This was not a good series for the top-seeded ’68-’69 Oakland Seals right from the start. They lost the first two games of the series on home ice. A third period comeback from the ’71-’72 California Golden Seals in Game 1 included the game-winner from Reggie Leach with just 13 seconds left in regulation and in Game 2, the top seed fell in a big way in a 7-3 loss. Bobby Sheehan registered a hat tick in that 7-3 win for the ’71-’72 Golden Seals. However, the ’68-’69 Seals took Game’s 3 and 4 to even up the series at two. They won Game 3 by a final of 7-3 and Ted Hampson and Bill Hicke led the way as they combined for four of those seven goals. They then took Game 4 in overtime thanks to a power play goal from defenseman Bert Marshall shortly into the overtime period. Game 5 saw another 7-3 final, this time back in favor of the ’71-’72 Golden Seals as they got three-point performances from Gerry Pinder and defensemen Paul Shmyr and Rick Smith. Sheehan then scored an overtime winner in Game 6 to finish off the upset and send the ’71-’72 Golden Seals to the Qualifier Final. 

GAME 1:

GAME SUMMARY: ’71-’72 CGS – 6   ’68-’69 OAK – 5    (1-0 ’71-’72 CGS)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: RW – Norm Ferguson (’71-’72 CGS) – 2 G   1 A   3 P   +4   7 S

2nd Star: D – Carol Vadnais (’68-’69 OAK) – 1 G   3 A   4 P   +1   4 S

3rd Star: RW – Norm Ferguson (’68-’69 OAK) – 2 G   1 A   3 P   +1   5 S

GAME 2:

GAME SUMMARY: ’71-’72 CGS – 7   ’68-’69 OAK – 3    (2-0 ’71-’72 CGS)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: C – Bobby Sheehan (’71-’72 CGS) – 3 G   0 A   3 P   +2   7 S

2nd Star: G – Gilles Meloche (’71-’72 CGS) – W   3.00 GAA   .944 SV% (51 SV’s)

3rd Star: LW – Gerry Pinder (’71-’72 CGS) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +2   9 S   2 PIM

GAME 3:

GAME SUMMARY: ’68-’69 OAK – 7   ’71-’72 CGS – 3    (2-1 ’71-’72 CGS)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: RW – Bill Hicke (’68-’69 OAK) – 2 G   2 A   4 P   Even   9 S

2nd Star: C – Ted Hampson (’68-’69 OAK) – 2 G   1 A   3 P   +1   9 S

3rd Star: D – Bert Marshall (’68-’69 OAK) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +2   6 S

GAME 4:

GAME SUMMARY: ’68-’69 OAK – 6   ’71-’72 CGS – 5 (OT)    (2-2)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: D – Bert Marshall (’68-’69 OAK) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   Even   5 S   2 PIM

2nd Star: RW – Reggie Leach (’71-’72 CGS) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   +2   5 S

3rd Star: D – Carol Vadnais (’68-’69 OAK) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +2   9 S

GAME 5:

GAME SUMMARY: ’71-’72 CGS – 7   ’68-’69 OAK – 3    (3-2 ’71-’72 CGS)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: LW – Gerry Pinder (’71-’72 CGS) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +4   5 S

2nd Star: D – Rick Smith (’71-’72 CGS) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +3   4 S

3rd Star: C – Ivan Boldirev (’71-’72 CGS) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   +2   2 S

GAME 6:

GAME SUMMARY: ’71-’72 CGS – 6   ’68-’69 OAK – 5 (OT)    (4-2 ’71-’72 CGS)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: LW – Gerry Pinder (’71-’72 CGS) – 3 G   2 A   5 P   +4   9 S   2 PIM

2nd Star: G – Gilles Meloche (’71-’72 CGS) – W   5.00 GAA   .928 SV% (64 SV’s)

3rd Star: C – Ivan Boldirev (’71-’72 CGS) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +3   5 S

One Semifinal down, one to go. Up next is the 6th-seed against the 7th-seed for a spot in the Qualifier Final.