The 2009 NHL Winter Classic which will feature Original Six teams, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings is the highlight of the NHL national television schedule which was released on Thursday. 2009 Winter Classic press conference |
The NHL Winter Classic on New Year's Day will be the League's second outdoor game in the United States and will once again be a must-see event on NBC in the U.S. as well as CBC and RDS in Canada.
Fans will get to watch two Original Six franchises, the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings, face off in legendary Wrigley Field.
"What a way to start the New Year with two of the storied names in hockey playing in one of America's venerable stadiums," NBC Sports President Ken Schanzer, said. "The Winter Classic has become a great addition to what already was an appointment-viewing date on the sports calendar."
Added CBC's Hockey Night in Canada Executive Producer Sherali Najak: "This 'Original Six' city provides us with the ideal stage to showcase some of the NHL's brightest stars."
The NHL Winter Classic is only one of the more than 300 nationally televised games the League announced Thursday in unveiling the national TV broadcast schedules for 2008-09 for NBC, CBC, RDS, VERSUS and TSN.
The 57th NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 25 in Montreal, as well as All-Star Saturday, will again be seen live on VERSUS in the United States, as well as CBC and RDS in Canada.
CBC's Hockey Night in Canada, which is entering its 56th-straight year broadcasting NHL games, will show 69 games, including 25 all-Canadian matchups, featuring three games each between Toronto and Ottawa for the Battle of Ontario and Calgary and Edmonton for the Battle of Alberta.
CBC will be the League's first broadcast partner to show a live game -- not to mention the potential NHL debut of No. 1 draft pick Steven Stamkos -- as it will have the first day of the NHL Premiere from Europe.
The New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning open the 91st NHL season in Prague at noon ET on Oct. 4, followed by the Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins game in Stockholm at 2:30 ET.
VERSUS begins its 56-game slate Oct. 5 with Day Two of the NHL Premiere. It will have both games, while CBC will also broadcast the Penguins-Senators game.
"I know Sweden is proud to have a chance to host these two games," said Mats Sundin, one of Sweden's most legendary NHL stars. "It's a huge thrill for hockey fans to watch (Sidney) Crosby and (Daniel) Alfredsson and others playing. I think it's great exposure for the National Hockey League in Europe."
This will be the fourth-straight season the NHL and VERSUS will partner to broadcast games in the United States. Crosby will make eight appearances on the network while Alexander Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals superstar and reigning Hart Trophy winner, will make seven.
VERSUS and CBC will both broadcast the season-opener for the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 9. That game also happens to be an Original Six clash against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who will also be opening their season.
Ovechkin can be seen for the first time on VERSUS on Oct. 13 when the Capitals play the Vancouver Canucks. The Penguins and Red Wings, last year's Stanley Cup Final contenders, play on the network Nov. 11.
TSN, which has been broadcasting NHL games since 1985, opens its 70-game schedule Oct. 14 with Colorado at Calgary. For the first time, each of TSN's broadcasts will feature at least one Canadian team.
NBC will launch its NHL coverage on New Year's Day, but will begin its NHL on NBC Game of the Week coverage Jan. 18 with the Rangers at Penguins.
Once again, the NHL and NBC will collaborate on a flexible schedule for the network's nine games, all of which will be Sunday afternoon broadcasts. NBC will also televise Games 3-7 of the Stanley Cup Final in prime time.
RDS, which enters its sixth season as the League's French-language broadcast partner, will broadcast all 82 Montreal Canadiens' games across Canada. The Habs, who are celebrating their 100th anniversary this season, can be also be seen 15 times on CBC, another 15 times on TSN, and VERSUS will have them on three times.
The NHL Network will televise 75 live games in the United States, as well as 40 in Canada. Those games have yet to be determined. The Network's nightly recap show, "NHL On The Fly," also returns.
