FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 21st, 2016

NBC SPORTS GROUP SCHEDULED TO AIR RECORD NUMBER OF NHL REGULAR-SEASON GAMES IN 2016-17

Defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins Raise Banner At Home Against Washington Capitals on Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN

NBCSN Opens Season with Pair of 2016 Stanley Cup Playoff Rematches on Oct. 12 – Blues vs. Blackhawks at 8 p.m. ET, Defending Western Conference Champion Sharks vs. Kings at 10:30 p.m. ET

2017 NHL Winter Classic Features Blackhawks-Blues on Jan. 2 on NBC from Busch Stadium; Toronto Maple Leafs Host Detroit Red Wings in Centennial Classic on New Year’s Day on NBC

NBCSN Coming Off Most-Watched Full NHL Regular Season in 22 Years

All U.S. NHL Teams Featured on NBC or NBCSN During 2016-17 Regular Season

NBCSN Presents Coverage of 2017 NHL All-Star Weekend from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif., Jan. 28-29

 

STAMFORD, Conn. – July 21, 2016 – Coming off of the most-watched full NHL regular season on cable in 22 years, NBC Sports Group is scheduled to present 106 NHL regular-season games during the 2016-17 season – the most ever across NBC Sports Group heading into a season – featuring 14 games on NBC and 92 games on NBCSN. All games will be streamed live on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app to authenticated users via TV Everywhere.

 

Schedule highlights include:

 

  • 106 regular-season games in 2016-17 – 14 on NBC and 92 on NBCSN – the most since NBC Sports Group acquired exclusive NHL U.S. television rights prior to the 2005-06 season. During that season, NBC and then-OLN combined to present 64 regular-season games – six regionalized games on NBC, and 58 on NBCSN.

 

  • An opening night doubleheader on NBCSN on Wednesday, Oct. 12, featuring a pair of 2016 Stanley Cup Playoff rematches. The Chicago Blackhawks will host the rival St. Louis Blues at 8 p.m. ET, followed by a matchup between the Los Angeles Kings and defending Western Conference champion San Jose Sharks at 10:30 p.m. ET.

 

  • The Pittsburgh Penguins will raise their 2016 Stanley Cup Champion banner to the rafters on NBCSN on Thursday, Oct. 13, at 8 p.m. ET, when they open their season at home against the Washington Capitals in a rematch of their 2016 Second Round playoff series.

 

  • NBC will present the 2017 NHL Winter Classic between the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues from Busch Stadium in St. Louis, home of Major League Baseball’s St. Louis Cardinals, on Jan. 2, 2017, at 1 p.m. ET.

 

  • NBC will air exclusive coverage of the 2017 NHL Centennial Classic between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs from BMO Field in Toronto on Jan. 1, 2017, at 3 p.m. ET, and the 2017 NHL Stadium Series between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins from Heinz Field, home of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers, on Feb. 25, 2017, in primetime.

 

  • NBCSN will present coverage of the NHL All-Star Game from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif., home of the Los Angeles Kings. NHL All-Star will take place Saturday, Jan. 28 and Sunday, Jan. 29, and will include the NHL All-Star Skills Competition™ and the NHL All-Star Game.

 

  • NBC and NBCSN will combine to showcase a quadrupleheader on Hockey Day In America on Sunday, February 19. The action starts on NBC at 12:30 p.m. ET, when the Capitals host the Rangers, followed by the Red Wings and Penguins at 3 p.m. ET. Hockey Day In America shifts to NBCSN at 6 p.m. ET, when the Buffalo Sabres host the Blackhawks, and concludes with the final matchup of the day at 8:30 p.m. ET, when the Sharks host the Boston Bruins.

 

  • The 2016-17 regular season on NBCSN will feature 24 Wednesday Night Rivalry telecasts, plus six Wednesday Nightcaps that will showcase Western Conference teams, including the Ducks, Kings, and Sharks. WNR will feature the biggest rivalries in the NHL, including Penguins-Capitals, Blues-Blackhawks, and Rangers-Islanders.

