Reason NHL was Forced to Censor Mark Stone Segment by Blacking Screen for Multiple Seconds on Goal Moment TV
In a truly bizarre twist, the NHL found itself at the center of a censorship debacle Saturday night during a thrilling clash between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Buffalo Sabres. Fans watching the broadcast were left scratching their heads (and refreshing their screens) when the moment Mark Stone scored his career milestone 600th point was abruptly obscured by an ominous black screen.
Why? Well, it seems the NHL decided to protect its audience from the “overwhelming excitement” of witnessing history unfold. After all, nothing says “celebration” quite like robbing fans of the joy of seeing their star captain shine in real-time.
The Golden Knights, basking in their league-topping 33 points since November 21, took a commanding 3-1 win over the Sabres, but not without some unintended drama. Stone, who’s known for his leadership and clutch play, might have thought his big moment would be immortalized in highlight reels. Instead, his achievement was commemorated with the kind of blackout usually reserved for power outages or a poorly planned magic act.
Rumor has it that the league was concerned viewers’ hearts couldn’t handle the excitement. “We apologize for any inconvenience,” an anonymous spokesperson reportedly said, “but we felt it was best to shield audiences from the emotional overload of witnessing greatness live.”
The goal, which came during Vegas’ defensive masterclass, was a textbook display of Stone’s skill, one of many highlights in the Knights’ league-low 2.20 goals allowed per game since late November. However, with the screen going dark, viewers were left wondering if they’d accidentally tuned into a modern art exhibition instead of hockey.
Adding to the hilarity, Tanner Laczynski’s first goal of the season, Adin Hill’s stellar 23 saves, and Jack Eichel’s continued brilliance all made the cut on the broadcast, leaving fans scratching their heads about why Stone’s milestone was deemed “too much.”
Meanwhile, the Sabres, wrapping up a less-than-stellar road trip with their third-straight loss, might have appreciated the blackout as a metaphor for their fading fortunes. Jason Zucker’s lone goal for Buffalo could hardly match the energy Vegas brought to the ice, but at least it wasn’t censored for “safety reasons.”
For fans who missed Stone’s historic moment, don’t worry. You’ll probably see it replayed with appropriately dramatic music and lighting – assuming the NHL doesn’t decide it’s too dangerous for public consumption.
Next up, Buffalo will try to bounce back against Washington, while Vegas heads to San Jose – hopefully with no mysterious screen malfunctions. And as for Stone? Let’s hope his next milestone comes with uninterrupted airtime – or at least a heads-up to fans to avoid looking directly at the screen.
