Andy Bathgate's Side of the Story

It is one of the most famous moments in all of hockey history.

November 1st, 1959. Goaltender Jacques Plante takes a puck to the face and is injured badly. He leaves the ice, and returns with a protective mask, literally changing the face of hockey forever.

Most people know those integral details. But did you know the puck that hit Plante in the face came off of an Andy Bathgate shot? And did you know Bathgate's intentions in that moment were not so innocent?

Here's what Bathgate had to say about what led up to shot:

Jacques Plante tripped me one night in New York. Jacques Plante used to come out of the net, he was the first one to stop the puck behind the net and circle the net. We had sort of a verbal talk on the ice. One time playing the puck, he sort of showboated, 'Like picking cherries, Bathgate.’ Then later I said, ‘Oh, you played great tonight, you had five shots.’ I had to remind him he didn't have much to worry about. Later he came back behind the net and he tripped me. I hit the end boards pretty hard, luckily I didn't hurt myself or break my neck, I hit it hard. Just cut my ear, got it stitched up and came back out. He tried to hurt me. There's other ways I can get you back. You want to play that way, I can play that way, too. Later he had his stick out and I gave him a shot right on his cheek, it wasn't a slapshot. He went off and came back on with the mask on. We thought it was a joke. But he revolutionized the game. I'm not taking credit, but it changed the game for sure."

Bathgate of course was a Hockey Hall of Famer in his own right, best known with the New York Rangers but also with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins. In 2009 Pittsburgh drafted another Andy Bathgate - his grandson.