals || Oakland Coliseum Arena (2,638) || 15–20–7 || 37 |- | 43 || 18 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–3 || Los Angeles Kings || Great Western Forum (5,755) || 15–21–7 || 37 |- | 44 || 20 || Detroit Red Wings || 5–8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (10,547) || 16–21–7 || 39 |- | 45 || 21 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 || Minnesota North Stars || Met Center (9,298) || 16–22–7 || 39 |- | 46 || 27 || Los Angeles Kings || 5–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (11,156) || 16–23–7 || 39 |- | 47 || 28 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–0 || Boston Bruins || Boston Garden (13,909) || 17–23–7 || 41 |- | 48 || 31 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–9 || St. Louis Blues || St. Louis Arena (7,748) || 17–24–7 || 41 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 2px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 2px solid; February: 4–5–3 (home: 2–3–3; road: 2–2–0) 11 points # Feb Visitor Score Home Location/Attendance Record Points |- | 49 || 1 || St. Louis Blues || 0–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (5,980) || 18–24–7 || 43 |- | 50 || 3 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (12,563) || 18–24–8 || 44 |- | 51 || 7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–1 || Oakland Seals || Oakland Coliseum Arena (5,283) || 19–24–8 || 46 |- | 52 || 8 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–3 || Los Angeles Kings || Great Western Forum (6,195) || 19–25–8 || 46 |- | 53 || 10 || New York Rangers || 2–2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (10,237) || 19–25–9 || 47 |- | 54 || 14 || Minnesota North Stars || 3–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (6,133) || 20–25–9 || 49 |- | 55 || 16 || St. Louis Blues || 3–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (7,209) || 20–26–9 || 49 |- | 56 || 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum (14,687) || 20–27–9 || 49 |- | 57 || 21 || Philadelphia Flyers || 1–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (9,198) || 20–27–10 || 50 |- | 58 || 24 || Oakland Seals || 3–1 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (11,057) || 20–28–10 || 50 |- | 59 || 25 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–1 || Philadelphia Flyers || The Spectrum (14,418) || 21–28–10 || 52 |- | 60 || 27 || Boston Bruins || 5–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (6,546) || 21–29–10 || 52 |- y background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#80A0FF 2px solid; border-bottom:#4A5391 2px solid; March: 6–5–3 (home: 3–0–2; road: 3–5–1) 15 points # Mar Visitor Score Home Location/Attendance Record Points |- | 61 || 2 || Oakland Seals || 6–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (7,390) || 21–29–11 || 53 |- | 62 || 6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–4 || St. Louis Blues || St. Louis Arena (9,092) || 21–30–11 || 53 |- | 63 || 7 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–2 || Minnesota North Stars || Met Center (10,705) || 21–30–12 || 54 |- | 64 || 9 || Los Angeles Kings || 1–3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (8,176) || 22–30–12 || 56 |- | 65 || 13 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || Chicago Stadium (16,666) || 22–31–12 || 56 |- | 66 || 16 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–6 || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Forum (15,041) || 22–32–12 || 56 |- | 67 || 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–3 || New York Rangers || Madison Square Garden (III) (17,250) || 22–33–12 || 56 |- | 68 || 20 || St. Louis Blues || 2–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (6,126) || 23–33–12 || 58 |- | 69 || 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 0–3 || Minnesota North Stars || Met Center (11,910) || 23–34–12 || 58 |- | 70 || 24 || Minnesota North Stars || 4–4 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (7,229) || 23–34–13 || 59 |- | 71 || 26 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–1 || Los Angeles Kings || Great Western Forum (7,057) || 24–34–13 || 61 |- | 72 || 27 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 7–4 || Oakland Seals || Oakland Coliseum Arena (4,365) || 25–34–13 || 63 |- | 73 || 30 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–0 || Philadelphia Flyers || at Quebec City (5,569) || 26–34–13 || 65 |- | 74 || 31 || Philadelphia Flyers || 1–5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || Civic