‘Frozen Frenzy’ live blog from ESPN studios 

Welcome to the “Frozen Frenzy” live blog. All 32 NHL teams were in action on Tuesday with a 16-game schedule that started at 6 p.m ET. In addition to a tripleheader on ESPN, there was whip-around coverage on ESPN+ and ESPN2 from 7 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. ET.

NHL.com senior writer Dan Rosen was at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut, and provided all the behind-the-scenes action, and NHL.com VP, Editor-in-Chief Bill Price was in his New Jersey bunker and provided all the action from on the ice. You can relive the night by reading the blog. 

12:30 a.m.

They're off the air 5 1/2 hours after going on.

The "Frozen Frenzy" is over despite two games still going on.

John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes were told about 20 minutes ago that when they do go off the air they need to push viewers to ESPN for the Vegas Golden Knights and Philadelphia Flyers, and to let them know that they will get updates on the Arizona Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings there.

They did that and signed off.

What an experience up here at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut. To be in the studio and control room, bouncing back and forth, describing the action here as it unfolded, hopefully it brought the readers of this live blog inside the ins and outs of how a night like this plays out.

The chaos was obvious and the energy created by it was awesome. Listening to the producers drive traffic, hearing what Buccigross and Weekes were hearing, and watching them deliver on live television with almost no breaks for five and a half hours was a unique experience.

Producer Mark Schuman driving the traffic and directing Buccigross and Weekes was interesting to watch. We see the broadcast on television, but we never know what the hosts are hearing in their ears. This blog filled that gap.

The goal for the "Frozen Frenzy" was to get lucky with goals on as many live look ins as possible. They got lucky a lot. They wanted to show every goal. They did, either live or on a quick rewind.

Power plays. Overtime. Hits. Injuries. Inside looks at The Situation Room, the Department of Player Safety, and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman's home. It was all part of it.

But easily the best part of the night was the high drama played out over eight minutes from 10:57-11:05, when the Detroit Red Wings and Seattle Kraken were in overtime and the Anaheim Ducks and Columbus Blue Jackets were in the last two minutes of regulation.

That was high drama and the producers, as much as they did their jobs and did it well, turned into fans watching in the control room, hoping for an overtime goal in Detroit, and for overtime in Columbus. They got both, and then got the overtime goal in Columbus as well.

At the time they signed off there were 98 goals scored, six off the NHL record for most goals scored in a single day.

There is one game Wednesday.

12:10 a.m. ET

The Arizona Coyotes are on the power play about three minutes ago and it's live look in time for "Frozen Frenzy" into Crypto.com Arena.

"Come on Arizona, score a goal," producer Mark Schuman says.

About five seconds later they do. He turns around and smiles. 

Live sports television after dark (midnight). The drama is still playing out.

12:06 a.m. ET

The past 10 minutes have been bouncing between two games, the Arizona Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena and the New York Rangers and Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome.

They're getting updates on when the second period between the Vegas Golden Knights and Philadelphia Flyers at T-Mobile Arena will begin.

As of now, it's about three minutes away.

But the Rangers and Flames, and Kings and Coyotes are in commercial breaks right now, so they've gone to their queued up tweets and showing John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes on camera, filling time until the games are back on.

They're back in Los Angeles, but ESPN is coming to them in 90 seconds with the resumption of the Flyers and Golden Knights game.

12 a.m. ET 

It's midnight and there are three games still going on, with John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes still in their couch potato spots (OK, they're in chairs), and everyone in the control room still stationed where they were when they started.

They catch up with some goals in the Golden Knights and Flyers game, and the Coyotes and Kings game, but then go to the live look in at Scotiabank Saddledome for the Rangers and Flames.

"Get ready to do a two-box. The Flyers are going on the power play."

Producer Mark Schuman gives the update of what's coming to John Buccigross and the two box shows up before going full right to all Vegas and Philadelphia for the Flyers power play.

It's gotten quieter in the control room with only three games still going on, so they're working on timing now, trying to figure out when the Rangers and Flames will be over and what time will be left in the Coyotes and Kings game at that point.

The first period in Vegas just ended with the Flyers leading 2-1.

It's time to go to the power play in Los Angeles.

"Top of the hour when we come back we'll do goals of the night," Schuman says.

11:50 p.m. ET 

An extended live look in of the Arizona Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings allows the control room to queue up another tweet and get NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman set up for his interview with John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes.

Producer Mark Schuman gets into the ear of the co-hosts and tells them to be back in their chairs because the commissioner was ready and that interview was coming up.

To the chairs they go and there's Commissioner Bettman live from his home with multiple screens behind him.

11:47 p.m. ET 

The parm bit played out well. And, frankly, it looked delicious. It also gave the producers and directors in the control room a chance to take stock of what's going on and what they need.

"We're going to need highlights," producer Mark Schuman said to no one in particular. "We're running out of games."

There are now just three games going on after the Wild defeated the Oilers, 7-4, and the Canucks defeated the Predators, 3-2. 

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is now on with John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes.  

Before he came on, there was also a decision made that if the Canucks and Predators go to overtime, do not skip that to go to Commissioner Bettman. If they don't go to Commissioner Bettman until midnight than so be it. 

The Predators call a timeout with 1:07 remaining, which allows the producers to call for an update from the Minnesota Wild and Edmonton Oilers game, won 7-4 by the Wild. There is a goal in the Vegas-Philadelphia game, but they do not want to miss going back to Nashville.

So back to Nashville they go as they queue up the goal in Vegas so they can show that when regulation ends at Bridgestone Arena either with the Canucks winning or the Predators tying it.

This is where they start rooting for a goal in here. They want the Predators to score. They want another overtime. But it's not going to happen. The Canucks hold on, so to the the Golden Knights goal they go.

And then a live look in of the Arizona Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings is next.

We ONLY have three more to go - the Rangers at Flames (second intermission), the Coyotes and Kings (second period) and the Flyers at the Golden Knights (first period). 

What a night it's been, and it's not over yet.

11:33 p.m. ET 

During the entire two-minute commercial break the producers and directors in the control room were talking about chicken parm.

There's a special delivery coming to the studio of John Buccigross' favorite food.

"Are we doing parm now?"

"Let's do parm."

"Where's P.K. Is he delivering?"

"Is the parm there?"

"OK, get up, get up. … Wait, the parm isn't there yet. We can't do parm yet."

Honestly, it was kind of funny to hear so much talk about chicken parm.

They came back and went to Vancouver and Nashville, and then to Edmonton and Minnesota.

"They're ready for parm in about a minute."

"Is all the food there?"

Bits like this can be fun and entertaining, but man the planning is something else.

11:27 p.m. ET

The game on ESPN between the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks ended five minutes ago.

The producers here in the control room were waiting for the word of when they could go back to the "Frozen Frenzy" on ESPN2 and have the game between the Vegas Golden Knights and Philadelphia Flyers switch back to ESPN.

The Golden Knights and Flyers game had to take over ESPN2 for the past few minutes as the Bruins and Blackhawks finished on the main network.

So back they went on ESPN2 with the decision to go to a studio shot of John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes to welcome the viewers back into the frenzy.

