Thursday night, CSN Mid-Atlantic’s Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin moved from their friendly confines up in the press box and called the Caps-Preds game from the top of section 110. The commentators got very interactive with fans.
Joe B. and Locker signed autographs and posed for photos. Locker even gave one fan a fist-bump during the live telecast.
Late in the second period, Locker even attempted to fulfill a longtime dream: operate Slashot’s t-shirt gun and fire souvenirs to fans. But like the Caps performance on the ice, the moment, for whatever ungodly reason, just fell flat.
Check out this photo sequence. Laughlin grabbed the t-shirt gun from Slapshot, aimed into the crowd, and…
Photo: @WaltonCaps
OH NO.
Photo: @millerpenaltybx
The t-shirt gun gun jammed!
Photo: @TarikCSN
Instead Laughlin threw the t-shirts to fans.
And then this priceless exchange happened between Joe B and Locker.
Craig Laughlin: “I have a labrum tear in my shoulder.”
Joe Beninati: “Nice. Throwing t-shirts during the commercial break, folks. He was supposed to shoot them out of a gun.”
Craig Laughlin: “The one time I wanted a gun and you know where I was going to aim it?”
Joe Beninati: “At me.”
Craig Laughlin: “YES! My ONE chance.”
Joe Beninati: “I could have put the fix on that, don’t you think.”
Craig Laughlin: “Did you…?”
Joe Beninati: “Obviously, Locker.”
Craig Laughlin: “The cold stuff didn’t fire.”
Joe Beninati: “I’m going to have you from close range blast me with a t-shirt gun? Sure, I’m going to allow that to happen. Foolish thoughts!”
In the week heading into the game, Laughlin had talked up the potential moment in advance, saying it was something he looked forward to. Instead disaster struck. You could see the disappointment in his face.
But take solace in this, Craig. The creative setup for the game is something I’ll never, ever forget.
I don't care what happens in the third period, @Laughlin18 is tonight's first star of the game 😂 pic.twitter.com/VPom9txjz9
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) March 17, 2017