 

  • NBCSN will air 11 Sunday Night Hockey matchups on NBCSN, beginning on January 8. Matchups include Wild-Blackhawks, Flyers-Rangers, and Canadiens-Bruins, the most-played rivalry in NHL history.

 

  • The Blackhawks lead all clubs with 21 total appearances on NBC and NBCSN, followed by the Flyers with 20, and the Rangers and Bruins with 16 appearances apiece, respectively. *Note: some games are subject to local blackouts*

 

  • Capitals-Penguins, Kings-Sharks, and Flyers-Rangers are the most featured regular-season matchups, each appearing four times across NBC and NBCSN.

 

  • At least 54 of NBC and NBCSN’s 106 telecasts will feature at least one Western Conference team, and every U.S. team will appear on NBC or NBCSN in the regular season.

 

NHL ON NBCSN

NBCSN will televise 92 NHL regular-season games this season, including the Opening Night doubleheader, 24 Wednesday Night Rivalry games, 6 Wednesday Nightcaps, 11 Sunday Night Hockey contests, and NHL All-Star coverage.

 

NBCSN coverage begins on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. ET with NHL Live, NBCSN’s live pre- and post-game show, leading into coverage of Blues-Blackhawks Wednesday Night Rivalry game from United Center in Chicago, Ill., at 8 p.m. ET. Coverage shifts to San Jose, immediately following Blues-Blackhawks, for the Wednesday Nightcap, featuring the Sharks and Kings.

 


NHL ON NBC

NHL on NBC coverage begins on Friday, November 25, at 1 p.m. ET, with the NHL Thanksgiving Showdown featuring the New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers, marking the first of 14 games that will air on NBC during the regular season. Beginning on January 22, and continuing through the end of the regular season, NBC will present the NHL Game of the Week, generally occurring on Sunday afternoons. Following is the 2016-17 NHL on NBC regular season schedule:

 

Date Away Home Time (ET)
Fri., Nov. 25 N.Y. Rangers Philadelphia 1 p.m.
Sun., Jan. 1 Detroit Toronto 3 p.m.
Mon., Jan 2 Chicago St. Louis 1 p.m.
Sun., Jan 22 N.Y. Rangers Detroit 12:30 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 5 Los Angeles Washington 12 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 12 Detroit Minnesota 3 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 19 Washington N.Y. Rangers 12:30 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 19 Detroit Pittsburgh 3 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 25 Philadelphia Pittsburgh 8 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 26 Boston Dallas 12:30 p.m.
Sun., Mar. 12 N.Y. Rangers Detroit 12:30 p.m.
Sun., Mar. 26 Philadelphia Pittsburgh 12:30 p.m.
Sun., Apr. 2 Boston Chicago 12:30 p.m.
Sat., Apr. 8 Washington Boston 3 p.m.

 

 

NHL WINTER CLASSIC, NHL CENTENNIAL CLASSIC AND NHL STADIUM SERIES

The annual NHL Winter Classic will take place on January 2, 2017, on NBC at 1 p.m. ET at Busch Stadium, home of Major League Baseball’s St. Louis Cardinals, and will feature the Chicago Blackhawks visiting the St. Louis Blues. Created in 2008, the NHL Winter Classic has produced the five most-watched NHL regular-season games in the past 41 years.

NBC will present exclusive coverage of the NHL Centennial Classic and NHL Stadium Series. The NHL Centennial Classic will feature the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs at BMO Field in Toronto on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017 at 1 p.m. ET on NBC. The NHL Centennial Classic will kick off a year-long Centennial celebration in 2017, as the league will highlight its 100th year with numerous events that will commemorate a century of NHL hockey.

NBC will present this season’s NHL Stadium Series matchup between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins from Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. This marks the second time Heinz Field will host an outdoor NHL game, after hosting the 2011 NHL Winter Classic featuring the Penguins and Capitals.

 


WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIVALRY

NBCSN’s exclusive Wednesday Night Rivalry coverage will return for a fourth season and will feature some of the biggest rivalries in the NHL, including Penguins-Capitals, Blues-Blackhawks, and Rangers-Islanders. The network will air exclusive coverage on Wednesday nights for 24 weeks, with games usually starting at 8 p.m. ET. WNR begins Wednesday, October 12, with Opening Night coverage between the Blues and Blackhawks.