The Edmonton Oilers just scored, so that's where they went for updates. First it was the goal that put the Minnesota Wild up 5-3 and then the Oilers goal that made it 5-4 with 7:05 remaining in the third period.

Each of those goals were on replay, not live, because they happened while ESPN2 had to have the Vegas-Philadelphia game.

They were working on replays, or rewinds, because in the three minutes they had the Flyers-Golden Knights on there were goals and big saves all over the remaining games. And the goal of the "Frozen Frenzy" show is to not miss anything big, and certainly not miss a goal.

Meanwhile, there's a special chicken parm delivery about to happen in the studio, and producer Mark Schuman just made sure Buccigross said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is coming up, too.

11:20 p.m. ET 

The goal was to get to T-Mobile Arena for the opening face-off, to show that live on "Frozen Frenzy," the start of the last game of the night.

The thought was to bounce around a bit before getting back to Las Vegas, but that didn't last long. 

“We’ve got to go to the game. WE’VE GOT TO GO TO THE GAME.”

That was a producer in the back screaming. 

Why?

Well, the game between the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins is still going on and still live on ESPN, the main network, and they needed a place to put the Vegas Golden Knights and Philadelphia Flyers because that is the third game of the tripleheader on the main network.

So unless they went to a two-box, which wasn't going to happen on the main network, they used ESPN2 and the "Frozen Frenzy" broadcast to go live to Vegas and Philadelphia for the start of that game.

It stayed that way until the Blackhawks and Bruins were done, the Bruins winning, 3-0. The Bruins are now 6-0-0 start this season after they set the NHL record in wins (65) and points (135), but saw Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci retire this offseason.

11:10 p.m. ET 

Here is how the OT in Columbus unfoled at ESPN.

"If we have one shootout that wouldn't be bad," producer Mark Schuman said.

Troy Terry can't score on a breakaway. Elvis Merzlikins with a terrific glove save.

"Gotta play it. Gotta play it."

Merzlikins does and play continues.

They're talking about some of the other games going on in the control room, but the focus remains on the Ducks and Blue Jackets until Frank Vatrano scores on a breakaway to end it.

And here we go to the remaining six games going on and the seventh that's about to start.

11:10 p.m. ET 

It's all over in Columbus as the Frank Vatrano scored in OT for a 3-2 win. It's Vatrano's fifth goal of the season. 

Meanwhile, the Jets are three minutes away from a win at home against the Blues and Bruins are seven minutes away from shutting out the Blackhawks. 

The last game of this historic night is about to start in Las Vegas between the Flyers and Golden Knights.

11:05 p.m. ET  

You want sports drama playing out on live television? Well check out these last eight minutes:

They came back from the commercial break at 10:57 ready to for puck drop to start overtime in Detroit.

"Oh, man, Columbus is on a power play too," producer Mark Schuman said.

So they've got overtime between the Detroit Red Wings and Seattle Kraken, and a power play late in a 2-2 game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Anaheim Ducks.

"These games might run into each other," Schuman said.

Remember, this game between Columbus and Anaheim was pushed back two hours because of a power outage near Nationwide Arena in downtown Columbus.

"How lucky are we that they changed it," a producer screamed out.

This is the kind of high drama on live television that producers live for. The excitement in the control room is palpable. You know it is because it got quiet. Everyone is watching and they are now going to a two-box to add Anaheim and Columbus to Detroit and Seattle.

"Keep their mics open," Schuman said loudly.

John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes are talking over the action in the two box. 

A break in the action in Columbus led Schuman to call out "Full left," meaning a full shot of the Red Wings and Kraken. "But get ready to sneak back when they get back in play."

Back to the two box. A late save by Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal with one second left forced Schuman to call for a full left again, back to Seattle and Detroit for the entire screen.

They did not go to the one second left in Columbus because that game is going to overtime. The Kraken, meanwhile, can't connect on a 3-on-1, but they keep the puck and Jordan Eberle scores with 4.9 seconds left in overtime.

The control room went nuts. 

"Go to their mics," Schuman said. "Guys, just have fun."

"OH MY GOD," Weekes screams.

And there's still OT to come in Columbus.

11:05 p.m. ET 

What a finish in Detroit. 

The Kraken rally for a wild 5-4 victory against a Red Wings team that started the season 5-1-1 and had a late lead in this one. 

Lucas Raymond had a shot to win it for the Deroit, but he hit the post in overtime. 

Then then Kraken came down the other end and Jordan Eberle scored the winner. 

And now the Blue Jackets and Ducks are heading to OT. 

And the Rangers have tied things up in Calgary. Alexis Lafreniere scores on the power play with a nice tip-in in front.

10:55 p.m. ET 

Jared McCann's power-play goal, caught live on "Frozen Frenzy," was a huge moment here in the control room.

Producer Mark Schuman, who has been animated for goals while the show was in a live look in all night, jumped out of his chair and screamed, "We may get overtime."

McCann's goal came at 18:38 of the third period and made it 4-4.

And then they got almost the same thing in Columbus with the Anaheim Ducks getting a power-play goal from Brett Leason to tie the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-2 with 3:47 remaining in the third period.

They went to the 16 box and the control room was preparing to come back for overtime in Detroit and maybe Columbus after the commercial break.

"Whatever we do, we just can not miss overtime," Schuman said.

And we do have our first overtime game of the night -- in Detroit. 

This is what the Frenzy was made for. 

Matthew Poitras has done it again for the Bruins, scoring his third goal of the season to give Boston a 2-0 lead. And now, Trent Frederic scores, and just like that Boston is up 3-0. 

He's an incredible story, and our Amalie Benjamin wrote a great one about him on Monday. You can read it here when you get a few minutes (not sure if that will be tonight).

10:50 p.m. ET 

During the commercial break the producers decided it was time to go to George Parros of the NHL Department of Player Safety office in New York. 

Before coming back on live they were queuing up Jimmy Vesey's hit on Adam Ruzicka along the boards.

Parros, the NHL senior vice president of player safety, was able to breakd own exactly how his department works, making sure to tell the fans watching that no matter what the referees decide on the ice the player safety group has the ability to make its own decision after careful consideration and filtering out everything that happened on the play.

A live look in to the player safety room in the NHL's New York headquarters provided a break in the action and the opportunity to talk about some of the news of the day too, including Calgary defenseman Rasmus Andersson getting suspended four games for his hit on Patrik Laine on Friday and that suspension being upheld by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on Tuesday after Andersson appealed it through the NHL Players' Association.

Right after the interview with Parros it was the first look into the game between the Arizona Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings, and Jack McBain's goal that gave Arizona a 1-0 lead early in the first period.

10:48 p.m. ET 

The Avalanche came into UBS Arena and scored seven goals against the Islanders, including five against Ilya Sorokin, who is one of the top goalies in the NHL. That is an indication of just how good the Avalanche are. 

That means seven of the 16 games are over, with three others in the third period and Blackhawks and Bruins about to start the third in Chicago. 

The Coyotes and Kings have started in Los Angeles, and we are about 20 minutes away from the Flyers and Golden Knights starting what would be the last game of the night in Vegas.

10:35 p.m. ET

They came out of a break promoting Auston Matthews being on the "Pat McAfee Show" on Wednesday.

Back to the games, with goals shown in Detroit and Nashville that happened during the commercial break.

