Today In NHL History - Pettersson Injures Calvert

On November 16th in 2019, Colorado Avalanche winger Matt Calvert took an Elias Pettersson wrist shot to the head. Clearly bloodied and injured by the puck, Pettersson paused and alerted the referees in an effort to stop play.

The officials ignored Pettersson's plea and twelve long seconds later Alex Edler scored, pulling the Vancouver Canucks within one goal with less than three minutes to play in the third period.
Players across the league were outraged that refs didn't stop play to attend to a player with a head injury. The problem lies with the NHL Rulebook, specifically Rule 8.1 Injured Player, which reads in relevant part:

When a player is injured so that he cannot continue play or go to his bench, the play shall not be stopped until the injured player’s team has secured control of the puck. If the player’s team is in control of the puck at the time of injury, play shall be stopped immediately unless his team is in a scoring position. In the case where it is obvious that a player has sustained a serious injury, the Referee and/or Linesman may stop the play immediately.

Brock Boeser added the equalizer with one minute remaining to force overtime. But, the Canucks comeback fell short as Nathan MacKinnon scored 27 seconds into the extra frame giving Colorado a 5-4 win.

That's today in NHL history.

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.

Today In NHL History - First European Referee

On November 16th in 2010, Marcus Vinnerborg became the first European born referee to officiate a NHL game. The milestone was made in the Lone Star State during a midweek Pacific Division matchup between the Anaheim Ducks and Dallas Stars. Find full video highlights here.

Director of Officiating Terry Gregson elected to add the overseas outsider to the NHL's zeal of zebra six months earlier owing to his puck-umpiring prowess in Sweden's Elitserien and other top-tier tournaments.

In his inaugural NHL outing, the 37 year old Swede whistled 13 minor and 4 major penalties skating alongside veteran Paul Devorski. He even employed video replay, awarding Brad Richards a third period goal to the rousing approval of the American Airlines Center congregation.

Dallas beat the Anaheim Ducks that night by a score of 2-1.

That's today in NHL history.

Today In NHL History - Hextall Fights Felix Potvin

On November 10th in 1996, Ron Hextall of the Philadelphia Flyers skated the length of the ice to engage netminder Felix Potvin when a melee broke out at the end of a match against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Hextall was met with a willing and able opponent who quickly bloodied the Flyer backstop with a serious of blows to the left eye. Not surprisingly, the Philadelphia feed (below) hailed Hextall's win while Toronto commentators (further below) praised Potvin's performance.


The highlights clearly show the damage inflicted by Potvin on the NHL's single-season penalty minute record holder for goalies, a fact Toronto enforcer Tie Domi was happy to share with Hextall from the bench.

Philadelphia beat Toronto that night by a score of 3-1.

That's today in NHL history.