Gretzky and Lemieux vs Patrick Roy at the 1997 NHL All Star Game

From the 1997 NHL All Star Game

[@orangesharpy]

@ 1:00 that little sauce he put on that backhand pass to elevate the puck so Roy couldn't intercept the pass but have it land perfectly flat for Mario. Chef's kiss.

[@stumarston6812]

Awesome. The greatest passer ever to the softest hands ever. Those two were miles ahead of everyone else.

[@Vicki-vu3kd]

DITTO Stu, although Lemieux's career assist ratio was slightly lower 1.13 to Gretzky's 1.32!

[@dkiperman]

Two Jedi masters.

[@dwm8199]

@Don Paratore Mark Recchi

[@andyskrabek2101]

Love the sick sauce over Roy's stick, a thing of beauty.

[@danpro4519]

Seeing those two sit next to each other on the bench is spine tingling. . .

[@BlueToronto]

That was awesome. The two greatest of all time.

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

you should watch Canada Cup 87

[@thetick48]

I love how the announcers just laugh through the commentary. That's a hell of a duo to come through the paint.

[@Jim-pq9pm]

From Gretzky to Lemieux on Roy. Doesn't get better than that

[@johngenova5506]

lemieux/roy born same day,, imagine penguins who had 15 draft picks in 84 draft, imagine had they drafted roy/robitaille alone iwht lemieux

[@slauzon01]

Even Mario's casual forechecking is enough to create this goal. Both 99 and 66 were telepathically connected; amazing mind readers.

[@LaLaLaLakeport99]

the two greatest hockey players ever in the world, against the best goalie that ever played the game- sorry, patrick, but not even you has a chance when these two team up. it's almost tragic how little time these guys got a chance to play with one another over the course of their careers. i can't even begin to fathom the idea of having those two on the same NHL team. it wouldn't even be fair.

[@kidpoker9408]

marios not the second greatest sorry

[@MMGJ10]

@@kidpoker9408 Kid Poker is gay

[@MMGJ10]

@@kidpoker9408 I mean.. who wants to be a kid Poker? Sick. And stupid

[@mpuchar5003]

@@kidpoker9408 You don't know shit about hockey stfu

[@kidpoker9408]

@@mpuchar5003 so your telling me marios better than bobby and u know about hockey

[@martinkirouac]

A time when it was fun to watch these games.

[@benlebrun]

99 to 66 beat 33

[@MrHowil99]

That sauce pass from Gretz is the perfect encapsulation of why he racked up so many points. He could've moved a little further out and passed it more laterally to avoid Roy's stick. But that would've meant more chance of him being stick checked, the pass being deflected, and the angle of the pass not being quite right for Lemieuxs shot. He made the perfect decision and the perfect pass for that situation. It's those little things that add up to so many points.

[@RobJoswiak]

And then 66 upstairs like it's nothing.

[@slauzon01]

# 99 could thread needles on skates while 66 had the precision of an archer from anywhere on the ice with any shot selection and still makes it look easy and buttery smooth. Look how beautifuly placed that puck was for Mario, quick release and that puck goes in and out. From the greatest passer to greatest set of hands in history. It would have been total chaos had Wayne & Mario played full time on the same line.

[@toddpurvis9621]

This much I think most hockey fans can agree on - there's Howe, Orr, Gtetzky and Lemieux (in no particular order). The big 4. Then there's everyone else.

[@danieldagenais7945]

Howe is not even close of Orr Lemieux and Gretzky sry...Great player but if Lemieux played as long as Howe did he would have 1500 Goals...and Bobby would have 15 norris

[@BAddiesOnDeck]

Love Mr. Hockey Howe... but when McDavid's done... he'll be the new Name in the Undeniable Big 4!

[@braddivens5179]

The best passer and best goal scorer making it look easy.

[@JackBirdbath]

Gretzky was also there too

[@lonkylaine]

Why he didn't sign with the Penguins in 96 instead of the Rangers? They would have one more cup each.

[@breakaway2x]

The only 2 players in ALL SPORTS HISTORY whose numbers are synonymous with their names. 99 and 66. No other athletes have owned their numbers like 99 and 66.

[@southpaw788]

Gretzky's saucer flip pass was excellent

[@Losrandir]

icing on the cake

[@kidpoker9408]

one thing they have in common is wayne assisted on 66 percent of kurri's career goals

[@SonOfTamriel]

I know it's just an All-star game, but is anything better than Gretzky to Lemieux? Future me: Crosby to McDavid in Olympics? Hell yea!!

