DMV region hockey fans will have robust gameday coverage throughout Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of NHL goal-scoring record
MNMT to release historic goal calls from Joe Beninati and other MNMT talent if Ovechkin makes history during national telecast
Washington, D.C. (March 11, 2025) – Monumental Sports Network (MNMT), the exclusive local broadcast rights holder for the Washington Capitals, announced today comprehensive coverage plans for Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin’s chase of the NHL’s all-time career goals record. The pursuit, dubbed ‘THE GR8 CHASE’ based on Ovechkin’s jersey number of 8, is heating up, with Ovechkin only eight goals away from matching the current record of 894 goals held by Wayne Gretzky. THE GR8 CHASE is presented by Venture Global.
MNMT is slated to broadcast 14 of the Capitals’ 18 remaining regular season games this season, with exclusive national telecasts scheduled for April 6 at NYI (TNT, truTV, Max), April 10 vs. CAR (ESPN+, Hulu), April 12 at CBJ (ABC), and April 15 at NYI (ESPN).
In addition to its scheduled live game coverage, through a cooperation agreement with the League, MNMT will produce its own MNMT broadcasts during the four exclusive nationally telecast games for archival purposes. MNMT’s broadcasts will feature play-by-play from Emmy Award-winning announcer Joe Beninati with color commentary from other recognized MNMT talent. If Ovechkin records a historic goal during a national telecast, MNMT platforms will release recorded video and audio of Beninati calling the significant moment and other MNMT talent reacting to Ovechkin’s achievement. The network will then air the full MNMT game broadcast for Capitals fans to enjoy on MNMT 24 hours after the national broadcast.
The Capitals broadcast booth currently features Beninati and MNMT analyst Alan May, who is temporarily serving as color commentator in place of Craig Laughlin after Laughlin underwent a medical procedure earlier this year. Beninati and May are joined by rinkside reporter Al Koken, who continues to provide exclusive in-game interviews and updates for all Capitals games on MNMT.
“We are immensely grateful to the NHL for their collaboration in ensuring that Capitals fans will hear Alex Ovechkin’s historic moments called by Joe Beninati and our incredible Monumental Sports Network on-air talent,” said Zach Leonsis, President of Media & New Enterprises for Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE). “After 28 years in our broadcast booth, Joe’s voice has become synonymous with Capitals hockey and he deserves to call these once-in-a-lifetime goals. I’d also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Capitals fans. Your passion and dedication inspire us every day, and our network could not be more excited to bring you unparalleled coverage of this incredible journey as we celebrate greatness together.”
“Having the chance to call this exceptional moment in hockey history is a profound honor for me and our entire live game crew,” said Joe Beninati, Capitals play-by-play announcer on MNMT. “We have had the pleasure of describing and documenting almost all of Alex’s goals throughout his career and capturing his pursuit of the all-time goal-scoring record is a privilege few get to experience. We can’t wait to share this incredible milestone with our viewers and celebrate the legacy of an all-time great.”
MNMT’s Ovechkin-related coverage will also include special gameday programs, themed original programming, and robust multiplatform content covering THE GR8 CHASE. Through the end of the 2024-25 season, MNMT will surround all Capitals games – including exclusive national broadcasts – with live gameday programs Capitals Pregame Live and Capitals Postgame Live on MNMT and special editions of Caps Rink Report will stream on the state-of-the-art Monumental+ app at 12 PM ET on all Capitals game days. MNMT is also creating a special original program that will relive all of Ovechkin’s 895 goals in his journey to break Gretzky’s record.
Capitals Pregame Live and Capitals Postgame Live are broadcasted live from MNMT’s best-in-class studios and provide news, analysis, and commentary for a half hour before and one hour after games. The shows feature award-winning host Alexa Landestoy with Beninati, Laughlin, May, and Koken contributing to coverage. Analysts Bruce Boudreau, Brent Johnson, Devante Smith-Pelly, Tarik El-Bashir, and Karl Alzner also make regular appearances on the pregame and postgame programs.
Throughout the season, MNMT has offered Capitals fans a plethora of in-depth coverage and docuseries content about THE GR8 CHASE and the team’s 50th anniversary season, and robust hockey content via MNMT’s original programming, including Hometown with Rachel Nichols, Caps Red Line, and Caps Rink Report.
Live Capitals games on MNMT are available to local fans both on linear tv and via streaming platforms within the network’s coverage area, stretching from Richmond to Delaware. Capitals fans can watch the games through their TV provider, on monumentalplus.com, or by downloading the Monumental+ app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV and using an eligible TV Everywhere log-in.
For fans without a TV provider, MNMT offers direct-to-consumer (DTC) subscription memberships for viewers seeking to access the network’s live and on-demand programming. Fans can purchase monthly or annual memberships at monumentalplus.com or by downloading the Monumental+ app.
In addition to the network’s Capitals coverage, MNMT is the exclusive local television media rights holder for the NBA’s Washington Wizards, WNBA’s Washington Mystics, and NBA G League’s Capital City Go-Go. It also proudly boasts a comprehensive schedule of original programming and live college football, basketball, lacrosse, and volleyball, high school basketball, esports, as well as Washington Spirit (NWSL) and Old Glory DC (Major League Rugby) games. In total, MNMT will air close to 500 total games during the 2024-25 season, an all-time high.
To access all of Monumental Sports Network’s GR8 CHASE content, visit monumentalplus.com and follow MNMT on X, Instagram, Tik Tok, and Facebook.
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About Monumental Sports Network
Monumental Sports Network is wholly owned and operated by Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE). The network holds exclusive local television media rights for the NHL’s Washington Capitals, NBA’s Washington Wizards and WNBA’s Washington Mystics games. MNMT is also the TV and digital home to the NBA G League’s Capital City Go-Go and the NBA 2K League’s Wizards District Gaming, as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes content and original sports and entertainment programming. The network also boasts the most comprehensive regional high school and collegiate sports programming in the greater Washington D.C. metro area. For more, visit: www.monumentalsportsnetwork.com.