Last year’s Wednesday Night Rivalry coverage averaged 608,000 viewers, and WNR coverage produced three of the 10 most-watched NHL regular-season games in network history. NBCSN’s 10 most-watched games in 2015-16 were either Wednesday Night Rivalry or Sunday Night Hockey games.

 

NBCSN 2016-17 NHL Wednesday Night Rivalry schedule (subject to change):

Date Away Home Time (ET)
October 12 St. Louis Chicago 8 p.m.
October 19 Detroit N.Y. Rangers 8 p.m.
October 26 Boston N.Y. Rangers 8 p.m.
November 2 Detroit Philadelphia 8 p.m.
November 9 Chicago St. Louis 8 p.m.
November 16 Pittsburgh Washington 7:30 p.m.
November 30 Pittsburgh N.Y. Islanders 8 p.m.
December 7 Boston Washington 8 p.m.
December 14 Boston Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m.
December 21 Washington Philadelphia 8 p.m.
January 4 N.Y. Rangers Philadelphia 8 p.m.
January 11 Pittsburgh Washington 8 p.m.
January 18 Boston Detroit 8 p.m.
January 25 Philadelphia N.Y. Rangers 8 p.m.
February 1 Boston Washington 8 p.m.
February 8 Chicago Minnesota 8 p.m.
February 15 St. Louis Detroit 8 p.m.
February 22 Washington Philadelphia 8 p.m.
March 1 Pittsburgh Chicago 8 p.m.
March 8 Detroit Boston 8 p.m.
March 15 Pittsburgh Philadelphia 7:30 p.m.
March 22 N.Y. Islanders N.Y. Rangers 8 p.m.
March 29 Chicago Pittsburgh 8 p.m.
April 5 N.Y. Rangers Washington 8 p.m.

 

 

WEDNESDAY NIGHTCAP

In addition, NBCSN will present six games on Wednesday nights that will immediately follow Wednesday Night Rivalry matchups. These nightcaps will showcase one or two Western Conference teams. The first of these games will take place on Opening Night, when Los Angeles visits San Jose following Blues-Blackhawks Wednesday Night Rivalry coverage. Following are the six Wednesday Nightcap games:

 

Date Away Home Time (ET)
October 12 Los Angeles San Jose 10:30 p.m.
November 30 San Jose Los Angeles 10:30 p.m.
December 14 Philadelphia Colorado 10 p.m.
January 18 San Jose Los Angeles 10:30 p.m.
February 1 Colorado Los Angeles 10:30 p.m.
February 15 Florida San Jose 10 p.m.

 


SUNDAY NIGHT HOCKEY
ON NBCSN

Beginning on January 10, NBCSN will present 11 Sunday Night Hockey matchups. These contests include Canadiens-Bruins, Wild-Blackhawks, and Flyers-Rangers. The Wild and Blackhawks lead the league with four Sunday Night Hockey appearances apiece. Last season’s  13 Sunday Night Hockey matchups on NBCSN averaged 491,000 viewers, up 28% vs the 2014-15 Sunday game average (384,000; 13 games). Following is NBCSN’s Sunday Night Hockey schedule:

 

Date Away Home Time (ET)
January 8 Minnesota Anaheim 8 p.m.
January 15 Minnesota Chicago 7 p.m.
February 12 Montreal Boston 7:30 p.m.
February 19 Chicago Buffalo 6 p.m.
February 19 Boston San Jose 8:30 p.m.
February 26 St. Louis Chicago 7:30 p.m.
March 5 St. Louis Colorado 8 p.m.
March 12 Minnesota Chicago 7 p.m.
March 26 Minnesota Detroit 7 p.m.
April 2 Philadelphia N.Y. Rangers 7:30 p.m.
April 9 TBD TBD TBD

 

 

NHL ALL-STAR WEEKEND – JAN. 28-29 – STAPLES CENTER, LOS ANGELES, CALIF.

