The start of Game 6 between the Golden Knights and Oilers was bumped to ESPN2 due to "Sunday Night Baseball," but fans tuned in to ESPN didn't miss the first two goals of the game.
Play-by-play announcer Karl Ravech seamlessly shifted from calling the Cardinals' blowout win over the Red Sox to calling the critical Western Conference semifinal game, even though the Golden Knights didn't give him much time to set the scene.
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"And an early goal!" Ravech said as Reilly Smith scored while he was still introducing the game. Connor McDavid tied the game with a goal of his own 31 seconds later, prompting another call from Ravech.
The "Sunday Night Baseball" voice said he had NHL experience from his years as a "SportsCenter" anchor.
Here is how ESPN aired the opening goal in Vegas-Edmonton Game 6. With Karl Ravech calling a split-screen during a 9-1 baseball game. pic.twitter.com/TEaiDaW0Fi
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 15, 2023
Cardinals reliever Chris Stratton was warming up on the left side of the screen while the Golden Knights and Oilers got started on the right side of the screen, evoking memories of the network's repeated cut-ins to Aaron Judge's home run record chase during college football games last year.
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For many hockey fans, this felt like a missed opportunity for the league. The NHL scheduled Game 6 of the hotly contested series for 10 p.m. ET on a Sunday, with ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball" broadcast believed to be the reason.
Rather than airing one game on one channel and the other on a different channel at a more convenient time, ESPN walked into an awkward situation that it tried to resolve with the split screen as the Cardinals closed out the Red Sox.
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Regardless of who's to blame, Ravech embraced his inner Kevin Harlan and handled the strange scenario about as well as he could have. Harlan made headlines in 2019 for calling the Chiefs' Week 17 game against the Chargers and managing to sneak in play-by-play of the end of the Dolphins' win over the Patriots at the same time.
Ravech's dual duties were entertaining, but they didn't last long. He was able to hand the keys to John Buccigross a few minutes later as the Cardinals quickly wrapped up their victory.