1969–70 St. Louis Blues season

The 1969–70 St. Louis Blues season involved finishing in first place in the West Division for the second consecutive season. The Blues were the only team in the West Division with a winning record, as they finished 22 points ahead of the second-placed Pittsburgh Penguins. The Blues matched their previous season's total of 37 wins, but finished with 86 points, two points shy of the previous season's points total. NHL legend Camille Henry played his final game with the St. Louis Blues. Henry got 3 points in 4 games.

1969–70 St. Louis Blues
West Division champions
Division1st West
1969–70 record37–27–12
Goals for224
Goals against179
Team information
General ManagerScotty Bowman
CoachScotty Bowman
CaptainAl Arbour
ArenaSt. Louis Arena
Team leaders
GoalsRed Berenson (33)
AssistsPhil Goyette (49)
PointsPhil Goyette (78)
Penalty minutesBarclay Plager (128)
WinsJacques Plante (18)
Goals against averageErnie Wakely (2.11)

From a goaltending standpoint, the franchise experienced many changes. Glenn Hall had retired at the end of the 1968–69 season but returned. Despite an appearance in the All-Star Game, Jacques Plante played his final season in St. Louis. He was sold by the Blues to the Toronto Maple Leafs for cash on May 18, 1970. Ernie Wakely was acquired from the defending Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens and became the Blues starting goaltender for the following season.

In the playoffs, St. Louis defeated the Minnesota North Stars 4–2 and the Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 to advance to their third consecutive Stanley Cup final, where they were swept by the Boston Bruins. Phil Goyette became the first Lady Byng Trophy winner in franchise history as he led the team with 78 points. This would also mark the last time the Blues would make the finals until 2019, where they again face the Bruins, and captured their first Stanley Cup in seven games.

Offseason

NHL draft

Tommi Salmelainen was the first European drafted by an NHL franchise.[1]

Main article: 1969 NHL Amateur Draft
Round Pick Player Nationality
2 19 Mike Lowe  Canada
3 30 Bernie Gagnon  Canada
4 42 Vic Teal  Canada
5 54 Brian Glenwright  Canada
6 66 Tommi Salmelainen  Finland
6 70 Dale Yutsyk  Canada
7 73 Bob Collyard  United States
7 77 David Pulkkinen  Canada
8 80 Patrick Lange  Canada
9 82 John Converse  Canada

Regular season

Glenn Hall

As he did with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1966, Glenn Hall retired from St. Louis at the end of the 1968–69 season.[2] He was talked into returning, usually with a promise of more money, but he didn't profess to enjoy his livelihood.[2] Although Hall stayed in St. Louis, he still got nauseous before each game as he did earlier in his career.

Ernie Wakely

Ernie Wakely played two games for the Montreal Canadiens from 1962 to 1969. On June 27, 1969, Wakely got his big break when the Canadiens dealt the 28-year-old to the St. Louis Blues for Norm Beaudin and Bobby Schmautz.[3] The 1969–70 season was a career season for Wakely. He appeared in 30 games for St. Louis, registering a 2.11 GAA and four shutouts.[3]

Wakely had to take over from the legendary Glenn Hall. Wakely made the most of his opportunity as he helped lead the Blues to the Stanley Cup finals. The Blues were defeated in four straight games by Bobby Orr's Boston Bruins.[3]

Final standings
West Division[4]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1St. Louis Blues76372712224179+4586
2Pittsburgh Penguins76263812182238−5664
3Minnesota North Stars76193522224257−3360
4Oakland Seals76224014169243−7458
5Philadelphia Flyers76173524197225−2858
6Los Angeles Kings76145210168290−12238