[@EnigmaticAristaWingsLord96]

They on the wrong side

[@JackBirdbath]

Crosby McDavid Bedard on the top line. I don’t think Crosby and Bedard will be Olympic material at the same time but it would be cool to see all 3 skate together.

[@jeenius9664]

Greatest passer of all time to the greatest scorer of all time.

[@Dalt21]

Crazy that Thornton , chara and marleau were in the league the next year and are still playing

[@esava44]

Imagine if these dudes just has 1 season together in the NHL. lol. I mean...that is the most NBA thing ever, but it would be awesome.

[@mutman19]

Imagine if those 2 ever got to play on the same team for a full season

[@sirmonkey3215]

was just thinking the same

[@lucascharvat]

The universe would explode.

[@maitrehg]

It was pure magic at Canada Cup 87.

[@jamesjennison1644]

Unstoppable

[@oldfrend]

they probably wouldn't have played on the same line but the power play would've been LIT.

[@gregorybrowe2]

The two best ever. It wasn’t just the vision from Wayne, it was a fact that he did a saucer pass from the backhand overwatch stick and Lemieux just one time smoked it. Good luck lol

[@8799crosby]

i like the fact gretzky anticipated the defenseman would reverse the puck because of lemieuxs pressure, he went. as they say where the puck is going not where its been

[@toddpurvis9621]

Ridiculous. Not only incredible talent, but these guys share the same hockey brain. Patrick Roy, arguably the greatest day ever, didn't stand a chance. Roy and Lemieux were born on the same day - October 5, 1965. What are the odds?

[@RobJoswiak]

Happy birthday to both , today.

[@lawrenceehrbar8667]

Who centered that line?

[@gymguy25]

Those 2 could even make Patrick Roy look bad!

[@tzzlite]

Back when hockey was GREAT! I hate the NHL now!

[@azor9233]

Roy was even thinking how he didn't get that

[@abj136]

99 - 66 = 33

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

holly crap

[@amg863]

Mario picked 66 as a nod to Wayne's number 99. It's cool that even though he was great, he respected Wayne that much.

[@striker045]

I feel roy should have been in the title

[@madisonsykes4896]

beautiful

[@EnigmaticAristaWingsLord96]

There is my Beezer met him delivering flowers for his wife on Valentine's Day

[@trevorlambert4226]

Back when players at least kind of tried in the all star game.

[@Blazers04]

I can’t help but wonder, if Mario could’ve lasted 1 more year, would Nagano have been any different?

[@v4v819]

Messier too! Look how well Mark played with his old teammate Wayne in that year's all star game... Lots of missed opportunities that time around... I think they would have won gold in Nagano if they just let Wayne take the last shot in the shootout not Shanahan... That alone would have changed the fortune of Canada's hold medal hopes... 2002 was sweet redemption none the less!

[@Blazers04]

@@v4v819 with respect to The Moose, he wasn’t turning the tide. Grittiness and systems weren’t the issue in Nagano. They were bested by the greatest goalie in the world at the time. Skill may have swung the tide…… MAY have swung the tide. But Nagano was the culmination of the most significant negative moments in Canadian hockey history…. the ‘96 World Cup, the ‘98 World Juniors and then Nagano. The turning point when Hockey Canada realized they weren’t invincible anymore. They had been passed by. And from those ashes came a reorganization of the national program in 2000. From that organization has come 20 years (beginning in 2002) of success at all levels: Olympics, World Juniors, U18, World Championships and World Cup.

[@v4v819]

@@Blazers04 And a dipsy doodle to you too!

[@biffdanielson2820]

Gretzkys little bicycle helmet

[@luk1n711]

Was Jaromír Jágr there also?

[@mpuchar5003]

No. He had an ankle injury

[@mpuchar5003]

0:53 Too slow on the poke-check

[@Jim-pq9pm]

If only Patrick Roy had you to advise him

[@iron-farmer]

Maybe if lemiuex didnt use that first defenceman like a tow machine....

[@southpaw788]

Maybe if you spelled Mario's name correctly.

[@DeInevitable]

66 and 99 combine to beat 33

[@s4ifyn]

Got 2 min for hooking on 66. Reffing in 2023.

[@pilbomags488]

33,66,99

[@missleeogilvieraygaal]

Now

[@chocolateface8664]

I see Bigfoot

[@MiguelCruz-zo6yo]

By this time in 97 mario was the better player than gretsky

[@adrianthomas5104]

so ya I thought I would pass but could have just scored.

[@anul6801]

So slow

[@kenneth-andrewfisher7297]

It's too bad the greatest language bent over years ago, now we have to put up with this commentary in French in Canada: Boo to our ancestors.