David Kirouac-Imagn Images
You need to keep your head on a swivel if you’re covering an NHL game at ice level. Sabres broadcaster Rob Ray already learned that the hard way after getting hit in the face a couple of years ago, and while he was able to keep his composure in that instance, that was decidedly not the case when he fell victim to another incident over the weekend.
Most people tasked with covering NHL games call the action from a booth that offers a birds-eye view of the rink and is firmly located in a part of the arena where they don’t have to worry about a puck heading in their direction.
With that said, there are a number of broadcasting teams that send someone down to ice level to post up between the benches, which gives them the opportunity to get up close and personal and keep tabs on the discussions coaches and players are having over the course of the contest.
That vantage point also comes with its fair share of risks. There usually isn’t any glass between the booth and the ice, and there’s only so much you can do to protect yourself from the rogue pucks that occasionally make their way into that particular area.
Rob Ray was no stranger to pain during an NHL career where he played 889 of his 900 games with the Buffalo Sabres, as the retired winger still holds the franchise record for penalty minutes at 3,189 with the help of the many, many fights he got into during his time with the team.
Ray has served as Buffalo’s television color analyst since 2012, and a couple of years ago, he didn’t miss a beat after a puck nailed him in the face during a game. However, that was not the case when history repeated itself when the Sabres were playing the Rangers on Saturday.
New York’s Will Borgen attempted to clear the puck out of his zone toward the end of the first period before it made a beeline for Ray, who understandably dropped a f-bomb when it struck him in the forehead.
Sabres broadcaster Rob Ray took a puck to the face…and his mic caught one of the HARDEST F-bombs ever 😭🔊 pic.twitter.com/993W3ow2fz
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) February 23, 2025
Ray cemented his reputation as a Hockey Guy by powering through and returning to the bench after getting a couple of stitches, although he was dealing with some noticeable swelling during the ensuing segment where he showed off the damage.
MSG
Ouch.