ESPN learned a valuable lesson in its reintroduction to broadcasting the NHL. Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin entered Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks needing three goals to become the third NHL player to reach 800.
The “Worldwide Leader in Sports” is primed to catch every scoring moment of the Great 8. Except he scored so fast that ESPN wasn’t ready and missed it.
Ovechkin scored his 798th career goal 24 seconds into the game. However, ESPN was using a split screen to show former Blackhawks great Chris Chelios introducing the Blackhawks’ lineup. There was no commentary either. ESPN failed to fully capture the moment live. But the network did have a replay for fans to see.
Still, the gaffe ruined the moment for fans of Ovechkin and the Capitals. Many voiced their displeasure with the four-letter network for missing the moment.
Ovechkin scored a second goal moments later. So hopefully, ESPN is done with the split screens and will be focused on Ovechkin in case he pulls off a hat-trick and scores No. 800.
