Today In NHL History - Patrick Roy Dekes Gretzky

On November 16th in 1997, trailing by three goals with 3:30 remaining in the third period of a matinee at MSG, Colorado Avalanche goaltender Patrick Roy elected to skate the puck up the ice stickhandling past Wayne Gretzky before crossing center ice where #33 was whistled by referee Paul Devorski.The unorthodox adventure greatly amused MSG color commentator and former netminder John Davidson, however, Rule 27.7 prohibits such sojourns and Roy was assessed a minor penalty for participating "in the play in any manner (intentionally plays the puck or checks an opponent) when he is beyond the center red line" .

The New York Rangers beat the Avalanche that afternoon 4-1.  Both Saint Patrick and the Great One were held pointless in the affair.

That's today in NHL history.