And Jacques Plante was an important ... His coach, Toe Blake, opposed the idea, but relented after Plante was struck in the face by a shot from the Rangers' Andy Bathgate and balked at returning ...

The Maven was there at The Old Garden on the night of November 1, 1959 when Montreal goalie Jacques Plante donned a mask for the first time. It happened in the first period of the Habs-Rangers game ...