Arena (6,756) || 27–34–13 || 67 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Player statistics Skaters Regular season1967–1968 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats https://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?reportType=season&seasonFrom=19671968&seasonTo=19671968&gameType=2&playerPlayedFor=franchise.17&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,1&sort=points,goals,assists&page=0&pageSize=50 NHL Player GP Games Played G Goals A Assists Pts Points +/− Plus/Minus PIM Penalty Minutes Andy Bathgate 74 20 39 59 -11 55 Ab McDonald 74 22 21 43 -4 38 Ken Schinkel 57 14 25 39 -10 19 Art Stratton‡ 58 16 21 37 -6 16 Earl Ingarfield Earl Ingarfield Sr. 50 15 22 37 -8 12 Val Fonteyne 69 6 28 34 -11 0 Gene Ubriaco 65 18 15 33 -11 16 Noel Price 70 6 27 33 -7 48 Paul Andrea 65 11 21 32 -5 2 Billy Dea 73 16 12 28 -14 6 Keith McCreary 70 14 12 26 -3 44 Leo Boivin 73 9 13 22 -16 74 Bob Dillabough 47 7 12 19 -6 18 Bob Rivard Bobby Rivard 27 5 12 17 0 4 Bill Speer 68 3 13 16 -12 44 George Konik 52 7 8 15 -9 26 Al MacNeil 74 2 10 12 -5 58 Wayne Hicks† 15 4 7 11 2 2 Dick Mattiussi 32 0 2 2 -9 18 Dunc McCallum 32 0 2 2 -2 36 Mel Pearson Mel Pearson (ice hockey, born 1938) 2 0 1 1 -1 0 Ted Lanyon 5 0 0 0 1 4 Total 195 323 518 — 540 Goaltenders Regular Season1967–1968 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats https://www.nhl.com/stats/goalies?reportType=season&seasonFrom=19671968&seasonTo=19671968&gameType=2&playerPlayedFor=franchise.17&filter=gamesPlayed,gte,1&sort=wins,savePct&page=0&pageSize=50 NHL Player GP Games Played GS Games Started TOI Time on Ice W Win L Loss OT Overtime Loss T Tie GA Goals Against GAA Goals Against Average SA Shots Against SV% Save Percentage SO Shutouts G Goals A Assists PIM Penalty Minutes Les Binkley Les Binkley 54 54 3139:01 20 24 -- 10 150 2.87 1585 0.905 6 0 0 0 Hank Bassen Hank Bassen 25 20 1295:19 7 10 -- 3 62 2.87 685 0.909 1 0 0 8 Total 74 4434:20 27 34 0 13 212 2.87 2270 0.907 7 0 0 8 †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 Les Binkley recorded the first shutout in team history with a 1–0 win against Oakland on November 4. Andy Bathgate became the first Penguins player to earn 50 points in a season. He did so by recording an assist in a 6–6 tie against Oakland on March 2. Andy Bathgate became the first Penguins player to earn 20 goals in a season. He did so by scoring in a 4–6 loss against Montreal on March 16. Andy Bathgate, Al MacNeil and Ab McDonald each became the first players to suit up for all of the Penguins' games for an entire season. Les Binkley became the first Penguins goaltender to record 20 wins in a season. He did so in a 5–1 win against Philadelphia on March 30. By leading the team in scoring in its first season, Andy Bathgate set the Penguin's single season scoring record at 59 points. Noel Price became the first Penguin to lead defenseman in scoring. He set the Penguin's single season scoring record at 33 points. Leo Boivin set the team record for goals by a defenseman at 9. Transactions The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1967–68 season: Trades September 7, 1967 To Detroit Red Wings Roy Edwards To Pittsburgh Penguins Hank Bassen February 27, 1968 To Philadelphia Flyers Art Stratton To Pittsburgh Penguins Wayne Hickscash May 21, 1968 To Boston Bruins cash To Pittsburgh Penguins Jean PronovostJohn Arbour June 11, 1968 To Montreal Canadiens Al MacNeil To Pittsburgh Penguins Wally Boyer June 11, 1968 To St. Louis Blues Ab McDonald To Pittsburgh Penguins Lou Angotti Additions and subtractions Additions Player Former team Via Bill LeCaine Port Huron Flags (IHL) free agency (1967–08) Marv Edwards Nashville Dixie Flyers (EHL) free agency (1967–09) Subtractions Player New team Via Draft picks Amateur draft 1967 NHL amateur draft Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1967 NHL Amateur Draft.NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftsearch.htm?year=1967&team=PIT&position=&round= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304213119/http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftsearch.htm?year=1967&team=PIT&position=&round= dead March 4, 2016 National Hockey League March 3, 2013 Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team 1 2 Steve Rexe Goaltender Canada Belleville Seniors 1 11 Bob Smith Center Canada Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds References Category:Pittsburgh Penguins seasons Pittsburgh Pitts Pitts