The Washington Capitals and New York Rangers will face off in the 'Inside Out Classic' on April 5, featuring real-time animated characters from the Pixar films skating alongside NHL players. The alternative broadcast will air on ESPN+, Disney+, Disney Channel and Disney XD at 7 p.m. ET, marking the third such animated presentation from the NHL and ESPN.

Voice talent including Phyllis Smith (Sadness), Lewis Black (Anger), Tony Hale (Fear) and Maya Hawke (Anxiety) will appear during the telecast. The game will take place on Hockey Island inside the mind of Riley, the teenage hockey player from the Pixar films. This innovative broadcast uses NHL EDGE positional data and Sony's Hawk-Eye Innovations optical tracking to create animated versions of players that mimic real-world actions.

The technology allows fans to visualize detailed limb and stick movements through a blend of tracking systems. ESPN commentators Drew Carter, Kevin Weekes and Arda Öcal will wear virtual reality headsets for motion capture, immersing themselves in the animated environment to call the action. This creative approach continues the NHL's exploration of alternative broadcasts that began with Disney Channel's 'Big City Greens' characters in 2023.