They went live to UBS Arena, a one-goal game, 5-4 lead for the Colorado Avalanche on the New York Islanders with less than four minutes to play. The hope here is to get a game-tying goal or the insurance goal.

John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes carried the voiceover for a minute before they were able to get the sound of the Avalanche broadcast and they went to that with Mark Moser.

Meanwhile, as that game was winding down and the producers were hoping for some late-game drama, they were talking about an injury in Calgary, ESPN going live to "Frozen Frenzy" in five minutes.

The conversation about the injury in Calgary might be a good time to talk about the NHL Department of Player Safety. There was some talk about getting George Parros on at some point during the night.

But a 3-3 game going on in Detroit needed some love too, so they went to that. The Red Wings nearly scored and the producers were urging the referees to, "point, point, point," but there was no goal.

A quick look at a two-box with the Islanders and Avalanche, and Kraken and Red Wings ended when they went left to go full to the Islanders and Avalanche with 1:30 remaining in the third period and Colorado up 5-4.

Ryan Johansen scored the empty-net goal and they went back to the two-box with the Islanders and Avalanche being joined by Seattle and Detroit.

Two minutes to going live on ESPN.

So far, we have had one hat trick tonight, and that was Tyler Toffoli for the Devils against his former team, the Canadiens.

But is there anyone hotter than Alex DeBrincat of the Red Wings? He just scored his 9th goal of the season midway through the third period to give the Red Wings a 4-3 lead over the Kraken. Of all the players who switched teams this offseason, he has been the biggest acquisition, and a big reason why the Red Wings took a 5-1-1 record into Tuesday.

10:33 p.m. ET 

The first period is over in Calgary and the Flames lead, 1-0. They go to inermission there while the Kings and Coyotes get set to drop the puck in Los Angeles. 

And then at 11, the Golden Knights wil try to stay undefeated, something the Bruins are trying to do tonight in Chicago. 

There is about two minutes left at UBS Arena and the Avalanche are holding on to a 5-4 lead against the Islanders. 

The Kraken and Red Wings are tied midway through the third period as are the Ducks and Blue Jackets.

10:21 p.m. ET 

They were about to queue up the game between in Winnipeg for a St. Louis Blues power play opportunity.

But first the Detroit Red Wings scored a power-play goal while they were in a live look in at Little Caesars' Arena.

So, of course, they stayed with the power-play goal in Detroit before cutting to Winnipeg.

Just as they cut to Winnipeg the Blues scored a power-play goal.

There were audible laughs in the control room because getting that kind of lucky tonight with back-to-back goals on live look ins was only the hope, never the lock.

It's happened a few times tonight.

Another game has gone final with the Panthers defeating the Sharks, 3-1. That makes it six down, 10 to go. 

Two other games - the Kraken and Red Wings and Canucks and Predators are in the third period, as are the Islanders and Avalanche. 

The Kings and Coyotes and Flyers and Golden Knights still have to start.

10:11 p.m. ET 

There's nothing like a live goal on "Frozen Frenzy," at least not for producer Mark Schuman.

Anders Lee scored for the New York Islanders to tie their game against the Colorado Avalanche 4-4. It was a live goal. Schuman stood up, pumped his fists, let out a cheer.

Every live goal so far he's had some type of reaction. You can tell how much this means to the producer to make compelling live television.

They're on a power play now in Chicago, but the Blackhawks couldn't connect. So away they went to the San Jose Sharks and Florida Panthers, but nothing was brewing there so Schuman said, "Let's go check in on the Islanders, a 4-4 game.

And, voila, a goal for Mikko Rantanen literally two seconds after "Frozen Frenzy" went live to UBS Arena.

"Come on, how can you not love that," Schuman said as he sat back down in his chair.

10:06 p.m. ET 

Back in the control room. 

"Top of the hour reset."

They're trying to figure out some technical issues with Kevin Weekes, who has gone over to the studio where Steve Levy, Mark Messier and P.K. Subban are doing the intermission show during the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks game that is live on the main ESPN network.

"Can we hear Weeksie? Can we hear Weeksie?"

They're working on it. He's in a hallway outside the studio where Levy, Subban and Messier are right now.

It appears the technical difficulties have been worked out and Weekes is waiting to be queued to do his bit as they show the New York Rangers and Calgary Flames live at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Nothing brewing in that game, so back to John Buccigross as the cameras frame up Weekes and he starts walking down the hallway. Subban joins him. The bit is going on as the producers in here are working on what's next.

10:05 p.m. ET 

The fans in Calgary clearly haven't forgiven Rangers defenseman Adam Fox. They have booed him each time he has touched the puck tonight. In case you have forgotten, Fox was drafted by the Flames in the third round (No. 55) of the 2016 Draft. But Fox never signed with Calgary and eventually ended up with the Rangers. 

Right now the Flames have a 1-0 lead on the Blake Coleman goal. 

Four games are now over and the Stars are a few minutes away from defeating the Penguins. 

With the Rangers and Flames underway, there are still two more games to start tonight - the Coyotes and Kings at 10:30 and the Flyers and Golden Knights at 11.

9:52 p.m. ET 

The New Jersey Devils have won the fourth game of the night, defeating the Canadiens, 5-2. Meanwhile, the Stars lead the Penguins 4-1 with about six minutes left in the game in Pittsburgh, and the Panthers are in front of the Sharks, 2-1, midway through the second period. 

We just had two goals within a few seconds, the Bruins getting a goal from Pavel Zacha to take a 1-0 lead against the Blackhawks, and a few seconds later Blake Coleman opened the scoring in Calgary, giving the Flames an early 1-0 lead against the Rangers.

9:52 p.m. ET 

During the commercial break, it was pointed out to John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes that the first shutout of the night is complete. Jonas Johansson made 32 saves in a 3-0 win for the Lightning against the Hurricanes.

Buccigross also asked the producers if they can get a tally of goals, power-play goals, shorthanded goals from the night. He wants a rundown to talk about.

Meanwhile, producer Mark Schuman is in the ear of Buccigross and Kevin Weekes and he's telling Weekes to leave the set for a bit they have planned.

Weekes is gone. Buccigross is alone. He's drinking a coffee. Gotta stay hydrated.

Buccigross is told by Schuman that in a few minutes Weekes will be in the hallway and he'll be able to see him. But first there's an update coming in the game between the Edmonton Oilers and Minnesota Wild.

"This game has been a lot of fun in downtown St. Paul," Buccigross says seconds after learning they're going to the Oilers-Wild game to see Warren Foegele's goal.

Buccigross has to ad-lib here and Schuman tells him that the Wild came right back.

"But the Wild come right back," he says seconds later as Ryan Hartman's goal is shown.

Schuman is directing Buccigross where to go. From Minnesota to Nashville to Winnipeg. Action all over the place. Goals upon goals.

Meanwhile, where is Weekes?

9:42 p.m. ET

Back down on the first floor in Studio F…

John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes look no worse for wear as they watch what you're watching at home, and talking about it live on television.

They're both at the edge of their chairs as they watch the games and talk over them. When the announcers at the game are talking and their mics are off they do not sit back at all. It's the same position, same posture almost all the time.