Contact Dan Rosen at [email protected]
CBC’s “HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA” 2008-09 SCHEDULE
Day |
Date |
Away |
Home |
Time (ET) |
Sat. |
Oct. 4 |
NY Rangers |
Tampa Bay |
12 p.m. |
Sat. |
Oct. 4 |
Pittsburgh |
Ottawa |
2:30 p.m. |
Sun. |
Oct. 5 |
Ottawa |
Pittsburgh |
2:30 p.m. |
Thurs. |
Oct. 9 |
Toronto |
Detroit |
8 p.m. |
Thurs. |
Oct. 9 |
Calgary |
Vancouver |
10:30 p.m. |
Sat. |
Oct. 11 |
Montreal |
Toronto |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Oct. 11 |
Vancouver |
Calgary |
10 p.m. |
Sat. |
Oct. 18 |
Toronto |
Pittsburgh |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Oct. 18 |
Calgary |
Edmonton |
10 p.m. |
Sat. |
Oct. 25 |
Ottawa |
Toronto |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Oct. 25 |
Edmonton |
Vancouver |
10 p.m. |
Sat. |
Nov. 1 |
NY Rangers |
Toronto |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Nov. 1 |
Calgary |
Los Angeles |
10 p.m. |
Sat. |
Nov. 8 |
Montreal |
Toronto |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Nov. 8 |
Minnesota |
Vancouver |
10 p.m. |
Sat. |
Nov. 15 |
Toronto |
Vancouver |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Nov. 15 |
Colorado |
Edmonton |
10 p.m. |
Sat. |
Nov. 22 |
NY Rangers |
Ottawa |
3 p.m. |
Sat. |
Nov. 22 |
Chicago |
Toronto |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Nov. 22 |
Boston |
Montreal |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Nov. 22 |
Detroit |
Calgary |
10 p.m. |
Sat. |
Nov. 29 |
Philadelphia |
Toronto |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Nov. 29 |
Vancouver |
Calgary |
10 p.m. |
Thurs. |
Dec. 4 |
NY Rangers |
Montreal |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Dec. 6 |
Pittsburgh |
Ottawa |
2 p.m. |
Sat. |
Dec. 6 |
Washington |
Toronto |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Dec. 6 |
Edmonton |
San Jose |
10 p.m. |
Sat. |
Dec.13 |
Washington |
Montreal |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Dec. 13 |
Vancouver |
Edmonton |
10 p.m. |
Thurs. |
Dec. 18 |
Philadelphia |
Montreal |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Dec. 20 |
Toronto |
Pittsburgh |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Dec. 20 |
Chicago |
Vancouver |
10 p.m. |
Sat. |
Dec. 27 |
Montreal |
Pittsburgh |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Dec. 27 |
Ottawa |
Calgary |
10 p.m. |
Thurs. |
Jan. 1 |
Detroit |
Chicago |
1 p.m. |
Sat. |
Jan. 3 |
Ottawa |
Toronto |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Jan. 3 |
Dallas |
Edmonton |
10 p.m. |
Sat. |
Jan. 10 |
Toronto |
Philadelphia |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Jan. 10 |
San Jose |
Vancouver |
10 p.m. |
Sat. |
Jan. 17 |
Montreal |
Ottawa |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Jan. 17 |
Phoenix |
Calgary |
10 p.m. |
Sat. |
Jan. 24 |
All-Star Skills Competition |
TBD |
|
Sun. |
Jan. 25 |
57th NHL All-Star Game |
TBD |
|
Sat. |
Jan. 31 |
Los Angeles |
Montreal |
2 p.m. |
Sat. |
