Up until towards the end of the NHL’s Original Six era, goaltenders were absolutely fearless in net and did not wear any type of masks to protect themselves from pucks flying at them. That all started to change when after yet another facial injury, this time a broken nose, Hall of Fame goaltender Jacques Plante debuted the first goalie mask in NHL history, thus starting a revolution; today, masks are not only functional for their safety, but highly aesthetic in their design and one of a goalie’s most distinguishing features. Yet Plante was not only a trailblazer in safety, he was also one of the greatest netminders ever to play the game – during an era that featured legendary skaters such as Gordie Howe and Maurice Richard, Plante and his peer Terry Sawchuk (who is well-known for NOT wearing a mask) stood tall in net as the dominant goalies of the time and retired with a slew of records. With one being the all-time leader in Vezina Trophies and the other having the most career wins at retirement, it is fascinating to look back on this golden era of hockey and ask:
Who was better – Jacques Plante or Terry Sawchuk?
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