Despite having three choices, you kinda knew NBC was going to go with a resurgent New York Rangers team so it could get some juice in the #1 market in the nation. Even though the NHL had a couple of other decent choices as the playoff push goes into the home stretch, NBC went safe. What are you going to do? So it’ll New York Rangers at Philadelphia on April 3 as the NHL Game of the Week on NBC. Here’s the press release from the National Hockey League.
NEW YORK RANGERS AT PHILADELPHIA FLYERS IS NBC SPORTS’ “NHL GAME OF THE WEEK” ON SUNDAY, APRIL 3
Late-Season “Rematch” Between Fierce Rivals “Flexed” For National Broadcast
NEW YORK (March 17, 2011) –The Sunday, April 3, New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers game has been flexed as NBC Sports’ “NHL Game of the Week” and will be played at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia at 12:30 p.m. ET, the National Hockey League and NBC Sports announced today.
As these clubs meet for the final time this season — both in hot pursuit of playoff spots — it will evoke memories of the final game of the 2009-10 regular season, in which the Flyers clinched their place in the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a win over the Rangers in a shootout, simultaneously ending the Blueshirts’ season. In their five previous meetings this season, the Flyers have come out on top four times to the Rangers’ one.
The Rangers currently rank third in the Atlantic Division standings and seventh in the Eastern Conference with a record of 37-30-4 (78 pts). The Flyers lead both the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference with a record of 43-19-7 (93 pts).
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING
At least 13 days prior to the scheduled game, one game is selected for broadcast on NBC. All NBC games will be broadcast on Sundays and all games will be presented in HD. Games not flexed to NBC will be available to the teams’ regional carriers and remain at the originally announced start time. The April 3 match-up was first announced on the Thursday, March 17, edition of “NHL Hour With Commissioner Gary Bettman” on NHL.com and SIRIUS XM Radio airing from 6-7 p.m. ET. All subsequent flexed games will be announced on NHL Hour with Commissioner Gary Bettman.
Upcoming 2011 NBC Game of the Week Regular-Season Flexible Schedule
Mar. 20 |NY RANGERS at PITTSBURGH |12:30 p.m. ET
Apr. 3 |NY RANGERS at PHILADELPHIA |12:30 p.m. ET
Apr. 10 |Boston at New Jersey OR |TBD
|Pittsburgh at Atlanta OR |
|Detroit at Chicago OR |
|Dallas at Minnesota |
I wouldn’t mind seeing Bruins at New Jersey for April 10, but I have a feeling it’ll be Detroit at Chicago.
