The NHL decided to double the number of teams from six to 12 and St. Louis who flirted with the NHL 42 years earlier got one of the six new expansion teams.

Taking inspiration from a famous song the team was named the Blues. The Blues played their first game on October 11th and the old St.

Louis Arena skating to 2-2 draw against the Minnesota North Stars. The first year Blues were able to coax a former top NHL stars like Dickie Moore out of retirement to help guide the young team.

After initial struggled under Lynn Patrick the coaching reigns were handed over to Scotty Bowman who was getting his first head coaching job in the NHL. The Blues would go on to finish the season on a strong note finishing in third place in the all expansion Western Division with a 27-31-16 record.

In the playoffs the Blues would get off to a fast start jumping out to a 3-1 series lead over the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers would rebound to force a seventh game with an overtime win in St.

Louis in Game 6. However, the Blues would recover to take Game 7 in Philadelphia by a score of 3-1.

In the Western Division Finals, the Blues again need seven games to beat the Minnesota North Stars, which included three wins in overtime capped by Ron Schock goal in overtime of Game 7. The expansion Blues would go on to face the legendary Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Blues would be swept however as all four games were decided by one goal including two in overtime. Despite being swept in the finals, goalie Glenn Hall would earn the Conn Smythe for playoff MVP.