Esiason, who grew up in East Islip, N.Y., and still lives on Long Island, is a diehard fan of the New York Rangers. But he plays ice hockey in his spare time and will watch the Islanders when his favorite team is not playing.
"I would not want to do a Ranger game because I'd be too biased," said Esiason, a former quarterback in the National Football League with the Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals from 1984-1997. "I'd be screaming and yelling at the TV or at the players as I was doing the game."
Carton grew up in New Rochelle, N.Y., and was raised in a house full of Rangers fans as well. But he fully admits he's not as enamored with the sport as his co-host. Nonetheless, he was very excited for this rare opportunity to do play-by-play.
"I was always aware of what [the Rangers] were doing, but I never played hockey," Carton said. "I have an appreciation for it, but I was never a huge diehard fan. We'd go to one or two games a year if we were lucky. It wasn't my thing."
But that didn't stop Carton from putting in the preparation to sound as convincing as possible for the broadcast Wednesday.
"I know [the Islanders] are struggling right now, but hockey's one of the sports where if your goalie turns it on, you're the hottest team in the sport," Carton said.
As a rabid hockey fan, Esiason was treating the broadcast as though he was on the radio calling Monday Night Football.
"I'm privileged to do this, man," Esiason said. "This is a dream come true for me. I know we're going to get a few slings and arrows from a few hardcore hockey fans, but at the end of the day if we can promote hockey and get more people involved because we're doing it, then tonight will work."