Buccigross is leaning forward in his chair, almost like he wants to get closer and closer to the monitor they're watching on. Weekes, his suit jacket still buttoned (is he wearing a tux?), is sitting upright in his chair, back straight, no slouch at all.

Time to go back up to the control room on the third floor.

9:38 p.m. ET

The second and third games of the night are over and Sabres get out of Ottawa with a 6-4 win and the Lightning drop the Hurricanes, 3-0. In the first game, the Maple Leafs defeated the Capitals, 4-1.

The Devils are leading the Canadiens 4-1 on the second goal of the night from Tyler Toffoli, who, if you remember, played 89 games for the Canadiens in 2020-21 and 2021-22.

Perhaps the most entertaing game of the night it taking place at UBS Arena on Long Island, where the Avalanche lead the Islanders 4-3 late in the second period. 

The Rangers and Flames are about to start in Calgary.

Here's a good note on the Alex Ovechkin goal earlier tonight. It was his 300th career power-play goal is also the 3,000th power-play goal in Capitals franchise history. Crazy

9:30 p.m. ET

The goals are coming fast and furious now. It's like a frenzy. 

Especially in Ottawa, where the Senators cut the Sabres' lead from 5-1 to 5-4 with under a minute left. But the Senators just scored into the empty net and lead 6-4 with a few seconds left. 

In other games, the Islanders have taken a 3-2 lead over the Avalanche, the Red Wings and Kraken are tied, 1-1, the Blue Jackets lead the Ducks, 1-0, and the Wild and Oilers are tied, 1-1. 

The Devils increased their lead over the Canadiens on Nico Hischier's first goal of the sesaon. And the Lightning lead the Hurricanes, 3-0.  

The next game to start is the Rangers and Flames from Calgary.

9:21 p.m. ET 

Sometimes the producers here in the control room say exactly what they want John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes to say on the air.

For example, there was this a few minutes ago:

"Remember we saw Brady Tkachuk leave the game, well check this out."

Buccigross said almost exactly that verbatim and they showed the fight between Tkachuk and Alex Tuch in the Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres game.

9:17 p.m. ET

The puck came to Connor Bedard for a one-timer from above the left hash marks.

Bang. He scored.

Producer Mark Schuman literally stood up and danced.

“If there is one to celebrate, it’s that one,” coordinating producer Linda Schulz said.

But wait. Hold everything.

“It’s under review.”

The goal went under review for offside and it was almost like everything paused in the control room for a split second.

Then it was back to business as the review played out. There is talk about if they can bring Kris King from NHL hockey operations back on to go over the review and what they saw. No word on that yet.

No goal, by the way.

9:15 p.m. ET

Evgenii Dadonov scored with ESPN2 live on the game between the Dallas Stars and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Seconds later, with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Anaheim Ducks in a two-box with Dallas-Pittsburgh, Emil Bemstrom scored for the Blue Jackets on a one-timer from the left circle.

"The Ovi spot," Kevin Weekes said.

We all saw it because each goal happened live on "Frozen Frenzy."

And less than a minute later, with ESPN2 live at UBS Arena, Kyle Palmieri scored for the New York Islanders.

Three goals in about 60 seconds, all with "Frozen Frenzy" live on that action.

There is not a running tally of how many goals they have caught while live at a game, but coordinator producer Linda Schulz said, "We've been pretty good. I think it's better than expected or predicted."

Luck of the draw.

ESPN also thought it has a Conor Bedard goal against the Bruins, but it was waved off because Chicago was offside.

And now the Panthers have taken a 2-1 lead over the Canucks on a goal by Sam Reinhart.

9:05 p.m. ET

Kris King, the NHL executive vice president of hockey operations, was just on with John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes. During the commercial break before King joined the "Frozen Frenzy" the control room was buzzing.

They were discussing what games to go to coming out of the break before bringing King on.

Producer Mark Schuman was talking to Buccigross about how to handle the interview with King, a question or two each.

He turned to another producer and asked if they still had the footage of Nicklas Backstrom's disallowed goal in the first game of the night between the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs because that was through a coaches challenge and King could discuss that.

They came back on air, ran through some tweets, showed the cluster box with the score from every game going on right now. Schuman walked Buccigross through what to say as he introduced King and the interview went on for about 90 seconds.

"Let's figure out where we're going next," Schuman said as King came on air.

The Blue Jackets have gotten into the scoring act, taking a 1-0 lead over the Ducks, the Panthers tied game against the Sharks at 1-1 on a goal by Carter Verhaeghe and the Stars have gone ahead of the Penguins on a goal by Evgeni Dadonov. And the Islanders just tied the game against the Avalanche, 2-2 on a goal by Kyle Palmieri.

8:57 p.m. ET

Overheard in the control room in the past few minutes:

"Oh, something happened in Pittsburgh."

"That's not good. Let's wait. Let's see if it's bad. That could be bad."

They're waiting for a replay. The replay is taking a while to come. 

"Let's see what we have."

"This is going to be really serious." 

It's John Ludvig, the Pittsburgh Penguins rookie defenseman who is making his NHL debut. It appears he was going to hit Dallas Stars forward Radek Faksa and took the worst of it.

"The kid is playing in his first game."

"Did that look bad?"

Games are going on and it appears they've moved on from it, but there was some question as it happened live if it was reasonable to show because the injury looked serious.

"Let's piece the Pittsburgh thing together to make sure it's something we want to show."

The San Jose Sharks are now on the board wth Fabian Zetterlund giving them a 1-0 lead against the Panthers.

8:56 p.m. ET

Tyler Toffoli has gotten into the scoring act, giving the Devils a 2-1 lead against the Canadiens late in the second period. 

Meanwhile, the Blue and Jets have started in Montreal and the Wild and Oilers are a few minutes away from starting in St. Paul. 

So that's 10 games going on right now, one game over and one game set to start. 

Now, that's a Frenzy.

8:50 p.m. ET

"We have to get live to Game 2, Boston-Chicago, I don't want to miss the puck drop."

That's lead producer Mark Schuman making sure they do not miss the opening face-off at United Center between the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins.

Right after he turned around to coordinating producer Linda Schultz and asked, "Is there anything we aren't doing enough of."

Even in the midst of all the chaos, everyone in this control room wants to know if they can do more, or if they're not doing enough of something.

They stayed live in Chicago to make sure they saw the puck drop, but the New Jersey Devils were going on the power play so 30 seconds into the Blackhawks-Bruins game they went live to Montreal.

"I heard a post. I heard a post."

They did, but it wasn't a goal. Unlucky.

To Seattle-Detroit.

"Oh my God, breakaway," Schuman says, raising his arms.

Dylan Larkin doesn't score. Unlucky again.

8:48 p.m. ET

The Stars have tied things up in Pittsburgh, with Jason Robertson getting his first of the year. 

If you are keeping score, Alex Ovechkin, Brayden Point, Alex Tuch and Jason Robertson have all scored their first goal of the season tonight. 

And now the puck has been dropped in Chicago and Columbus and things are really cooking now. 

Meanwhile, in Montreal the Devils and Canadiens are tied 1-1, mostly because Canadiens goalie Cayden Primeau is playing like Patrick Roy.

