Hot mic catches offensive slur about goalies during Oilers-Wild game
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
A broadcast analyst was caught on a hot mic using an offensive slur about goalies during Tuesday's Oilers and Wild game, and the clip is spreading fast online.
A hot mic moment during Tuesday's Wild and Oilers game has hockey fans talking for all the wrong reasons.
A broadcast analyst was caught using a slur aimed at goaltenders, and the audio is now making the rounds on social media.
The comment came during a lull in play, with the crew seemingly unaware the audio was going out live.
We will not repeat what was said, as it may upset many readers, but you can listen to it in the video below.
Why this one stings
Hot mics are nothing new in broadcasting, and some of them are harmless. This one is different.
Goalies already absorb the blame for every bad bounce, and they shouldn't have to hear it from the people calling the game too.
Some fans online agreed with the sentiment, but that misses the point.
A broadcast isn't a group chat, and the people paid to call games are held to a higher standard every second the light is on.
A bad look on a big night
The timing makes it even more awkward.
Jesper Wallstedt has been one of Minnesota's best players this season, with six wins and a .922 save percentage.
On the other side, Devon Levi has won four of his five games for Edmonton.
Both clubs came in with 13 points, and the Oilers walked away with a 4-3 overtime win.
Still, the final score isn't what people are talking about this morning.
Live broadcasts leave zero room for a careless sentence, and one single slip can easily erase years of hard-earned trust with viewers at home.
No discipline has been announced yet, and the analyst hasn't been named in the reports so far.
An apology or some kind of consequence feels like the next step, and the longer it takes, the louder this story will get.
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