NBC goes into its final year of its current contract with a 10 game schedule including the NHL Winter Classic in Pittsburgh as well as Hockey Day in America on February 20 where the network will provide regional coverage which is welcomed here. Let’s take a look at what NBC has in store for us this season.
NHL ON NBC BEGINS SIXTH SEASON WITH 2011 WINTER CLASSIC ON NEW YEAR’S DAY & STANLEY CUP REMATCH ON JAN. 23
“Game of the Week” Flex Schedule & Consistent 12:30 PM ET Start Time Return; “Hockey Day in America” Debuts on Feb. 202011 Coverage Once Again Includes Stanley Cup Playoffs & Final“It’s hard to find any network right now that covers a sport better than NBC covers hockey.” – St. Petersburg TimesNEW YORK – Aug. 25, 2010 – Two games featuring Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins against Alex Ovechkin of Washington Capitals, including the fourth annual NHL Winter Classic on New Year’s Day from Heinz Field, home to the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers; a possible Stanley Cup Final rematch between the champion Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers to kick off “Game of the Week” broadcasts; the debut of “Hockey Day in America”; and the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Final highlight the sixth season of the NHL on NBC.2011 NHL WINTER CLASSIC
Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin will lead their respective teams in the 2011 NHL Winter Classic when the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Washington Capitals in the fourth outdoor classic, an event Forbes magazine has called “the best new sporting event” of the last decade.
Bob Costas will host NBC Sports’ coverage from Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field – home of the Pittsburgh Steelers – live at 1 p.m. ET on New Year’s Day.The first three Winter Classics have averaged 4.0 million viewers on NBC Sports. On January 1 this year, the Boston Bruins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, 2-1, in overtime at Fenway Park.“GAME OF THE WEEK” – FLEX SCHEDULE & CONSISTENT START TIMES
For the first time ever, all “Game of the Week” broadcasts will begin at 12:30 p.m. ET. For the fourth consecutive season, the NHL and NBC Sports will utilize flex scheduling, selecting from up to four games on Sunday afternoons.At least 13 days prior to the scheduled games, the NHL and NBC Sports will announce one of those games as the “Game of the Week” to be broadcast during the NBC Sports window. The other games will remain available to the teams’ regional carrier but will not be televised during NBC Sports’ broadcast window.NBC Sports will again broadcast the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Final.Following is the “Game of the Week” flexible schedule (all times 12:30 PM ET):Day Date Away Home
Sun. Jan. 23 Philadelphia ChicagoFlorida New Jersey
Buffalo N.Y Islanders
Sun. Feb. 6 Pittsburgh WashingtonSt Louis Tampa BaySun. Feb. 13 Boston Detroit
Pittsburgh N.Y. RangersLos Angeles PhiladelphiaSun. Feb. 20 Washington BuffaloPittsburgh ChicagoDetroit MinnesotaPhiladelphia N.Y. RangersSun. Mar. 06 Philadelphia N.Y. RangersBuffalo MinnesotaSun. Mar. 13 Chicago WashingtonLos Angeles DallasSun. Mar. 20 N.Y. Rangers PittsburghNew Jersey ColumbusSun. Apr. 03 N.Y. Rangers PhiladelphiaMinnesota DetroitTampa Bay ChicagoSun. Apr. 10 Detroit ChicagoBoston New JerseyDallas MinnesotaPittsburgh AtlantaHOCKEY DAY IN AMERICA
As part of Hockey Weekend Across America in 2011, the NHL and NBC Sports will salute the roots of the sport with Hockey Day in America on Sunday, Feb. 20. Launched by USA Hockey in 2008, Hockey Weekend Across America is a nationwide initiative to celebrate the game and those involved at all levels and to expose hockey to new audiences. NBC Sports will celebrate the day-long event with regional NHL coverage.More details about Hockey Day in America will be released at a later date.PRODUCTION
The NHL on NBC is produced by NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood, who is the former captain of the Williams College hockey team. Flood created the inside-the-glass reporter position and assembled NBC Sports’ esteemed group of NHL commentators, including Mike “Doc” Emrick (play-by-play), Eddie Olczyk (analyst), Pierre McGuire (inside-the-glass reporter), and Mike Milbury (studio analyst).
If NBC could only get rid of Pierre McGuire, its coverage would be next to perfect.
