WASHINGTON -- Colorado goaltender Patrick Roy got the night off Wednesday, giving him a little time to savor his NHL record for career victories.

	Roy

"In a couple of years, when I retire, or even tomorrow, when I lay down and have time to think about it, then I will have a greater appreciation of what I have done," Roy said after beating the Washington Capitals in overtime Tuesday night. "But right now, it's a relief ... to have it over with."

Colorado coach Bob Hartley rested Roy when the Avalanche played Columbus 24 hours after the goalie got his 448th victory to pass Terry Sawchuk.

Now, Roy just wants to refocus on helping the Avalanche win another championship.

"To me, the thing that I always play for is the Stanley Cup," Roy said after Peter Forsberg's goal gave him a 4-3 victory.

Roy has an 11-game unbeaten streak (9-0-2) dating to last season, but Hartley decided his goalie needed a night off. That could be helpful to Roy, who was under tremendous pressure as he drew closer to Sawchuk's mark.

Roy tribute Friday

DENVER -- Colorado Avalanche's Patrick Roy has already broken the NHL record for the most wins by a goaltender, but the celebration isn't over. The team has planned a special ceremony in his honor before the game against the Florida Panthers on Friday at the Pepsi Center. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, Gov. Bill Owens and Avalanche owner Stanley Kroenke will be involved in the ceremonies. Denver Mayor Wellington Webb has been invited to participate. The Montreal Canadiens, Roy's former team, will be represented by former star player Guy Lafleur. Roy became the winningest goalie in NHL history Tuesday night in a 4-3 overtime road victory over Washington. It was the 448th win of Roy's career, breaking Terry Sawchuk's record that stood for more than 30 years. Sawchuk's oldest son, Jerry, also be part of the ceremony, and Roy's family will attend. Avalanche spokesman Jean Martineau said the franchise has been planning the ceremony for a long time. "It is something the fans will enjoy and will be an opportunity for everyone to show Patrick their appreciation," he said.

The whole hockey world was watching, including his native Canada. Prime Minister Jean Chretien got a call through to the goalie in the middle of the crowded postgame news conference.

"I want to congratulate you on your exceptional achievement," Chretien told Roy in French.

The Capitals ensured the achievement wouldn't be an easy one. The Avalanche staked Roy to a 2-0 first-period lead, but Peter Bondra scored twice, the second goal coming just 25 seconds into the third period for 3-2 Washington lead.

But Joe Sakic tied the game just 3:02 later, and a screened Roy made a save on a shot by Jan Bulis with four seconds left to force the overtime.

Colorado got a big break in overtime when Washington's Richard Zednik was hit with a five-minute cross-checking penalty after a skirmish with Adam Foote, who only got a two-minute minor.

That gave the Avalanche a power play, and Forsberg redirected Ray Bourque's slap shot past Washington goalie Olaf Kolzig to win the game.

Teammates seemed just as excited for Roy as the goalie himself, mobbing him on the ice and later carrying him around. Roy finished with 27 saves.

"There was a lot of emotion," Foote said. "You don't have to prepare for it because you know what's going on there."

The 35-year old Roy has done so much in his career. He's won three Vezina Trophies, been a part of three Stanley Cup champions and at 20 was the youngest player to win the Conn Smythe trophy as postseason MVP.

His 15 playoff shutouts are tied for the most ever, and his 48 regular-season shutouts rank second. He's also won more than 20 games 14 times, another NHL mark.

Roy said he plans to keep playing for a while because he still loves the game and his job. He's shown no signs of slowing down.

When asked about his early dreams in the NHL, Roy laughed and said he just wanted to survive and play consistently.

Roy smiled when reminiscing about his first NHL victory in February of 1985, when Montreal coach Jacques Lemaire suddenly told him to "get in the net" before the start of the third period with the Canadiens and New York Islanders tied at 4-4.

"I turned to Guy Carbonneau and said, 'Did he just say me?' " the goalie recalled with a laugh.

Roy had to make only two saves in that period, but the Canadiens scored twice for a 6-4 victory. That was the only period the 19-year old Roy played that season, but he stuck with Montreal the next year and the rest is history.

He won two Cups with the Canadiens but came to Colorado in December of 1995 after a dispute with then-coach Mario Tremblay, who left him in for too long during an 11-1 loss.

But these are happy days for Roy, who continues to play strong hockey and might be on the league's best team.

"Right now the focus is on the team, and the team is playing so well," Roy said. "It's still so fun. I still have the passion for the game."