Schedule and results
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1WOctober 11, 19697–2Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70)1–0–0
2WOctober 15, 19694–1Los Angeles Kings (1969–70)2–0–0
3WOctober 18, 19694–2Minnesota North Stars (1969–70)3–0–0
4LOctober 19, 19692–4@ Detroit Red Wings (1969–70)3–1–0
5TOctober 22, 19693–3@ Montreal Canadiens (1969–70)3–1–1
6LOctober 25, 19692–4@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70)3–2–1
7TOctober 26, 19690–0@ Philadelphia Flyers (1969–70)3–2–2
8TOctober 30, 19692–2Montreal Canadiens (1969–70)3–2–3
9WNovember 1, 19698–0Philadelphia Flyers (1969–70)4–2–3
10LNovember 2, 19694–6@ New York Rangers (1969–70)4–3–3
11TNovember 5, 19694–4@ Boston Bruins (1969–70)4–3–4
12WNovember 6, 19695–2@ Detroit Red Wings (1969–70)5–3–4
13LNovember 8, 19692–5@ Minnesota North Stars (1969–70)5–4–4
14WNovember 13, 19694–0Pittsburgh Penguins (1969–70)6–4–4
15LNovember 15, 19692–3Montreal Canadiens (1969–70)6–5–4
16LNovember 16, 19692–4@ New York Rangers (1969–70)6–6–4
17WNovember 19, 19694–0@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1969–70)7–6–4
18WNovember 20, 19693–1Minnesota North Stars (1969–70)8–6–4
19LNovember 22, 19690–5New York Rangers (1969–70)8–7–4
20WNovember 26, 19694–1Oakland Seals (1969–70)9–7–4
21WNovember 29, 19693–1Los Angeles Kings (1969–70)10–7–4
22LNovember 30, 19691–3@ Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70)10–8–4
23WDecember 3, 19693–1Oakland Seals (1969–70)11–8–4
24LDecember 6, 19691–5Detroit Red Wings (1969–70)11–9–4
25WDecember 7, 19694–1@ Philadelphia Flyers (1969–70)12–9–4
26TDecember 10, 19693–3@ Oakland Seals (1969–70)12–9–5
27WDecember 13, 19698–1@ Los Angeles Kings (1969–70)13–9–5
28WDecember 16, 19696–4Detroit Red Wings (1969–70)14–9–5
29TDecember 18, 19693–3Boston Bruins (1969–70)14–9–6
30WDecember 20, 19693–0Philadelphia Flyers (1969–70)15–9–6
31LDecember 21, 19690–4@ Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70)15–10–6
32WDecember 23, 19695–3Minnesota North Stars (1969–70)16–10–6
33WDecember 26, 19693–1Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70)17–10–6
34LDecember 27, 19691–4@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70)17–11–6
35WDecember 30, 19695–0@ Montreal Canadiens (1969–70)18–11–6
36WJanuary 3, 19706–0Pittsburgh Penguins (1969–70)19–11–6
37TJanuary 7, 19702–2Philadelphia Flyers (1969–70)19–11–7
38LJanuary 10, 19702–6Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70)19–12–7
39LJanuary 14, 19702–5@ Minnesota North Stars (1969–70)19–13–7
40WJanuary 15, 19702–0Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70)20–13–7
41WJanuary 17, 19703–1Los Angeles Kings (1969–70)21–13–7
42WJanuary 22, 19704–3New York Rangers (1969–70)22–13–7
43LJanuary 24, 19702–5Detroit Red Wings (1969–70)22–14–7
44LJanuary 25, 19700–2@ Philadelphia Flyers (1969–70)22–15–7
45WJanuary 28, 19706–1@ Oakland Seals (1969–70)23–15–7
46WJanuary 29, 19703–2@ Los Angeles Kings (1969–70)24–15–7
47LJanuary 31, 19701–2@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1969–70)24–16–7
48LFebruary 4, 19700–1@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70)24–17–7
49LFebruary 6, 19701–2Oakland Seals (1969–70)24–18–7
50LFebruary 8, 19701–7@ Boston Bruins (1969–70)24–19–7
51LFebruary 11, 19702–3Boston Bruins (1969–70)24–20–7
52LFebruary 12, 19702–5@ Detroit Red Wings (1969–70)24–21–7
53WFebruary 14, 19702–1Los Angeles Kings (1969–70)25–21–7
54TFebruary 15, 19703–3@ Minnesota North Stars (1969–70)25–21–8
55WFebruary 18, 19705–2Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70)26–21–8
56WFebruary 20, 19703–1@ Oakland Seals (1969–70)27–21–8
57WFebruary 21, 19704–2@ Los Angeles Kings (1969–70)28–21–8
58LFebruary 25, 19701–2@ New York Rangers (1969–70)28–22–8
59WFebruary 28, 19703–2@ Montreal Canadiens (1969–70)29–22–8
60LMarch 1, 19701–3@ Boston Bruins (1969–70)29–23–8
61WMarch 4, 19703–1Boston Bruins (1969–70)30–23–8
62WMarch 6, 19703–1New York Rangers (1969–70)31–23–8
63TMarch 7, 19702–2@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1969–70)31–23–9
64WMarch 11, 19709–1@ Minnesota North Stars (1969–70)32–23–9
65WMarch 12, 19704–2Philadelphia Flyers (1969–70)33–23–9
66LMarch 14, 19702–6Montreal Canadiens (1969–70)33–24–9
67TMarch 17, 19705–5Minnesota North Stars (1969–70)33–24–10
68WMarch 19, 19703–1Pittsburgh Penguins (1969–70)34–24–10
69LMarch 21, 19700–2Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70)34–25–10
70LMarch 22, 19700–1@ Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70)34–26–10
71WMarch 24, 19704–0@ Los Angeles Kings (1969–70)35–26–10
72LMarch 27, 19702–3@ Oakland Seals (1969–70)35–27–10
73TMarch 29, 19705–5@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1969–70)35–27–11
74TApril 1, 19702–2Oakland Seals (1969–70)35–27–12
75WApril 2, 19701–0@ Philadelphia Flyers (1969–70)36–27–12
76WApril 4, 19703–1Pittsburgh Penguins (1969–70)37–27–12