Jan. 31 |
Pittsburgh |
Toronto |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Jan. 31 |
Minnesota |
Vancouver |
10 p.m. |
Sun. |
Feb. 1 |
Boston |
Montreal |
2 p.m. |
Sat. |
Feb. 7 |
Toronto |
Montreal |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Feb. 7 |
Chicago |
Vancouver |
10 p.m. |
Sat. |
Feb. 14 |
Pittsburgh |
Toronto |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Feb. 14 |
Calgary |
Phoenix |
10 p.m. |
Thurs. |
Feb. 19 |
Montreal |
Pittsburgh |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Feb. 21 |
Ottawa |
Montreal |
3 p.m. |
Sat. |
Feb. 21 |
Vancouver |
Toronto |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Feb. 21 |
Calgary |
Edmonton |
10 p.m. |
Sat. |
Feb. 28 |
Toronto |
Ottawa |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Feb. 28 |
Minnesota |
Edmonton |
10 p.m. |
Sat. |
Mar. 7 |
Edmonton |
Toronto |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Mar. 7 |
San Jose |
Vancouver |
10 p.m. |
Sat. |
Mar. 14 |
Ottawa |
Pittsburgh |
3 p.m. |
Sat. |
Mar. 14 |
Calgary |
Toronto |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Mar. 14 |
Colorado |
Edmonton |
10 p.m. |
Sat. |
Mar. 21 |
Toronto |
Montreal |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Mar. 21 |
Vancouver |
Phoenix |
10 p.m. |
Sat. |
Mar. 28 |
Boston |
Toronto |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Mar. 28 |
Minnesota |
Calgary |
10 p.m. |
Sun. |
Mar. 29 |
Ottawa |
Tampa Bay |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Apr. 4 |
Montreal |
Toronto |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Apr. 4 |
Vancouver |
Edmonton |
10 p.m. |
Sat. |
Apr. 11 |
Ottawa |
Toronto |
7 p.m. |
Sat. |
Apr. 11 |
Edmonton |
Calgary |
10 p.m. |
All times subject to change
“NHL ON TSN” 2008-09 BROADCAST SCHEDULE
Day |
Date |
Away |
Home |
Time (ET) |
Tues. |
Oct. 14 |
Colorado |
Calgary |
9 p.m. |
Wed. |
Oct. 15 |
Boston |
Montreal |
7:30 p.m. |
Wed. |
Oct. 15 |
Edmonton |
Anaheim |
10 p.m. |
Thurs. |
Oct. 16 |
Vancouver |
Detroit |
7:30 p.m. |
Tues. |
Oct. 21 |
Anaheim |
Toronto |
7 p.m. |
Tues. |
Oct. 21 |
Washington |
Calgary |
9:30 p.m. |
Wed. |
Oct. 22 |
Florida |
Ottawa |
7 p.m. |
Thurs. |
Oct. 23 |
Toronto |
Boston |
7 p.m. |
Thurs. |
Oct. 23 |
Edmonton |
Colorado |
9:30 p.m. |
Tues. |
Oct. 28 |
Tampa Bay |
Toronto |
7:30 p.m. |
Tues. |
Oct. 28 |
Boston |
Vancouver |
10 p.m. |
Wed. |
Oct. 29 |
Toronto |
New Jersey |
7:30 p.m. |
Tues. |
Nov. 4 |
Carolina |
Toronto |
7:30 p.m. |
Tues. |
Nov. 4 |
Nashville |
Vancouver |
10 p.m. |
Wed. |
Nov. 5 |
Edmonton |
Columbus |
7:30 p.m. |
Tues. |
Nov. 11 |
Ottawa |
Montreal |
7 p.m. |
Wed. |
Nov. 12 |
Colorado |
Vancouver |
10 p.m. |
Tues. |
Nov. 18 |
Montreal |
Carolina |
7 p.m. |
Wed. |
Nov. 19 |
Vancouver |
NY Rangers |
7:30 p.m. |
Wed. |
Nov. 26 |
Montreal |
Detroit |
7:30 p.m. |
Wed. |
Nov. 26 |
Los Angeles |
Edmonton |
10 p.m. |
Tues. |
Dec. 2 |
Atlanta |
Montreal |
7:30 p.m. |
Wed. |
Dec. 3 |
Atlanta |
Ottawa |
7 p.m. |
Wed. |
