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.
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

was the first European drafted by an NHL franchise.
RoundPickPlayerNationality
219Mike Lowe
330Bernie Gagnon
442Vic Teal
554Brian Glenwright
666Tommi Salmelainen
670Dale Yutsyk
773Bob Collyard
777David Pulkkinen
880Patrick Lange
982John Converse

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. He was talked into returning, usually with a promise of more money, but he didn't profess to enjoy his livelihood. Although Hall stayed in St. Louis, he still got nauseous before each game as he did earlier in his career.

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. 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.
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.

Final standings

Schedule and results

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
DateVisitorsScoreHomeScoreNotes
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
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIMPPGSHGGWG
C72294978161305
C67333972381608
RW7416435918301
LW6425305581104
RW72281442611105
LW6516213759502
LW561023338300
LW7315173216211
D7562632128111
D/RW7613173051124
RW59991836000
LW503141720102
D752151740010
D6431114113000
C2656112001
RW2825717002
D5714519000
D3914588100
D2414530000
C53035000
LW162134001
C41230100
D6803385000
G320220000
C20000000
G10000000
G180000000
LW30000000
G300000000

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLTGAGAASO
1839321895672.195
1651301294582.114
101018783492.911
60101044.000
Team:4560763727121782.3410

Playoffs

;Scoring
PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIMPPGSHGGWG
LW165101513300
C16311146102
LW1676130402
RW1567134301
C1675128311
LW151780000
LW1634748110
D1616716000
LW142464100
RW1650510001
C162352100
D/RW1623529000
RW162134101
D1603346000
D1602265000
D1302220000
D1401116000
RW10002000
C20002000
D30006000
G70000000
D30000000
G60002000
G40000000

;Goaltending
PlayerMINGPWLGAGAASO
421743212.990
32464181.481
216404174.720
Team:9611688462.871

Awards and records

Farm teams