Playoffs

West Division semi-finals

In the West Division playoffs, the St. Louis Blues ousted the Minnesota North Stars in six games. The Blues won the first two games at the St. Louis Arena. Game three at the Metropolitan Sports Center featured Gump Worsley's sharp goaltending and Bill Goldsworthy scoring two goals in a 4–2 win for the North Stars. Cesare Maniago played in goal for Minnesota in game four and picked up a 4–0 shutout, tying the series. Game five at St. Louis Arena was tied 3–3 when St Louis scored three goals in the third period by Red Berenson, Terry Gray and Jim Roberts, and the Blues won 6–3. In game six, Ab McDonald scored two goals as the Blues eliminated the North Stars by a score of 4–2.

West Division finals

Stanley Cup Finals

Boston Bruins vs. St. Louis Blues

Date Visitors Score Home Score Notes
May 3Boston 6St. Louis1
May 5Boston 6St. Louis2
May 7St. Louis1Boston 4
May 10St. Louis3Boston 4OT

For the third consecutive year, the Blues were swept in the Stanley Cup finals. This time, they faced the Boston Bruins, who, with stars like Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito, were more than a match for them. The first three games were not close. The Blues managed to force overtime in game four, but Orr scored his famous game-winning goal to end the series.

Player statistics

Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG
Phil GoyetteC72294978161305
Red BerensonC67333972381608
Frank St. MarseilleRW7416435918301
Ab McDonaldLW6425305581104
Gary SabourinRW72281442611105
Tim EcclestoneLW6516213759502
Larry KeenanLW561023338300
Bill McCrearyLW7315173216211
Barclay PlagerD7562632128111
Jim RobertsD/RW7613173051124
Ron AndersonRW59991836000
Andre BoudriasLW503141720102
Jean-Guy TalbotD752151740010
Bob PlagerD6431114113000
Terry CrispC2656112001
Terry GrayRW2825717002
Ray FortinD5714519000
Noel PicardD3914588100
Bill PlagerD2414530000
Norm DennisC53035000
Wayne MakiLW162134001
Camille HenryC41230100
Al ArbourD6803385000
Jacques PlanteG320220000
Ron BuchananC20000000
Gary EdwardsG10000000
Glenn HallG180000000
Jaroslav JirikLW30000000
Ernie WakelyG300000000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO
Jacques Plante1839321895672.195
Ernie Wakely1651301294582.114
Glenn Hall101018783492.911
Gary Edwards60101044.000
Team:4560763727121782.3410

Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG
Ab McDonaldLW165101513300
Phil GoyetteC16311146102
Larry KeenanLW1676130402
Frank St. MarseilleRW1567134301
Red BerensonC1675128311
Bill McCrearyLW151780000
Tim EcclestoneLW1634748110
Jean-Guy TalbotD1616716000
Andre BoudriasLW142464100
Gary SabourinRW1650510001
Terry CrispC162352100
Jim RobertsD/RW1623529000
Terry GrayRW162134101
Bob PlagerD1603346000
Noel PicardD1602265000
Barclay PlagerD1302220000
Al ArbourD1401116000
Ron AndersonRW10002000
Norm DennisC20002000
Ray FortinD30006000
Glenn HallG70000000
Bill PlagerD30000000
Jacques PlanteG60002000
Ernie WakelyG40000000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO
Glenn Hall421743212.990
Jacques Plante32464181.481
Ernie Wakely216404174.720
Team:9611688462.871

[5]

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

Roster
1969–1970 St. Louis Blues Roster
Goaltenders

Defensemen

Wingers

Centers

Farm teams

References
  1. Hockey's Book of Firsts, p. 46, James Duplacey, JG Press, ISBN 978-1-57215-037-9.
  2. Legends of Hockey – The Legends – Honoured Player – Hall, Glenn – Biography Archived August 8, 2004, at the Wayback Machine
  3. Montreal Canadiens Goaltenders: Ernie Wakely 1962–69
  4. "1969–1970 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  5. "1969-70 St. Louis Blues Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
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