Rearguards Guarding The Goalies’ Domain

Blake Wonders If Plante’s Trip Was Necessary

NEW YORK, N.Y.— Jacques ‘The Roamer” Plante, that wandering minstrel from Montreal who doubles as goaltender for Les canadiens, tempted fate one time too many at Madison square Garden and it cost his team a game. As everyone who has seen him play knows, the colorful Jake enjoys excursions from his bastille to corral loose pucks. Occasionally he gets boffed but usually recovers in time to protect his goal. This Feb. 24 in New York, Dave Creighton boxed the Snake behind the net and the puck flew out to Andy Bathgate who shot and missed. By this time Plante had returned to his cage but the Canadian defense was askew and Jacques himself seemed a bit shaken. Creighton scored paving the way for a Blue win. “Plante certainly made a mistake.” admitted Hab coach…

Player-of-the-Week

The HOCKEY NEWS salutes Don McKenney, the smooth-working centre of the Boston Bruins’ most prolific triumvirate of Leo LaBine and Real Chevrefils as the player-of-the-week. McKenney started out the week by scoring a pair of goals and assisting in another as the Bruins blanked the Chicago Black Hawks, 4-0. Then in their next engagement, he was blanked as the Bruins lost 3-2 to the New York Rangers. But on Sunday, March 3, McKenney was bock in business, scoring twice and picking up as many assists as the Bruins bopped the Montreal Canadiens, 5-2 Those four goals scored by McKenney during the week were his 17th, 18th. 19th and 20th of the season and it boosted his point total to 50. McKenney has also been responsible for the great scoring surge executed by…

Line Too Strong So Adams Break It Up Moving Delvecchio

DETROIT, Mich. Ever hear of a forward line that was TOO strong? Or a center who was TOO good? It happened here! The Red Wings’ potent Production Line was scoring so many goals after Alex Delvecchio became the center that Alex lost the coveted position between Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay. This startling break-up did not result from complaints from rival teams, although there may have been a basis for such a demand. During the eight games Delvecchio worked on the big line, that crew triggered an average of two goals a game. General Manager Jack Adams ordered the switch because the Wings had taken a lopsided appearance which was dangerous. “We’ve got to have better balance,” he explained. “We can’t expect one line to carry the whole load and that’s what has been happening. “Sooner or later…