Dec. 3 |
Dallas |
Edmonton |
9:30 p.m. |
Wed. |
Dec. 10 |
Calgary |
Detroit |
7:30 p.m. |
Tues. |
Dec. 16 |
New Jersey |
Toronto |
7 p.m. |
Tues. |
Dec. 16 |
Chicago |
Edmonton |
9:30 p.m. |
Wed. |
Dec. 17 |
Calgary |
Minnesota |
8 p.m. |
Tues. |
Dec. 23 |
Vancouver |
San Jose |
10 p.m. |
Tues. |
Dec. 30 |
Atlanta |
Toronto |
7:30 p.m. |
Wed. |
Dec. 31 |
Edmonton |
Calgary |
10 p.m. |
Sun. |
Jan. 4 |
Ottawa |
New Jersey |
5 p.m. |
Tues. |
Jan. 6 |
Florida |
Toronto |
7:30 p.m. |
Wed. |
Jan. 7 |
Montreal |
NY Rangers |
7:30 p.m. |
Sun. |
Jan. 11 |
St. Louis |
Edmonton |
8 p.m. |
Wed. |
Jan. 14 |
Ottawa |
Atlanta |
7:30 p.m. |
Thurs. |
Jan. 15 |
Toronto |
Carolina |
7:30 p.m. |
Fri. |
Jan. 16 |
Edmonton |
Colorado |
9:30 p.m. |
Tues. |
Jan. 20 |
Washington |
Ottawa |
7:30 p.m. |
Tues. |
Jan. 20 |
Vancouver |
San Jose |
10:30 p.m. |
Wed. |
Jan. 21 |
Boston |
Toronto |
7:30 p.m. |
Wed. |
Jan. 28 |
Buffalo |
Calgary |
8 p.m. |
Wed. |
Jan. 28 |
Nashville |
Vancouver |
10:30 p.m. |
Thurs. |
Jan. 29 |
Montreal |
Florida |
7 p.m. |
Wed. |
Feb. 4 |
Toronto |
Buffalo |
7:30 p.m. |
Thurs. |
Feb. 5 |
Boston |
Ottawa |
7 p.m. |
Thurs. |
Feb. 5 |
Chicago |
Calgary |
9:20 p.m. |
Fri. |
Feb. 6 |
Montreal |
Buffalo |
7:30 p.m. |
Wed. |
Feb. 11 |
Ottawa |
Buffalo |
7:30 p.m. |
Fri. |
Feb. 13 |
Montreal |
Colorado |
9 p.m. |
Mon. |
Feb. 16 |
Ottawa |
Nashville |
8 p.m. |
Tues. |
Feb. 17 |
Buffalo |
Toronto |
7:30 p.m. |
Wed. |
Feb. 18 |
Montreal |
Washington |
7:30 p.m. |
Wed. |
Feb. 25 |
NY Rangers |
Toronto |
7:30 p.m. |
Fri. |
Feb. 27 |
Montreal |
Philadelphia |
7 p.m. |
Wed. |
Mar. 4 |
Montreal |
Buffalo |
7:30 p.m. |
Wed. |
Mar. 11 |
Tampa Bay |
Ottawa |
7 p.m. |
Tues. |
Mar. 17 |
Toronto |
Tampa Bay |
7:30 p.m. |
Tues. |
Mar. 17 |
Dallas |
Vancouver |
10 p.m. |
Wed. |
Mar. 18 |
Dallas |
Calgary |
9:30 p.m. |
Mon. |
Mar. 23 |
Detroit |
Calgary |
9 p.m. |
Tues. |
Mar. 24 |
Washington |
Toronto |
7 p.m. |
Tues. |
Mar. 24 |
Detroit |
Edmonton |
9:30 p.m. |
Wed. |
Mar. 25 |
Calgary |
Pittsburgh |
7:30 p.m. |
Thurs. |
Mar. 26 |
Tampa Bay |
Montreal |
7:30 p.m. |
Tues. |
Mar. 31 |
Chicago |
Montreal |
7:30 p.m. |
Wed. |
Apr. 1 |
Philadelphia |
Toronto |
7:30 p.m. |
Thurs. |
Apr. 2 |
Montreal |
NY Islanders |
7 p.m. |
Sun. |
Apr. 5 |
Colorado |
Vancouver |
10 p.m. |
Wed. |
Apr. 8 |
Buffalo |
Toronto |
7:30 p.m. |
All times subject to change
VERSUS 2008-09 NHL SCHEDULE
Day |
Date |
Away |
Home |
Time (ET) |
Sun. |
Oct. 5 |
Tampa Bay |
NY Rangers |
12 p.m. |
Sun. |
Oct. 5 |
Ottawa |
Pittsburgh |
2:30 p.m. |
*Thurs. |
Oct. 9 |
Toronto |
Detroit |
8 p.m. |
Thurs. |
Oct. 9 |
Boston |
Colorado |
10:30 p.m. |
Mon. |
Oct. 13 |
Vancouver |
Washington |
7 p.m. |
*Tues. |
Oct. 14 |
Philadelphia |
Pittsburgh |
7:30 p.m. |
Mon. |
Oct. 20 |
Florida |
Montreal |
7:30 p.m. |
*Tues. |
Oct. 21 |
Boston |
Buffalo |
7 p.m. |
Mon. |
Oct. 27 |
Chicago |
Minnesota |
8 p.m. |
*Tues. |
Oct. 28 |
Philadelphia |
Atlanta |
7 p.m. |
Mon. |
Nov. 3 |
Buffalo |
