NHL history...

today marks a milestone in NHL history:fifty three years ago,in a game between the Montreal Canadiens,and the New York Rangers,when the Rangers' Andy Bathgate launched a backhand,at 3:06 of the first period,and hit Montreal Canadiens' goaltender Jacques Plante square in the face,and after being stitched up,and a twenty one minute delay,Plante returned,wearing a mask that he wore in practice,and he finished the game,which the Canadiens won,3-1... the evolution of the goalie mask started for the NHL that night,in Madison Square Garden,fifty three years ago,on November 1st,1959...