NHLN U.S. announces pre-season broadcast schedule

Those aching to watch some hockey won't have to wait any longer.

Live NHL hockey returns to NHL Network beginning Tuesday, with an unprecedented total of 35 preseason games broadcast in the U.S., providing fans with nightly contests from around the League through Sunday, Oct. 3.

It marks the most comprehensive coverage of the preseason ever on the Network, with 40 hours of live game broadcasts and 78 hours total of live and delayed broadcasts. Including re-broadcasts, there will be more than 200 hours of preseason action available on NHL Network-U.S. The 2010-11 NHL regular season begins Thursday, Oct. 7.
 
The 35-game schedule begins with the Philadelphia Flyers hosting the New Jersey Devils at 7 p.m. ET in the first game of a Sept. 21 broadcast triple-header. The next night, the Tampa Bay Lightning face the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks at Winnipeg's MTS Centre in one of three games available.

Other highlights of the pre-season schedule include the 2010 Kraft Hockeyville game between the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators in Dundas, Ontario.  33 out of the 35 games will be shown in HD.

2010-11 NHL Network U.S. pre-season game schedule
(All times listed as ET)

Tues, 9/21  New Jersey Devils vs. Philadelphia Flyers  7:00 PM LIVE
Tues, 9/21  Ottawa Senators vs. Toronto Maple Leafs   10:00 PM
Tues, 9/21  Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames   2:00 AM *
Wed, 9/22  Chicago Blackhawks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (MTS Centre, Winnipeg)  8:00PM LIVE
Wed, 9/22  Ottawa Senators vs. Toronto Maple Leafs  11:00 PM
Wed, 9/22  Edmonton Oilers vs. Vancouver Canucks   2:00 AM *
Thu, 9/23  Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Philadelphia Flyers (London, ONT)   7:00 PM LIVE
Thu, 9/23  Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Edmonton Oilers   2:00 AM *
Fri, 9/24  Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings   7:00 PM LIVE
Fri, 9/24  Philadelphia Flyers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs   10:00 PM
Fri, 9/24  Minnesota Wild vs. St. Louis Blues   12:00 AM *
Sat, 9/25  Detroit Red Wings vs. Chicago Blackhawks   8:00 PM LIVE
Sat, 9/25  Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Buffalo Sabres   11:00 PM +
Sat, 9/25  Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Pittsburgh Penguins   1:00 AM * +
Sat, 9/25  Anaheim Ducks vs. Vancouver Canucks   4:00 AM *
Sun, 9/26  Vancouver Canucks vs. Edmonton Oilers    8:00 PM LIVE
Mon, 9/27  Buffalo Sabres vs. Toronto Maple Leafs   7:00 PM LIVE
Tue, 9/28  Buffalo Sabres vs. Ottawa Senators (Kraft Hockeyville - Dundas, ONT)   7:00 PM LIVE
Tue, 9/28  San Jose Sharks vs. Vancouver Canucks   10:00 PM LIVE
Tue, 9/28  Chicago Blackhawks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins   2:00 AM *
Tue, 9/28  Phoenix Coyotes vs. Calgary Flames   4:00 AM *
Wed, 9/29  New York Islanders vs. Philadelphia Flyers    7:00 PM LIVE
Wed, 9/29  Vancouver Canucks vs. San Jose Sharks    10:30 PM LIVE
Wed, 9/29  Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators    2:00 AM *
Wed, 9/29  Calgary Flames vs. New York Islanders (Saskatoon, SK)   4:00 AM *
Wed, 9/29  Phoenix Coyotes vs. Edmonton Oilers    6:00 AM *
Thu, 9/30  Buffalo Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens    7:30 PM LIVE
Thu, 9/30  Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Minnesota Wild    11:00 PM
Fri, 10/1  Buffalo Sabres vs. Philadelphia Flyers    7:00 PM LIVE
Fri, 10/1  Vancouver Canucks vs. Anaheim Ducks    10:00 PM LIVE
Fri, 10/1  Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings    1:00 AM *
Fri, 10/1  Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers    4:00 AM *
Sat, 10/2  Detroit Red Wings vs. Toronto Maple Leafs    7:00 PM LIVE
Sun, 10/3  St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks    6:00 PM LIVE
Sun, 10/3  Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames   12:00 AM *

* Denotes airtime is day after contest
+ Not available in HD
Schedule subject to change