8:40 p.m. ET

It's interesting to see what happens in the control room when they're on a commercial break.

Mark Schuman, the lead producer tonight, is talking to John Buccigross, telling him where they're going when they come back.

A producer in the back has the countdown going, from 90 seconds to a minute to 45 seconds to 30 back. Everyone has to listen to him.

There are ideas thrown around about what they might do.

And they're all watching the games too because the games don't stop when ESPN2 goes to a commercial break. There could be a goal, an injury, a penalty shot, who knows.

Brady Tkachuk, by the way, is back on the ice to start the third period in Ottawa. It's noticed right away. They'll be going there shortly

8:35 p.m. ET

It's not always goals and power plays that get shown. Injuries are a part of the game as soon as Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk appeared to injure his right shoulder, not caught live on "Frozen Frenzy," they had to rewind back to it, show it and talk about it.

It was caught immediately in the control room and they went to it as soon as possible.

"ESPN is coming to us in three minutes," producer Mark Schuman said out loud.

He's directing traffic, dictating which games to go to, and all the while he has to be aware that the ESPN broadcast, in between games right now and with Steve Levy, P.K. Subban and Mark Messier at the desk, are going to be joining "Frozen Frenzy."

He gets the update that they may be a few more minutes away so it's back to directing the games and watching if anyone scores.

"Oh, Tampa just scored, go to delay on that," Schuman said.

Oh, but wait, Cale Makar just scored live on "Frozen Frenzy" with a ridiculous backhand.

"Oh my goodness what a goal," Schuman said. "Get their mic's live. Get them live."

Mics go live. John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes are on.

"That's Cale Mozart," Weekes said.

And then they cut quickly to the Lightning goal.

The Lightning goal, by the way, came from Alex Barre-Boulet to give them a 2-0 lead over the Hurricanes.

The first game of the night is over, the Maple Leafs defeating the Capitals, 4-1, and two games are about to start in Chicago and Columbus.

8:30 p.m. ET

Nature calls sometimes, and it did for John Buccigross during the commercial break about five minutes ago.

He had to go to the bathroom but he was back in time when they went back live on the air. In fact, he had just finished buckling his belt as he sat down in his chair and said, "Welcome back."

Hey, it's live television, and sometimes you've got to rush your business.

The plan was to come out of the commercial break with he 16 box and a graphic, but the Colorado Avalanche were back on the power play so they went live to UBS Arena instead.

The Seattle Kraken and Detroit Red Wings got underway at Little Caesars Arena and they went live to puck drop.

That's the eighth game ongoing right now. 

A few minutes after the Avalanche power play ended, Cal Clutterbuck scored for the Islanders and that game is tied 1-1. 

And things just got worse for the Senators as it looks like Brady Tkachuk just injured his shoulder. He went for a hit and appeared to hurt his shoulder and headed for the room. 

And the first game of hthe night over is over, the Maple Leafs defeating the Capitals, 4-1. 

Now the main ESPN will go to Chicago for the Blackhawks and Bruins.

8:26 p.m. ET

And now it's 5-1 Sabres, who are rolling over the Senators. Tage Thompson has the redirect in front and he and Jeff Skinner each have two goals for Bufalo. 

The first two games of this "Frozen Frenzy" have been lopsided to this point, with the Mape Leafs up 4-1 on the Capitals and the Sabres up 5-1 on the Senators. 

The Kraken and Red Wings just dropped the puck in Detroit, so now we have eight games going with two more starting at 8:30, including Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks hosting the Boston Bruins.

8:20 p.m. ET

"The Avs are about to go on a power play. Let's go live to Game 10. Game 10."

And, voila, it's a power-play goal for Ryan Johansen to give the Colorado Avalanche a 1-0 lead on the New York Islanders at UBS Arena.

As Johansen scored, producer Mark Schuman stood up, pumped his fist and let out a cheer.

As mentioned below, they want to go live to as many power plays as possible with the hope of getting a goal live on "Frozen Frenzy."

It just happened.

8:15 p.m. ET

Back in the control room now and they're going right to UBS Arena for puck drop between the Colorado Avalanche and New York Islanders.

"You guys talk over this," producer Mark Schuman tells John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes.

Going to the start of a game is a big deal tonight because it signifies something new to watch. 

Right away they go to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Dallas Stars and immediately, as in like three seconds, there's a goal for Bryan Rust on a 2-on-1 with Jake Guentzel. 

There was a loud cheer here in the control room when Rust scored. One person even said to Schuman, "Director of the year."

Schuman said before going live that a lot of tonight is about getting lucky because hockey is not a structured sport and there's really no way to know when a goal might happen. 

A live cut back to the Islanders and Avalanche and, "Oh, Makar, please," Schuman yelled. 

Nope, Cale Makar didn't score, but there would have been another big cheer in here if he did.

But Ryan Johansen has scored and the Avalanche are up 1-0 on the Islanders. The Senators are on the board, with a goal by Jakob Chychrun. But the Sabres answer right back with Alex Tuch giving Buffalo a 4-1 lead.

The Penguins are on the board, with Brian Rust taking a beautiful feed from Jake Guentzel to beat Jake Oettinger and make it 1-0 Penguins. 

A few of the games are in intermission right now, but they are back in action in Carolina with Tampa Bay leading, 1-0. 

In case you haven't seen it yet, here is the incredible save by Cayden Primeau of the Canadiens against Jesper Bratt of the Devils.

8 p.m. ET

Here's a rundown of the last 10 minutes.

We're down in Studio F now and John Buccigross, at about 7:50, was running some traffic between ESPN and ESPN+. They were live on ESPN+ until 8, when they went to ESPN2.

It's constant talking for Buccigross and Weekes, constantly analysis. Buccigross told NHL.com last week that this is what he loves, to be able to go unscripted on live television, just reacting and talking and using the knowledge he's gained from 25 years in hockey.

It's interesting to watch how they are when they're talking because they're rarely on camera. Buccigross is looking over some notes as Weekes is talking. Weekes is not taking his eyes off the monitor in front of them and the game they're watching. Buccigross has to run the traffic from game to game. They'll look at their phones every now and again, but eyes are fixated for the most part on the monitor.

A staffer walks in and tells them that Jeff Skinner is the first multigoal scorer of the night and gives Buccigross a few stats to use if he wants to use them.

And in a commercial break they're talking about Auston Matthews being on the Pat McAfee show on Wednesday and how they should promote that, and a quick conversation about the new David Beckham documentary on Netflix. 

Buccigross just grabbed the gigantic coffee mug that is on the table in front of he and Weekes and is waiting off set. 

The director just called out 30 seconds until air. ESPN 2 is coming.

The cameras are set on Buccigross, who has something planned to walk in and open the show on ESPN2. It's still on ESPN+.

As they show the intro, which was filmed with a drone earlier in the day, Weekes is in the chair smiling and watching it, commenting about how it’s “fire,” and it’s “sick.”

Buccigross walks in with the mug and welcomes everyone in to “Frozen Frenzy” on ESPN2.

8:01 p.m. ET 

Jeff Skinner has scored again and it's all Buffalo in Ottawa, leading 3-0 with 15:56 left in the second period, certainly spoiling the celebratory atmosphere on Craig Anderson night. 

