This is a short report on the Penguins' first-ever game, a 2-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 11, 1967. Unfortunately, the Post-Gazette's issue from the following day hasn't shown up on Google News yet, but as soon as it does I'll post a link.
Despite the loss, the Pens acquitted themselves quite well against the mighty Montrealers. It seemed to all present that good days were ahead for the team, and with a lot of veteran guys in the lineup, there was every reason to believe that Pittsburgh would be one of the better 'New 6' squads. Alas, the type of optimism on display in Habs' coach Toe Blake's quote in this article was misplaced. The Pens finished 5th of 6th in the new West (Expansion) Division, out of the playoffs.
Here's a great video with original Pens' GM Jack Riley discussing the first game and featuring some clips of the early days. Look how natilly attired the crowds were back then!
Showing posts with label NHL expansion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NHL expansion. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Pens-Wings: The first game ever
Here's a report of the very first game the Penguins played against the Red Wings on November 10, 1967, at the old Detroit Olympia. Like most of the new "Next 6" clubs going up against the "Original 6" teams in that first season of expansion, the Pens came out on the losing end of things.
There are several funny and quirky elements in this Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story. First, there's an exclamation mark in the headline, which you never see these days; the Pens are identified as the "Pengs" in the headline over the summary, a monicker that obviously (and mercifully) never took hold; the author, Jimmy Jordan, appears to have just shifted over from the Pittsburgh crime beat, with his frequent use of burglary-related terms; and, as a bit of evidence that NHL hockey was still a relatively new thing in the 'Burgh, Jordan closes the piece by informing readers that the Penguins' next game will be on Saturday night at home against the "St. Louis Flyers".
It's so much fun reading these old stories...
(You'll unfortunately have to scroll up the page a bit from the story that the link goes to; Google Archives doesn't have the actual Pens story indexed yet.)
There are several funny and quirky elements in this Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story. First, there's an exclamation mark in the headline, which you never see these days; the Pens are identified as the "Pengs" in the headline over the summary, a monicker that obviously (and mercifully) never took hold; the author, Jimmy Jordan, appears to have just shifted over from the Pittsburgh crime beat, with his frequent use of burglary-related terms; and, as a bit of evidence that NHL hockey was still a relatively new thing in the 'Burgh, Jordan closes the piece by informing readers that the Penguins' next game will be on Saturday night at home against the "St. Louis Flyers".
It's so much fun reading these old stories...
(You'll unfortunately have to scroll up the page a bit from the story that the link goes to; Google Archives doesn't have the actual Pens story indexed yet.)
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