NHL Network to show 27 live preseason games

NHL Network today announced its slate of
2018 NHL preseason games
, featuring 27 live matchups in 19 days, including the first preseason game for the 2018 Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals on Sept. 16 at 1:00 p.m. ET against the Boston Bruins.
As the National Hockey League returns to China this preseason, NHL Network will televise the first matchup of the 2018 O.R.G. NHL China Games™ between the Bruins and Calgary Flames on Sept. 15 at 2:30 a.m. ET from Universiade Sports Center in Shenzhen-Longgang. Two weeks later, as the New Jersey Devils and Edmonton Oilers travel to Europe for the 2018 NHL Global Series™, NHL Network will televise the Devils' game against SC Bern on Oct. 1 at 1:30 p.m. ET from PostFinance Arena in Bern, Switzerland, followed by the Oilers' game against Kölner Haie on Oct. 3 at 10:00 a.m. ET from Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany. Both exhibition games in Europe are part of the 2018 NHL Global Series Challenge™.

RELATED: [NHL Network Live Game Schedule]
Throughout the preseason, NHL Network will air six games among all seven Canadian franchises, plus two Original Six matchups featuring the Chicago Blackhawks at Detroit Red Wings on Sept. 20, and the Red Wings at Toronto Maple Leafs on Sept. 28. NHL Network will also showcase 2018 Frank J. Selke Trophy winner Anze Kopitar and the Los Angeles Kings against the Anaheim Ducks on Sept. 26 and Sept. 29, along with 2018 Jack Adams Award winner Gerard Gallant and the Vegas Golden Knights playing host to the San Jose Sharks on Sept. 30. The complete list of NHL Network's 2018 preseason game schedule can be viewed
here
*.
Throughout the 2018 offseason, NHL Network has ranked the top players across the National Hockey League in four position specific countdown series:

,

,

and

. The player rankings culminate with NHL Network's five-part series Top 50 Players Right Now, which began on Sept. 2 and continues this Sunday, Sept. 16 with players ranked 30-21 at 7:00 p.m. ET. Viewers can vote on NHL Network's
Facebook
,
Instagram
and

pages using #NHLTopPlayers to have their top-five votes incorporated into a fan-generated list on Sunday, September 30. The remaining schedule for NHL Network's Top 50 Players Right Now is listed below:
Date, Ranking, Time (ET)
Sunday, Sept. 16, Top 50 Players Right Now: 30-21, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 23, Top 50 Players Right Now: 20-11, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 30, Top 50 Players Right Now: 10-1, 7:00 p.m.
\ Each 2018 NHL preseason game aired on NHL Network will be a carriage of local telecasts, including local announcers, and blacked out in each club's home market unless otherwise noted.*
About NHL Network:
As the TV home for the National Hockey League, NHL Network™ gives viewers an all-access pass to complete hockey coverage both on and off the ice, including live NHL games and special on-site coverage of NHL events, the documentary series NHL Network Originals, plus three signature studio shows with interviews, highlights and expert analysis from a variety of hockey insiders and former players. Additional programming includes behind- the-scenes features, player profiles and international and amateur hockey competitions. For more information on NHL Network, log on to www.NHLNetwork.com and follow @NHLNetwork on Twitter.