A reminder, if you want to watch the whip-around coverage on ESPN, it's flipping from ESPN+ to ESPN2 in about 2 minutes. So make sure you have the remote handy and the batteries are working because we now have six games going on and the Avalanche and Islanders are about to get started in Long Island. 

The Sharks and Panthers have started in South Florida and Aleksander Barkov is not playing for the Panthers because of an illness.

7:45 p.m. ET

Alex Ovechkin's first goal of the season was captured live on "Frozen Frenzy."

Some of the producers were talking after the production meeting two hours before going on air about how great it would be if Ovechkin scored his first tonight and they caught it live on "Frozen Frenzy."

Luck, as would have it, was on their side. Mission accomplished.

But there's no time to celebrate that moment. There are three games going on live right now and two in intermission.

It's possible as many as 10 games, if not more depending on timing, will be going on at the same time in about 45 minutes to an hour.

Brayden Point just scored his first of the year, too, and it was live on “Frozen Frenzy.”

“We’ve got a pretty good run going on here,” producer Mark Schuman said to no one in particular in the control room.

In case you missed it, Cayden Primeau of the Canadiens may have turned in the save of the year, robbing Jesper Bratt with a lunging save across the crease. But Alexander Holtz just scored on the power play to tie the game, 1-1.

7:38 p.m. ET 

And there is it. Alex Ovechkin gets his first goal of the year with an easy redirect on the power play. He's now 72 goals away from passing Wayne Gretzky. Still, it's 4-1 Maple Leafs.

The Canadiens are on the board, taking a 1-0 lead against the Devils on a goal by Justin Barron. That's the defenseman's second of the year.

And now we have our third disallowed goal of the night, with Nico Hischier's goal against the Candiens waved off for goalie interference.

They are at the first intermission in Ottawa with the Sabres leading 2-0 and there is 1:44 left in the second period in Washington and the Capitals are going on the power play looking for some sort of spark.

Still no score in Tampa and they are getting ready to drop the puck in Pittsburgh.

7:30 p.m. ET

It's getting ugly, or pretty (depending on how you look at it) in Washington. Auston Matthews just scored on the power play - a goal carried live on the whip-around show - and it's now 4-0 Maple Leafs. That's seven goals for Matthews.

Other than two goals the Sabres have scored in Ottawa, those are the only goals so far. But there is still a ton of action to come, with the Stars and Penguins getting ready to start the sixth game of the night in Pittsburgh.

7:27 p.m. ET

They're getting into a groove here in the control room with four games going on now that the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning are under way at Amalie Arena.

"Live look to Buffalo-Ottawa next."

The producers want Buccigross and Weekes to be talking over the broadcast when they do not have the actual sound from the broadcast on. They'll toggle between that but they remind Buccigross and Weekes that they're on and away the co-hosts go with their commentary.

They can't miss Connor Bedard's arrival in Chicago so while doing a live look-in with the broadcast they're queueing up that look into United Center to see the rookie walking in.

"That's their break. Gotta get out of here."

The Sabres and Senators go to a break and here comes Bedard walking in followed by a two-box of the Capitals and Maple Leafs, and Hurricanes and Lightning.

They haven't gone full to Carolina-Tampa Bay yet so that's where producer Mark Schuman says they need to go next. And they do.

Mike McQuade, the vice president who oversees hockey here at ESPN, comes down to the front row of the control room to tell Schuman something. He points at the 16 box, which shows all the games, and says, "You can't go to that enough."

So expect to see the 16 box a lot. 

"Game 7 to Montreal. Game 7 to Montreal. Let's get the puck drop."

They go live to the start of the game between the Montreal Canadiens and New Jersey Devils at Bell Centre. 

Buffalo and Ottawa might have a power play going on in a second, so that's next as soon as the replay ends.

7:25 p.m. ET

The anthems are complete in Montreal, and the Devils and Canadiens have started. 

Something to watch for in Florida -- Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov was not on the ice for warmups. Earlier Tuesday, the Panthers recalled Mackie Samoskevich from the American Hockey League. Stay tuned.

For a quick update - The Maple Leafs lead the Capitals, 3-0; the Sabres lead the Senators, 2-0, the Hurricanes and Lightning are scoreless and they are just getting started in Montreal.

7:15 p.m. ET

The first live goal on "Frozen Frenzy" happened at 7:11 p.m. in Washington. It's John Tavares scoring on a deflection go give the Toronto Maple Leafs a 2-0 lead.

Mark Schuman, the lead producer tonight, pumped his fist when he saw Tavares score. The goal is to capture as many goals live as possible.

As that happened, the Buffalo Sabres scored to go up 2-0 against the Ottawa Senators.

But they didn't leave the Capitals-Maple Leafs game yet and live goal No. 2 happened while they were still on it. That's William Nylander giving Toronto a 3-0 lead 48 seconds after Tavares' goal.

Each captured live on ESPN+, exactly what they're hoping to do.

7:14 p.m. ET

Here's a running of the first 15 minutes of the "Frozen Frenzy."

The only game going on when co-hosts John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes went on the air for "Frozen Frenzy" was the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals were in the first intermission.

But they went to the Capitals and Maple Leafs first and showed Washington's disallowed goal. Meanwhile, here in the control room they were timing down when they were going to the Sabres and Senators. 

It's controlled chaos in here. 

Producer Mark Schuman notes that though the Sabres had a goal and he lets Buccigross know, but then he immediately jumps to saying, "Jack Hughes arrival," which they show before going live to Washington for the Capitals and Maple Leafs.

As they're live in Washington with Buccigross and Weekes talking over what they're watching they're setting up a shot to show arrivals in Pittsburgh. But they take the Capitals-Maple Leafs game "full," which means they're taking the broadcast feed.

And immediately they cut to Sabres and Senators and they got there a second or two after Jeff Skinner scored to give Buffalo a 1-0 lead. 

They stay in Ottawa to go over the goal and then cut to Pittsburgh for Sidney Crosby on the ice in warmups. The producers in here are staying a step ahead and it's quite calm amidst the chaos of live television.

Back to Toronto-Washington as they also work on a game rewind of this game to show Alex Ovechkin’s failed penalty shot.

And now it's 3-0 Maple Leafs on gorgeous tip in by John Tavares that made it 2-0 and now William Nylander has made it 3-0.

And now the Sabres lead 2-0 on a goal by Zemgus Girgensons.

7:08 p.m. ET 

Less than five minutes before "Frozen Frenzy" went to air, ESPN wanted to come to John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes live.

There is a two-minute window between when they could come and when "Frozen Frenzy" goes to air.

"Studio is 30 back to their break," a producer in the second row of the three-row control room screams out.

He counts it down. ESPN comes back on, Steve Levy, Mark Messier and P.K. Subban come on camera. They go right to Buccigross and Weekes. "Frozen Frenzy" is two minutes to air.

Buccigross and Weekes talk for 30 seconds. Producer Mark Schuman is counting them down. Buccigross ends it, takes a deep breath, and they're 90 seconds to air.

Schuman is talking with Buccigross to let him know how they're going to start the show, which is now one minute to air.

They're running through some traffic, where they're going first, and now it's 30 seconds to air.

The countdown is on.

Producer Linda Schultz says, "Enjoy the ride."

