The Montreal Canadiens have entered the quietest time on the calendar. While there is little to look forward to in the month of August, we decided to take a look back at some of the greatest players in franchise history. We continue our site countdown of the five best goaltenders in Canadiens history with our second-ranked goalie, Jacques Plante.
The date was November 1, 1959 and Jacques Plante made history by returning to the ice donning a mask while playing goal for the Canadiens. He had taken an Andy Bathgate shot to the face and immediately spilled blood all over the ice.
After receiving several stitches, and winning a heated argument with head coach Toe Blake, Plante stepped back on the ice to face the New York Rangers wearing facial protection which was completely unheard of at the time.
While that story has gone down in history, Plante being at the center of it somewhat overshadows what he accomplished on the ice before and after wearing the mask. Being known as the goalie who popularized the mask has taken away from the fact he should be known as one of the greatest goaltenders to ever play the game.
If Plante were merely mortal, his coach would not have allowed him to wear the mask at all. But Plante was so good in goal, when he gave his coach the ultimatum of letting him play net with a mask on or not play at all, Blake had no choice but to keep the superstar on the ice.
On the fateful night when Plante changed the face of goaltending, he did so while a four-time defending Stanley Cup champion. The Canadiens were in the midst of the longest championship streak in NHL history as they would go on to win their fifth consecutive championship that season.
Plante played a huge role in those championships. In each of those five Stanley Cup winning seasons, Plante won the Vezina Trophy. He would take home the award once again in 1962 and a 7th in 1969 after leaving the Canadiens organization. In 1962, not only did Plante win the Vezina Trophy but he also won the Hart Trophy as league MVP.
Plante played a total of 556 games with the Canadiens between 1952 and 1963 which is the second most in Habs history. He won 314 games which is also the second most in Canadiens history. Plante also won six Stanley Cups with the Canadiens, six Vezina Trophy’s with the organization and a league MVP.
Not many players in the history of the game can put together a better resume. That is why Jacques Plante is ranked as the second best goaltender in the history of the Montreal Canadiens.
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