This is what I’ve been hoping for as an NHL fan since NBC signed its new 10 year contract signed on for the rights to air hockey games. Starting Saturday, NBC and NBC Sports Network will have five days of NHL games beginning with the the season premiere of the NHL on NBC as the Chicago Blackhawks take on the Detroit Red Wings. Then NBC Sports Network will have games from Sunday through Wednesday at either 7 or 7:30 p.m. ET.
Not a bad stretch. Take a look at the press release.
NBC SPORTS GROUP CONTINUES NHL COVERAGE WITH FIVE STRAIGHT DAYS OF HOCKEY
NBC’s First NHL Game of the Week starts this Saturday with Chicago against Detroit at 12:30 p.m. ET
Sunday night hockey continues on NBC Sports Network when Montreal hosts the New York Rangers on Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. ET
“The last two games were one-goal nail biters…No lack of fire power or firebrand personality with these two teams.”- Mike “Doc” Emrick on Chicago vs. DetroitNEW YORK, N.Y. (January 11, 2012) – The NBC Sports Group will air five NHL games over five days beginning with NBC’s first exclusive NHL Game of the Week when the Detroit Red Wings host the Chicago Blackhawks this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET. The next night, the NBC Sports Network will air exclusive primetime coverage of the New York Rangers taking on the Montreal Canadiens at 7 p.m. ET.
The NBC Sports Network continues coverage on Mon., Jan. 16, at 7:30 p.m. ET when the Dallas Stars face the St. Louis Blues and on Tues., Jan. 17, at 7:30 p.m. ET when the Nashville Predators take on the New York Rangers. The week concludes with exclusive coverage of the Buffalo Sabres against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wed., Jan. 18, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The team of Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick (play-by-play), Eddie Olczyk (analyst) and Pierre McGuire (‘Inside the Glass’ analyst) will call the action for NBC’s Sunday game and NBC Sports Network’s Wednesday night game. Emrick and McGuire will call Monday’s game in St. Louis.
Dave Strader (play-by-play) and Brian Engblom (‘Inside the Glass’ analyst) will serve as announcers for Sunday and Tuesday’s primetime coverage. Liam McHugh and analyst Mike Milbury will be in Detroit covering all the intermissions for NBC’s coverage. Additionally, McHugh hosts NHL Live, NBC Sports Network’s pre- and post-game studio show, and is joined by expert analysts Mike Milbury and Keith Jones.
NBC Sports Group schedule (all times ET, subject to change):
Saturday, January 14 — Chicago at Detroit, 12:30 p.m., NBC
Sunday, January 15 — New York Rangers at Montreal, 7 p.m., NBCSP
Monday, January 16 — Dallas at St. Louis, 7:30 p.m., NBCSP
Tuesday, January 17 — Nashville at New York Rangers, 7:30 p.m., NBCSP
Wednesday, January 18 — Buffalo at Chicago, 7:30 p.m., NBCSP
That does it.
