NHL partners with ESPN and Disney to produce first-ever animated game between New York Rangers and Washington Capitals

The NHL, ESPN, and the Disney Channel will collaborate to present the first-ever animated NHL telecast when the Washington Capitals play the New York Rangers. Kick off is tonight at 7 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden.

Inspired by Disney's popular animated comedy series "Big City Greens," the game will be known as the "NHL Big City Green Classic."

Fans can watch the game's animated telecast on Disney Channel and Disney XD, while the main gameplay telecast will be broadcast live on ESPN and ESPN+.

The animated presentation of the game will include live 3D animations of the players and teams. These are based entirely on the characters from the "Big City Greens" animated series.

The 'NHL Big City Green Classic' will be an exciting experience for hockey fans

Dave Lehanski, executive vice president of Business Development and Innovation for the NHL, spoke about the collaboration. He believes it will be huge for fans and also the league's growth. He also mentioned how working closely with the fast puck and player tracking system has aided the league's growth.

"We’ve said from day one that our partnership with The Walt Disney Company is a big win for our fans and our League," Lehanski said via ESPN. "We’ve spent years investing in a fast and accurate puck and player tracking system to help us grow the game.

"The ‘NHL Big City Greens Classic’ will demonstrate how we can leverage data from NHL EDGE — our puck and player tracking system — to create entirely new fan experiences for a younger audience in collaboration with incredible partners like The Walt Disney Company, ESPN and Beyond Sports."

ESPN commentators will join "Big City Green" co-creators Chris and Shane Houghton for the special event. The event has already sparked interest among National Hockey League fans, who are eager to catch the first-ever animated NHL telecast presentation.

More on Disney's popular "Big City Greens" animated series

"Big City Greens" is a popular American animated comedy television series that is especially popular with children.

The series was created primarily by the Houghton Brothers and debuted on the Disney Channel on June 18, 2018. The series consists of three seasons and 78 episodes. Cricket, Tilly, Bill, Gramma Alice, Nancy, and Remy are the main characters.

The show has also been awarded the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual in Animation in 2020.