Fittingly for a fixture fuelled by such a strong rivalry, there was plenty of intensity in the opening exchanges, with Ismaïla Sarr putting in some brilliant work to release Jean-Philippe Mateta for the first shot, which the frontman fired wide.
Diego Gómez and Sarr were then denied by impressive saves at either end, with the game only initially slowing down when Adam Wharton required treatment.
Even so, the competitive spirit soon translated to Tim Robinson’s whistle being blown with greater regularity, with Sarr in particular buying fouls.
Jaydee Canvot wasn’t able to react quickly enough to get a clean shot off when the ball was flicked towards him, but the defender stood firm in the more familiar surroundings of his own box to block Yankuba Minteh’s shot.
Wharton then fired a strike wide from outside the box after Lewis Dunk had got his head on the initial cross from Daniel Munoz.
Both teams had an opportunity before the break, but Minteh missed the target after great work from Gómez and Sarr sent his flick wide.
Gómez then saw a header saved after the restart, but Palace had a massive opportunity of their own when Wharton dispossessed Carlos Baleba.
That started a move that culminated in Daichi Kamada missing the target after Van Hecke had diverted Sarr’s ball into his path.
The game still looked in need of something to liven it up, and Georginio Rutter reflected that desperation with a dive that looked to have earned the Frenchman a penalty but ultimately resulted in him being booked.
That moment also added extra intensity to the Selhurst Park atmosphere, and the fans stood in anticipation when Kamada rolled the ball past Van Hecke only to be left disappointed when his shot hit the side netting.
Neither team could find the quality to score a winner as Jefferson Lerma blocked Yasin Ayari’s attempt, and Yéremy Pino’s late effort was tipped behind by Bart Verbruggen before Maxence Lacroix headed off target from the ensuing corner.
The draw sees Palace extend the PL’s longest active unbeaten run at home to 12 matches and stay one point ahead of Brighton, who have lost just one of their last seven league matches.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Jaydee Canvot (Crystal Palace)