For the first time in the 2015 Oakland/California (Golden) Seals Qualifying Tournament, a lower seed has won a series. The 7th-seeded ’67-’68 Oakland Seals have defeated the 2nd-seeded ’69-’70 Oakland Seals in five games. The ’69-’70 Seals took the opening game of the series. They held a 5-1 lead heading into the third period, but the ’67-’68 Seals rallied off three goals late in the period to make it a one-goal game. However, the ’69-’70 Seals were able to hold that one-goal lead. So, defenseman Carol Vadnais‘ goal late in the second help up to be the game-winner. The ’67-’68 Seals responded by scoring five goals in the second period from five different players in a 6-2 win. They were able to put up six goals in the next game as well in a 6-4 win with no player potting more than one goal, again. In Game 4, Bill Hicke‘s three points helped lead the ’67-’68 Seals to a 3-1 series lead and then in Game 5, two goals from Kent Douglas lead them offensively to a 4-2 win. Charlie Hodge was stellar over the last four games for the ’67-’68 Seals, stopping 200 out of 209 shots for a .960 save percentage. 

GAME 1:

GAME SUMMARY: ’69-’70 OAK – 5   ’67-’68 OAK – 4    (1-0 ’69-’70 OAK)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: D – Carol Vadnais (’69-’70 OAK) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +3   8 S

2nd Star: G – Gary Smith (’69-’70 OAK) – W   4.00 GAA   .932 SV% (55 SV’s)

3rd Star: C – Ted Hampson (’69-’70 OAK) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   +1   9 S

GAME 2:

GAME SUMMARY: ’67-’68 OAK – 6   ’69-’70 OAK – 2    (1-1)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: D – Bob Baun (’67-’68 OAK) – 1 G   3 A   4 P   +5   6 S

2nd Star: G – Charlie Hodge (’67-’68 OAK) – W   2.00 GAA   .961 SV% (49 SV’s)

3rd Star: RW – George Swarbrick (’67-’68 OAK) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   -1   7 S

GAME 3:

GAME SUMMARY: ’67-’68 OAK – 6   ’69-’70 OAK – 4    (2-1 ’67-’68 OAK)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: G – Charlie Hodge (’67-’68 OAK) – W   4.00 GAA   .932 SV% (55 SV’s)

2nd Star: C – Earl Ingarfield (’69-’70 OAK) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   Even   3 S   2 PIM

3rd Star: RW – Gerry Ehman (’67-’68 OAK) – 1 G   0 A   1 P   -1   8 S

GAME 4:

GAME SUMMARY: ’67-’68 OAK – 3   ’69-’70 OAK – 1    (3-1 ’67-’68 OAK)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: G – Charlie Hodge (’67-’68 OAK) – W   1.00 GAA   .980 SV% (48 SV’s)

2nd Star: RW – Bill Hicke (’67-’68 OAK) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +3   1 S

3rd Star: G – Gary Smith (’69-’70 OAK) – L   3.00 GAA   .941 SV% (48 SV’s)

GAME 5:

GAME SUMMARY: ’67-’68 OAK – 4   ’69-’70 OAK – 2    (4-1 ’67-’68 OAK)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: G – Charlie Hodge (’67-’68 OAK) – W   2.00 GAA   .960 SV% (48 SV’s)

2nd Star: G – Gary Smith (’69-’70 OAK) – L   4.00 GAA   .938 SV% (61 SV’s)

3rd Star: D – Kent Douglas (’67-’68 OAK) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   Even   7 S

There’s only one 1st Round matchup left. It is the 3-6 matchup and it is up next!