New Jersey |
7 p.m. |
Mon. |
Nov. 10 |
Tampa Bay |
Washington |
7 p.m. |
*Tues. |
Nov. 11 |
Pittsburgh |
Detroit |
7 p.m. |
Mon. |
Nov. 17 |
Boston |
Toronto |
7:30 p.m. |
*Tues. |
Nov. 18 |
Minnesota |
Pittsburgh |
7 p.m. |
Mon. |
Nov. 24 |
Washington |
Minnesota |
8 p.m. |
*Tues. |
Nov. 25 |
St. Louis |
Nashville |
7 p.m. |
Mon. |
Dec. 1 |
Colorado |
Minnesota |
8 p.m. |
*Tues. |
Dec. 2 |
Tampa Bay |
Philadelphia |
7 p.m. |
Mon. |
Dec. 8 |
Buffalo |
Pittsburgh |
7:30 p.m. |
*Tues. |
Dec. 9 |
NY Islanders |
Philadelphia |
7 p.m. |
*Mon. |
Dec. 15 |
Colorado |
Detroit |
7 p.m. |
Tues. |
Dec. 16 |
Washington |
NY Islanders |
7 p.m. |
*Mon. |
Dec. 22 |
Pittsburgh |
Buffalo |
7 p.m. |
Tues. |
Dec. 23 |
Boston |
New Jersey |
7 p.m. |
*Mon. |
Dec. 29 |
NY Islanders |
NY Rangers |
7 p.m. |
Tues. |
Dec. 30 |
New Jersey |
St. Louis |
8 p.m. |
*Mon. |
Jan. 5 |
Pittsburgh |
NY Rangers |
7 p.m. |
Tues. |
Jan. 6 |
Minnesota |
Boston |
7 p.m. |
*Mon. |
Jan. 12 |
Detroit |
Dallas |
8 p.m. |
Tues. |
Jan. 13 |
Montreal |
Boston |
7 p.m. |
*Mon. |
Jan. 19 |
Minnesota |
Chicago |
8 p.m. |
Tues. |
Jan. 20 |
Washington |
Ottawa |
7:30 p.m. |
Sat. |
Jan. 24 |
All-Star Skills Competition |
TBD |
|
Sun. |
Jan. 25 |
57th NHL All-Star Game |
TBD |
|
Tues. |
Jan. 27 |
Washington |
Boston |
7 p.m. |
*Mon. |
Feb. 2 |
St. Louis |
Detroit |
7 p.m. |
Tues. |
Feb. 3 |
St. Louis |
Columbus |
7 p.m. |
*Mon. |
Feb. 9 |
NY Rangers |
New Jersey |
7 p.m. |
Tues. |
Feb. 10 |
San Jose |
Boston |
7 p.m. |
*Mon. |
Feb. 16 |
NY Rangers |
St. Louis |
7 p.m. |
Tues. |
Feb. 17 |
Buffalo |
Toronto |
7:30 p.m. |
*Mon. |
Feb. 23 |
San Jose |
Dallas |
8 p.m. |
Tues. |
Feb. 24 |
Anaheim |
Buffalo |
7 p.m. |
*Mon. |
Mar. 2 |
Colorado |
NY Islanders |
7 p.m. |
Tues. |
Mar. 3 |
Pittsburgh |
Tampa Bay |
7:30 p.m. |
*Mon. |
Mar. 9 |
NY Rangers |
Carolina |
7 p.m. |
Tues. |
Mar. 10 |
Buffalo |
Philadelphia |
7 p.m. |
*Mon. |
Mar. 16 |
Washington |
Atlanta |
7 p.m. |
Tues. |
Mar. 17 |
Philadelphia |
Detroit |
7:30 p.m. |
*Mon. |
Mar. 23 |
New Jersey |
Philadelphia |
7 p.m. |
Tues. |
Mar. 24 |
Minnesota |
NY Rangers |
7 p.m. |
*Mon. |
Mar. 30 |
New Jersey |
NY Rangers |
7 p.m. |
Mon. |
Mar. 30 |
Dallas |
Phoenix |
10 p.m. |
Tues. |
Mar. 31 |
Chicago |
Montreal |
7:30 p.m. |
*Mon. |
Apr. 6 |
Detroit |
Buffalo |
7 p.m. |
Tues. |
Apr. 7 |
Dallas |
Minnesota |
8 p.m. |
Tues. |
Apr. 7 |
Colorado |
San Jose |
10:30 p.m. |
All times subject to change
* denotes VERSUS exclusive Game of the Week
“NHL ON NBC” 2008-09 BROADCAST SCHEDULE
Day |
Date |
Away |
Home |
Time (ET) |
Thu. |
Jan. 1 |
Detroit |
Chicago |
1 p.m. |
Sun. |
Jan. 18 |
NY Rangers |
Pittsburgh |
12:30 p.m. |
Sun. |
Feb. 8 |
Teams TBD – Flex Schedule |
12:30 p.m. |
|
Sun. |
Feb. 15 |
12:30 p.m. |
||
Sun. |
Feb. 22 |
12:30 p.m. |
||
Sun. |
Mar. 8 |
12:30 p.m. |
||
Sun. |
Mar. 15 |
12:30 p.m. |
||
Sun. |
Mar. 22 |
12:30 p.m. |
||
Sun. |
Apr. 5 |
12:30 p.m. |
||
Sun. |
Apr. 12 |
2 p.m. |
All times subject to change