1967-68

• It's the dawn of a new era in the NHL as six new teams join the Original Six. The new teams are the California Seals (later renamed the Oakland Seals), Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues. All six expansion teams formed the West Division, while the Original Six formed the East Division. This setup guaranteed an expansion team would make the Stanley Cup Final.

• On January 15, tragedy struck the NHL family, as Bill Masterton of the Minnesota North Stars died from injuries suffered as a result of an on-ice incident. It was the first (and to date, only) time a player died as a direct result of an on-ice injury. Helmet usage steadily increased in the years following the incident until it became mandatory for incoming players in 1979.

• With the Stanley Cup Final guaranteed to be a matchup of an Original Six team and an expansion team, it figured to be anticlimactic. It was -- to an extent. The Montreal Canadiens swept the overmatched St. Louis Blues, but all four games were decided by one goal, with two games being decided in overtime.