#andy bathgate

[thingsmk1120sayz]

[ourladyofomega]

November 1, 1959: Montreal Canadiens versus The New York Rangers. Canadien goalie Jacques Plante takes a puck to the face by Ranger Andy Bathgate early in the first period. After being stitched up in the locker room, Canadiens coach Toe Blake pushed Plante to return to play. Plante refused until he insisted in wearing a fiberglass mask he made for team practices. He relented until Coach Blake gave in. The Canadiens would win that game 3-1 over the Rangers.

Plante wasn’t the first NHL player to wear a mask, but by the 1973 season all goalies wore one. Plante would have a 12-game win streak under his belt starting with the 1959 game and still having his mask on. Not until he lost his next game without it did the mask become a permanent fixture.

And the Rangers announcer for that game? Fellow Canadian Monty Hall, host of Let’s Make A Deal.

📷 sources: New York Daily News + Canadian Press / Associate Press + Montreal Gazette Files + Getty Images

[yzerman]

Andy Bathgate in New York Ranger vestments, circa 1959. Photos by Louis Jacques.

[hockey-cards]

[thingsmk1120sayz]

Happy Birthday up in the stars Andy Bathgate

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[thingsmk1120sayz]

[thingsmk1120sayz]