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On March 1, 1969, Blues coach Scotty Bowman put the three Plager brothers, all fullbacks, in the starting lineup and played them together on the same line in a game against the Montreal Canadiens.
“I remember Scotty saying the lineup in the locker room,” Bobby Plager once told the Post-Dispatch. “Barclay Plager, Center Ice. Bob Plager, Left Wing. Billy Plager, Right Wing.”
Here is our original coverage of this game.
MONTREAL — Montreal’s Fire wagon Canadiens maintained their lead in the East Division of the National Hockey League here tonight by defeating their West counterparts, the St. Louis Blues, 3-0 in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,819.
The win not only kept Montreal two points clear of the hard-fought Boston Bruins, but also extended the Canadians’ unbeaten streak against St. Louis to 13 games, including last year’s Stanley Cup final.
The best the Blues could achieve in that span was two draws.
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Canada’s goaltender Lorne (Gump) Worsley made sure there was no draw this time around by thumping everything the Blues fired at him to score his fourth shutout of the season. The experienced goalkeeper processed 26 shots, 11 of them in the last third. Glenn Hall in St. Louis also stopped on the 26th.
The Blues, who maintained their 21-point lead in the West despite the loss, flew by plane to New York immediately after the contest. They meet the Rangers there on Sunday night and play in Pittsburgh on Wednesday before returning home for a meeting with the Oakland Seals next Saturday.
Montreal wasted little time getting on the scoreboard first. Just 2 minutes and 3 seconds had elapsed in the opening period when defenseman Jean Calude Tremblay flicked a 25-foot ball past goalie Glenn Hall in the St. Louis cage.
Blues defender Bob Plager, who was back in action after more than two months out with a knee injury, was serving a prison sentence at the time.
St. Louis coach Scotty Bowman started the game with five defenders on the ice. He placed Barclay Plager midway between his two younger brothers, Bob and Billy, backing them up with Al Arbor and Doug Harvey.
The Plager line only stayed together for one shift, then Bowman brought the brothers back to their regular defensive positions.
Bentley boys Max, Doug and Reg were the last three brother combo to play together in the National Hockey League. You worked for the Chicago Black Hawks in the late 1940s. However, Reg played less than a dozen games in the big time before returning to the minors.
Photos: Bob Plager through the years with the blues
Bob Plager tries to push through a crowd after fighting with Flyers fans in Philadelphia on January 6, 1972. About 200 police officers were called to the scene and the game was delayed by 25 minutes.
Bob Plager watches some work being done on the arena in 1992. File photo after shipment.
St. Louis Blues greats Bobby Plager and Brett Hull walk to center ice to drop the ceremonial first puck during the Blues/NHL Alumni game at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights on Thursday, January 23, 2020. Photo by David Carson, [email protected]
David Carson
St. Louis Blues great Bobby Plager pays tribute to the crowd as he is introduced before the start of the Blues/NHL Alumni Game at the Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights on Thursday, January 23, 2020. Photo by David Carson, [email protected]
David Carson
Former St. Louis Blues player Bob Plager is joined by his family as his No. 5 pick from the St. Louis Blues during a ceremony prior to a game between the St. Louis Blues and the Toronto Maple Leafs Thursday, March 2. February, will be retired. 2017 at the Scottrade Center in St.Louis. Photo by Chris Lee, [email protected]
Chris Lee
Original St. Louis Blues player Bob Plager during player introductions prior to the home game between the St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, October 13, 2016 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Plager was a member of the original St. Louis Blues team from 1967-68. He was joined by other teammates as the original team was honored on the 50th anniversary of the organization’s inception. Photo by Chris Lee, [email protected]
Chris Lee
St. Louis Blues goalie Glenn Hall is pinned to his net waiting to save a shot by a Montreal Canadian in the third period of their National Hockey League Stanley Cup game, May 5, 1968. The Blues’ Noel Picard (4) tries to block the puck while the Canadiens’ John Ferguson (22) and Ralph Backstorm wait for the rebound. Bob Plager of the Blues (5) waits to see what happens. The Canadiens beat the Blues 3-2 in overtime. (AP Photo/Fred Waters)
Fred water
Bob Plager of the Blues delivers his classic hip check to Buffalo’s butch Deadmarsh at The Arena in 1973. (UPI Photo)
Blues Plager brothers (from left) Billy, Barclay and Bob reunited in 1985. Post dispatch photo.
Bob Plager
Many of the Blues who call The Arena home get their first glimpse of the ritzy Arena Club in 1967, the team’s inaugural season in the NHL. They were guests of Goalkeepers Inc., an organization formed to promote hockey in the area. The contestants are: (back row, left to right) Don McKenney, Al Arbor, Noel Picard, Bill McCreary, Gerry Melnyk, Frank St. Marseille, Ray Fortin, Glenn Hall, Tim Ecclestone, Ron Schock, Fred Hucul, Gordon Kannegiesser , and Larry Keenan. Front row, kneeling: Bob Plager, Terry Crisp, Jim Roberts, Claude Cardin, Wayne Rivers, Darryl Edestrand and Seth Martin. Barclay Plager and Gord Berenson are missing. (file photo after shipping)
Bob Plager (left) chats with other members of the 1967 St. Louis Blues team during the St. Louis Blues Ice Breaker and Watch Party at the Ballpark Village in St. Louis on Wednesday, October 12, 2016. Photo by Jon Gitchoff
Jon Gitchoff
Vanessa Mixco (left) and Taraneh Divanbeigi (right), both of Ballwin, take a selfie with former Blues player Bob Plager at Bobby’s Place in Valley Park after the team played Game 7 of the semi-finals of the Wednesday, May 11 Western Conference 6-1, 2016. (Photo by Jon Gitchof)
Brett Hull and Bobby Plager (photo courtesy of the St. Louis Blues)
St. Louis Blues
Former St. Louis Blues center Garry Unger drops a ceremonial puck between St. Louis Blues center David Backes and New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh before a game between the St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers Thursday, April 9 October 2014 Fall, at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Unger was joined by other St. Louis Blues alumni including (from left) Al MacInnis, Bob Plager, Brett Hull and Bernie Federko. Photo by Chris Lee, [email protected]
Chris Lee
Original St. Louis Blues player Bob Plager during player introductions prior to the home game between the St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, October 13, 2016 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Plager was a member of the original St. Louis Blues team from 1967-68. He was joined by other teammates as the original team was honored on the 50th anniversary of the organization’s inception. Photo by Chris Lee, [email protected]
Chris Lee
WEDNESDAY, JAN February 25, 2006 St. Louis Blues legend Bob Plager, 62, walks the board in a Blues alumni versus UHL alumni charity game Wednesday at the Family Arena. The game was played before the United Hockey League All-Star Game. (Photo by Don Adams Jr.)
Don Adams Jr.
Bob Plager (St Louis Blues) illustration by Amadee Wohlschlaeger
St. Louis Blues Bob Plager fights with Ted Harris in 1969. Post dispatch file
New York Rangers rookie defenseman Bob Plager. March 17, 1966. AP file
Bob Plager is seen in 1972. Courtesy of St Louis Blues
Former St. Louis Blues player Bobby Plager waves to the crowd during the Blues Stanley Cup Victory Parade on Saturday, June 15, 2019 in downtown St. Louis. He rode in the car with family members, including his daughter Melissa Briggs and grandchildren Jacob and Katie. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, [email protected]
Laurie Skrivan