Schuman pumps his firsts, "Let's do it everybody."

Three, two, one…

"We're working," a producer says.

"Frozen Frenzy" is on the air.

In case you're keeping score, we've had two disallowed goals tonight. The Sabres appeared to score against the Senators, but Peyton Krebbs' knocked the puck in with a high stick and though it was originally called a goal, it's been wiped out. 

Krebbs might need to work on his acting as it was clear from his face that he knew he hit it with a high stick. 

But Buffalo came right back and scored, wiht Jeff Skinner scoring on a wrist shot to give the Sabres a 1-0 lead at 8:06 of the first period. 

They have started the second period in Washington and are ready to do the anthem in Tampa.

6:55 p.m. ET

Every game is in a separate box and it's being called by the box it is in. The first three boxes are the games that are on the ESPN main channel tonight in the order they're on.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals are in Box 1, so that's Game 1. The Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks are in Box 2, Game 2. The Philadelphia Flyers and Vegas Golden Knights are in Box 3, Game 3.

The remaining 13 games start with Box 4, which is now the Anaheim Ducks and Columbus Blue Jackets. That was supposed to be the second game tonight but it got pushed back two hours because of a power outage in downtown Columbus.

There are producers here in the control room who are in charge of watching the monitors to identify power plays, goals, big saves, big moments, etc. When they see something, the goal is to cut to it right away, or at least within the minute.

There are also four producers in what is called the media room, which is a different control room. They have to be ready to queue up plays when they want to cut to it on tape, which could be a 30-second to a minute delay. So if producer Mark Schuman says, "We're going to Chicago for a goal," the production assistants will immediately hear from the tape producer here in the main control room to queue up what is needed. It has to be quick, obviously.

When they're going live to a game, Schuman will tell the director, and he will tell the technical director, who hits the button to go live.

We're five minutes to air.

Game 2 has begun in Ottawa while the Maple Leafs and Capitals are in the first intermission in Washington. And, we are few minutes away from the Hurricanes and Lightning starting in Tampa at 7 p.m. ET and the whip-around show getting started on ESPN+ for the first hour before it flips to ESPN2. 

And then it's the Devils and Canadiens in Montreal at 7:15 p.m. ET and Stars and Penguins in Pittsburgh at 7:30 p.m. ET.

6:50 p.m. ET 

Really cool moment in Ottawa with goalie Craig Anderson retiring as a Senator after signing a one-day contract Tuesday. 

Anderson played 10 of his 20 NHL seasons for the Senators, the team he finished his playing career with last season.

They did a video tribute to Anderson while he and his family watched from the ice.

The 42-year-old is Ottawa's leader among goalies in games played (435) and wins (202). He helped the Senators to the 2017 Eastern Conference Final, a series that ended with a 3-2 double-overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 7.

In 709 regular-season games with the Senators, Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche and Washington Capitals, Anderson was 319-275-71 with a 2.86 goals-against average, .912 save percentage and 43 shutouts.

Earlier Tuesday, Anderson spoke with the utmost appreciation for the support he received after his wife, Nicholle, was diagnosed with Stage 4 nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a rare form of cancer in the nose and throat, in October 2016. Anderson took a two-month leave of absence from the Senators during the 2016-17 season to support Nicholle during treatment, but it was Nicholle who ultimately convinced him to return to the team.

"There's a lot of emotion here," Anderson said. "The biggest thing I can say is a thank you to my family, the fans, my teammates. ... I think of my wife pushing me to become the best that I could be, and to allow me to chase my dreams for as long as I did. That's a huge part of this."

For the full story on his day, click here. 

6:40 p.m. ET

Back in the control room. Mark Schuman, the producer for "Frozen Frenzy," is talking to John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes, the co-hosts, to prep them for what will be coming.

They're going on live during the first intermission of the game on ESPN now between the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Schuman just reminded Buccigross and Weekes that when "Frozen Frenzy" begins live on ESPN+ at the top of the hour there will be two games, not three, because of the delay in the start of the game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Anaheim Ducks at Nationwide Arena.

He is letting them know that they may have to do some more talking and have some more banter during that time because the action won't be in full swing across the NHL yet.

There are 15 monitors here in the control room and 14 of them are in some way focused on hockey, either pregame shows across the League or the currently empty set of "Frozen Frenzy." The only one that isn't is in the top right corner and that's an NFL show now but it will be switching to hockey soon.

With the second game of the night set to start, this one in Ottawa, we have our first goal of the night with Morgan Rielly putting the Maple Leafs ahead 1-0 with a power-play goal at 12:53.

The Capitals have yet to lead in a game this season and after having a goal wiped out for goalie interference, they don't have a lead tonight.

Schuman, who got up for a second to step outside, just walked back into the control room and with a louder voice let everyone in here know, “We’re live on intermission in a couple of minutes everybody.”

6:30 p.m. ET

The 16 box set up is on the screen here in Studio F and John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes are taking a close look at it. The one game that is on now, the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs, is in the first box, pregame from Ottawa is in Box 2 and pregame from Tampa Bay is in Box 3. 

The boxes have been corrected to show the Columbus Blue Jackets and Anaheim Ducks in Box 10, because that game has been moved from 6:30 to 8:30 because of a power outage in downtown Columbus.

Buccigross and Weekes are working on their communications to the control room as we speak, trying to get the volume right in their ears so they can hear everything and the producers can direct the traffic to them as needed. 

There is a gigantic coffee mug on the table in front of where Buccigross and Weekes will be sitting throughout the night. It's a prop. It's not filled up, or at least not yet. 

We are 30 minutes into "Frozen Frenzy" and are stil looking for our first goal.

6:20 p.m. ET

The main set from "The Point" is being moved and Kevin Weekes and John Buccigross are getting setup in their chairs where they will be stationed in throughout the night, or as one producer here joked, "until the sun comes up."

It won't be that long, but it's going to be about seven hours of live television.

Nicklas Backstrom just scored in the game between the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs, and even though they're not on yet, Weekes and Buccigross reacted like they were, commenting on Alex Ovechkin hitting the post, diving into the goal, and wondering if Backstrom's goal would stand because Ovechkin was in the crease. The goal did not stand.

Cameras are moving around. Monitors are being set up. Some food orders are being taken. Sustenance is important.

Weekes was just told that they're going to be part of the first intermission segment on ESPN of the Capitals-Maple Leafs game.

Weekes and Buccigross are talking about the New Jersey Devils. Even if they're not on, they're talking hockey.

6:17 p.m. ET

We have our first power play, and our first overturned goal of the night.

Washington's Nicklas Backstrom appeared to score on the power play at 15:45 of the first period after David Kampf took a two-minute minor for hooking.

But Alex Ovechkin crashed into goalie Joseph Woll and the Maple Leafs challenged for goalie interference. And they won the challenge. So it's still 0-0 in Washington.

5:45 p.m. ET

Rehearsal for "Frozen Frenzy" will be in about 30 minutes. Linda Schulz, the coordinating producer for the show, said it's more for a runthrough to get used to some of the different verbiage they will be using tonight. It's not the same as a normal night so the way they will communicate will be slightly different.

