Buffalo Sabres broadcaster forced to call game from the bench (VIDEO)

Legendary Rick Jeanneret has been calling play-by-play for the Buffalo Sabres for over 40 years, but never has he been on top of the action like he was Tuesday night.

The 71-year-old broadcaster called Buffalo's 3-2 shootout win over the Kings from between the benches, a move that was made necessary due to a faulty elevator at First Niagara Center.

"This all started out as a lark,” Jeanneret said during the MSG broadcast. “The elevator that services the press box was broken down when I arrived at the building this afternoon, around 2:30. So I said, ‘Well OK, we’ll just do it between the benches with Rob Ray.’ At the moment that I said it, I was kidding. Well, not anymore.”

See, this is really happening. RT @dan_dunleavy #RJ between the benches @BuffaloSabres vs Kings. pic.twitter.com/1TagQg1dXa
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) November 13, 2013

So Jeanneret took his microphone, donned a helmet — with a facemask and marked "RJ" by the equipment staff — and stood next to his broadcast partner and did what he's does best.