Hot mic catches broadcaster saying something about goalies he should never say on air!

An NHL broadcast on ESPN+ took an unexpected turn Tuesday night after a hot mic caught one of the announcers making a shocking comment about hockey goalies.

During the second period of the matchup between the Edmonton Oilers and Minnesota Wild, an announcer was caught saying that all goalies are “retarded.” The remark was apparently made under the assumption that he was not being picked up on the live broadcast.

Still, it is the kind of comment that can leave viewers doing a double take.

Goaltenders are often the target of jokes and criticism in hockey, but using an ableist slur to describe an entire position is another matter entirely. Even if the announcer believed he was speaking off air, the moment is uncomfortable to hear in the middle of an NHL broadcast.

The game featured play-by-play announcer Anthony LaPanta and analyst Ryan Carter. The available details do not establish which of the two made the remark, so it would be premature to attribute it to either broadcaster without verifying the clip. The controversial remark was made as a referee was about to call a penalty at center ice.

That is what makes the hot-mic moment so startling: a comment that may have been intended as private chatter suddenly became part of the viewing experience.

The clip speaks for itself, and hockey fans can decide what they make of the moment. But it is a reminder that live broadcasts leave very little room for error when microphones are still open.