In the meantime the producers here in the control room are looking at double boxes to see what it will look like. They’re looking at a quad box too up on the preset screen all of Auston Matthews taping his socks. Four games on one screen at the same time. That’s going to be a big look tonight.

One screen in the control room is covered with 16 boxes, some live in arenas now and others with pictures of players that will be in the game that will be played on that screen. Schulz said they have the 16 box as a constant reminder of what is going on.

"The Point" has 15 minutes left and then the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs get set to start the night at Capital One Arena. Everyone has to be in place for rehearsal soon.

5:35 p.m.

Things are starting to get going on the ice, too, with the Capitals and Maple Leafs taking warmups at Capital One Arena.

NHL.com staff writer Tom Gulitti is in the arena for that one.

5:30 p.m. ET

We've talked about how this is a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants broadcast. Well, in the control room right now at ESPN headquarters for "Frozen Frenzy" they are adjusting on the fly because of the change in time of the game between the Anaheim Ducks and Columbus Blue Jackets.

A power outage in downtown Columbus has forced the Blue Jackets to push the start time of the game back two hours from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. ET. The Blue Jackets and Ducks were scheduled to be the second game to start on this night of 16 games, but now that will be the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators at 6:45.

"Frozen Frenzy" doesn't go live on ESPN+ until 7, so there will be two games instead of three going on when John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes get on the air. They will quickly have a third game with the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning set to start at 7, or shortly after.

The Blue Jackets and Ducks will get under way at the same time, or thereabout, as the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins.

In the meantime, they're discussing if Mark Messier and P.K. Subban will be joining the "Frozen Frenzy" set at some point during the night. It looks like that will be a go, but at separate times.

And there will be a delivery of chicken parm to the set at some point too. That's a Buccigross thing.

Rehearsal for "Frozen Frenzy" is scheduled for 6:15, although they're not exactly sure what they could possibly rehearse since the entire broadcast will be live and they will be reacting to all the drama unfolding in the 16 games.

5:10 p.m. ET

Mark Schuman, one of the producers for "Frozen Frenzy," said the goal tonight is to be "the remote control for the NHL fan."

Schuman said they will be cutting to the start of as many power plays as they can "because there's always a little excitement there. Maybe you get sustained pressure. Maybe you get lucky and get a goal."

Hockey is not a structured sport so it's all about getting lucky when they cut to a game. Schuman said the goal is to see as many goals live on "Frozen Frenzy" as possible. If they don't get the live goal, they'll roll it back 30 seconds and show it.

If they are in a double box and get goals in both boxes, well that's a huge win and incredible television.

"Our hope is to show you everything," Schuman said. "That's our hope. Try to show every goal even if it's just a quick little one play update."

5:05 p.m. ET

First some news. The game against the Ducks and Blue Jackets in Columbus will now start at 8:30 p.m. ET, instead of 6:30 due to a power failure in Columbus.

As for the scene at ESPN headquarters outside Studio F, "The Point" ia now on ESPN2. "Frozen Frenzy" co-hosts John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes are in a production meeting in the space outside the studio.

Dan Rosen just received his IFB so he'll have his ear into everything happening from the studio tonight.

Mark Schuman, one of the lead producers for Frozen Frenzy, is giving Buccigross and Weeks the lay of the land of what will be happening when they go live at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Steve Levy, P.K. Subban and Mark Messier are inside the studio getting ready to be on "The Point" from 5-6.

It's possible they could interview NHL hockey ops executive Kris King from The Situation Room in Toronto and perhaps George Parros from the NHL's Department of Player Safety in New York, but Schuman just stressed that this night and this broadcast is about the games.

Weekes is asking if they have to be "like potted plants" all night just sitting on the couch. He wants to be animated. He wants to jump in. Schuman joked they're giving him a seatbelt. He doesn't want the airbags to deploy.

They're going over some stats to know, including the most goals ever scored on a single night in NHL history. Buccigross had the number at 104.

Weekes and Buccigross just left the production meeting and Dave Jackson, the referee on duty here at ESPN, just walked in. Schuman is telling him that he may be a part of the "Frozen Frenzy" broadcast too, though he has to be ready to go live to the tripleheader of games on the main ESPN channel too.

This is very much fly by the seat of your pants because they can't script any of this. The drama will be unfolding in front of them.

5 p.m. ET

We are one hour away from the "Frozen Frenzy."

We are still waiting for official word from Columbus regarding when the game against the Ducks will start. It is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET, but there is a power outage impacting Nationwide Arena.

Meanwhile, Dan Rosen has arrived at the ESPN offices in Bristol, Connecticut. He attended their production meeting for "Frozen Frenzy" and will be there all night providing behind-the-scenes stories.

Before the puck drops, if you want a one-stop shop for all the projected lineups and goalies for Tuesday, here it is.

Also, there are several interesting prop bets with the 16-game schedule. Our Fantasy staff takes a look at some of them here.

And, if you need to get your fix for Puck and Player Tracking Data, be sure to check out the new NHL Edge website here.

4:25 p.m. ET

We are now about 90 minutes from puck drop on the first of the scheduled 16 games today.

There is some off-ice drama surrounding one game due to a power failure in Columbus, Ohio that is impacting Nationwide Arena, where the Blue Jackets are set to host the Anaheim Ducks at 6:30 in the second game of the "Frozen Frenzy."

According to AEP Ohio, an underground cable that feeds power to the Arena District failed at 1:06 p.m., causing an outage in the area. Crews are working to reroute customers & make repairs. The power company said there is an isolated failed piece of underground cable, and crews are going into multiple underground vaults that house equipment providing electricity to the area. They hope to restore power at 6 p.m.

Stay tuned.

In other "Frozen Frenzy" news, Pavel Buchnevich could return for the St. Louis Blues against the Winnipeg Jets (8:45 p.m. ET).

The forward has missed two games with an upper-body injury sustained in the first period of a 2-1 shootout win against the Seattle Kraken on Oct. 14. He practiced Monday in a non-contact red jersey, which would indicate he is not ready to return, but toward the end started taking contact from teammates in battle drills.

Buchnevich would not comment on his status after practice, but Blues coach Craig Berube was encouraged and said he'd travel on the three-game road trip to Winnipeg, the Calgary Flames on Thursday and Vancouver Canucks on Friday.

Meanwhile, Milan Lucic will miss his second game for the Boston Bruins because of a lower-body injury. The Bruins play at the Chicago Blackhawks (8:30 p.m. ET) in the second game of the ESPN doublheader.

The forward was on the ice for the morning skate on Tuesday but left the ice before the skate began. He was hit by a shot in the Bruins 4-2 victory against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday and did not play in the 3-1 victory at Anaheim the next day.

4 p.m. ET

Before the action gets going, here are several stories to get you ready for “Frozen Frenzy.”

NHL.com writers discuss their favorite game on Tuesday.

John Buccigross and Kevin Weekes at ESPN are ready to wave to pom-poms.

NHL on Tap takes a look at all 16 games on Tuesday.

A 16-game schedule makes for several difficult fantasy hockey decisions. Our fantasy staff is here to help.

ESPN’s Kevin Weekes provides things to watch for all 32 teams on Tuesday.

NHL fans aren’t the only ones pumped up for “Frozen Frenzy,” the players are, too.