We are so used to goalies wearing so much equipment these days that it is kind of absurd to think back to a time when they used to play their position without something as practical and common as a mask to protect their head.
On Thursday night in their 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks, St. Louis Blues goalie Jake Allen had a temporary trip back in time when he lost his mask and had to actually stop a Jayson Megna shot with nothing protecting his head.
This, by the way, is not supposed to happen. When a goalie loses their mask in this situation the play is supposed to stop so they don’t have to actually face a shot without a mask on.
It is not like it just fell off just before Megna took his shot, either. It had been off for a while.
Blues coach Mike Yeo said after the game, “he stood in there. He is crazy.”
In other news, Jake Allen's mask was off for 10 seconds & the refs didn't blow the whistle...so he has to stop a shot. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/Quyd3TI0ec
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) February 17, 2017