Ice Parades: NHL Games, Jewel Events Take Center Ice On NBC In 2017-18
By Barry Janoff
July 31, 2017: It may be the Dog Days of Summer in MLB, but for the NHL its just about that time to sharpen the blades and put the Zamboni on the ice.
NHL media partner NBC Sports said it would air 99 regular season games during the 2017-18 season, beginning Oct. 4 when the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins host the St. Louis Blues on NBCSN (8 PM. ET).
NBCSN will televise seven games through the first week of the season.
Among jewel events, NBC and NBCSN will present extensive coverage of the 2018 NHL All-Star Weekend from Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. (Jan. 27-28, 2018), the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic between the New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres in Citi Field (Jan. 1, 2018) and the 2018 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series when the Toronto Maple Leafs face the Capitals in Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (March 3, 2018).
In addition, NBCSN will televise the outdoor NHL100 Classic on Dec. 16, featuring the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens from Lansdowne Park in Ottawa, commemorating the first-ever NHL game, which featured the Senators and Canadiens nearly 100 years ago.
"The Winter Classic made its debut under snowy Buffalo skies in 2008, and we look forward to celebrating the 10th anniversary of that landmark event by matching the Sabres with their intrastate rivals, the New York Rangers, in the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Citi Field," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said earlier this year. "With New York City as its host, the renewal of our New Year's tradition will continue to inspire hockey memories for our clubs, our players and our fans."
NHL on NBC coverage begins on Nov. 24 with the 2017 Discover NHL Thanksgiving Showdown featuring the Penguins and Boston Bruins, marking the first of nine games that will air on NBC during the regular season.
NBCSN will televise 90 NHL regular-season games this season, including the Opening Night doubleheader, 23 Wednesday Night Rivalry games, five Wednesday Nightcaps, five Sunday Night Hockey contests and NHL All-Star coverage.
In a bit of internal counter-programming, NBC and NBC Sports will also offer extensive coverage of the 2018 Winter Games from South Korea (Feb. 8-25, 2018), which includes gold medal hockey competition that will not include participation from the NHL and its teams.
Highlights also include the debut season for the expansion Vegas Golden Knights and the Detroit Red Wings’ first regular season game in the new Little Caesars Arena.
This also will be the first season of the NHL deal with adidas as the league’s official supplier of on-ice apparel, taking over from its own Reebok division.
"We’re proud to offer our most diverse NHL schedule ever to fans across the country," Sam Flood, executive producer and president of production for NBC Sports, said in a statement.
"From classic rivalries and historic franchises, to young stars such as Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid, a hockey-crazed market in Nashville, and a new franchise in Vegas, this schedule represents our commitment to present the NHL’s diverse and emerging stars, teams, and stories."
The Chicago Blackhawks lead all clubs with 17 total appearances on NBC and NBCSN, the Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers follow with 16 each. The Washington Capitals, Red Wings and Boston Bruins will each make 15 appearances.
The Golden Knights are scheduled to be featured on NBCSN five times this season.
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