The Washington Capitals dominated the Tampa Bay Lightning early and often in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final, taking a commanding 4-0 lead through two periods of play.
The Lightning couldn’t get the Capitals off their game, and neither could their fans. During a stoppage in play, we learned just how in the zone Braden Holtby was.
While the goalie spoke to Brooks Orpik at the bench, a fan did the chicken dance.
Holtby had literally zero f*cks for the spaceman.
Many RMNB readers online thought the fan was the Capstronaut turned heel or perhaps a superfan of NASA.
Actually, the answer is waaaay more cynical than that.
Via a 2015 story by Sportsnet’s Luke Fox:
The astronaut is the mascot of Tampa-based Bluetooth speaker company Malektronic, “a first-year partner of the Lightning as part of a low-to-mid six-figure deal.” And the company plans to renew the partnership for 2015-16.
“We don’t want it to be too commercial. I think it’s one of those viral things,” CEO Ben Malek told SBD. “People will start asking questions, and that’s when it will come more to light. I think it’s more of an organic growth rather than being a straight-out ad.”
So the astronaut is a dancing ad for a speaker company. They do this bit all the time.
And I just promoted them for free. Gosh darn it. I’m the worst.
We might be seeing more of our favorite astronaut. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/BrNxIlHsVK
— NHL (@NHL) May 13, 2015