NBCSN will present extensive coverage of the 2017 NHL All-Star Weekend from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif., the home of the Los Angeles Kings. NHL All-Star will take place January 28-29, 2017, and will include the NHL All-Star Skills Competition™ on Saturday, January 28, and the NHL All-Star Game on Sunday, January 29. Last year’s NHL All-Star Game in Nashville, Tenn., fueled by a new 3-on-3 tournament style format, was the most-watched and highest-rated All-Star Game in the network’s history.

 


NHL LIVE
AND NHL OVERTIME

NHL Live and NHL Overtime, NBCSN’s live pre- and post-game show with highlights and analysis of NHL matchups, will air before and after most games. A 60-minute edition of NHL Live will air prior to most games, while NHL Overtime will air immediately following most games.

 


2015-16 NHL REGULAR SEASON ON NBCSN IS MOST-WATCHED FULL NHL SEASON ON CABLE IN 22 YEARS

Led by strong Wednesday Night Rivalry and Sunday Night Hockey viewership, the 2015-16 NHL regular season on NBCSN averaged 378,000 viewers to rank as the most-watched full regular season in network history, and the most-watched on cable since the 1993-94 season, according to data provided by The Nielsen Company.

Viewership of the 2015-16 NHL regular season on NBCSN (94 games) was up 8% vs. the 2014-15 campaign (349,000; 91 games), and NBCSN’s previous record, set during the 2013-14 season (351,000). 2015-16 was the most-watched full NHL regular season* on cable since the 1993-94 season (ESPN/ESPN2; 474,000; 33 games). Click here for more information on last season’s record-setting NHL coverage.

 

NHL STREAMING COVERAGE ON NBCSPORTS.COM AND THE NBC SPORTS APP

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets and connected TVs – will stream comprehensive coverage of the NHL regular season via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value to for their subscription service, and making high quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app are powered by Playmaker Media and available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV and Amazon Fire.

 

NBC Sports Group 2016-17 NHL regular-season schedule (subject to change):

Date Away Home Network Time (ET)
Wed., Oct. 12 St. Louis Chicago NBCSN 8 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 12 Los Angeles San Jose NBCSN 10:30 p.m.
Thur., Oct. 13 Washington Pittsburgh NBCSN 8 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 14 Chicago Nashville NBCSN 8 p.m.
Tue., Oct. 18 Philadelphia Chicago NBCSN 8:30 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 19 Detroit N.Y. Rangers NBCSN 8 p.m.
Tue., Oct. 25 Buffalo Philadelphia NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Tue., Oct. 25 Anaheim San Jose NBCSN 10 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 26 Boston N.Y. Rangers NBCSN  8 p.m.
Tue., Nov. 1 Tampa Bay N.Y. Islanders NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Tue., Nov. 1 San Jose Arizona NBCSN 10 p.m.
Wed., Nov. 2 Detroit Philadelphia NBCSN 8 p.m.
Wed., Nov. 9 Chicago St. Louis NBCSN 8 p.m.
Tue., Nov. 15 Tampa Bay Detroit NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Nov. 16 Pittsburgh Washington NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Tue., Nov. 22 St. Louis Boston NBCSN 7 p.m.
Wed., Nov. 23 Philadelphia Tampa Bay NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Nov. 23 Chicago San Jose NBCSN 10 p.m.
Fri., Nov. 25 N.Y. Rangers Philadelphia NBC 1 p.m.
Tue., Nov. 29 Boston Philadelphia NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Nov. 30 Pittsburgh N.Y. Islanders NBCSN 8 p.m.
Wed., Nov. 30 San Jose Los Angeles NBCSN 10:30 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 7 Boston Washington NBCSN 8 p.m.
Tue., Dec. 13 Chicago N.Y. Rangers NBCSN 7 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 14 Boston Pittsburgh NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 14 Philadelphia Colorado NBCSN 10 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 16 Los Angeles Pittsburgh NBCSN 7 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 21 Washington Philadelphia NBCSN 8 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 28 Philadelphia St. Louis NBCSN 8 p.m.
Thur., Dec. 29 New Jersey Washington NBCSN 7 p.m.
Sun., Jan. 1 Detroit Toronto NBC 3 p.m.
Mon., Jan 2 Chicago St. Louis NBC 1 p.m.
Tue., Jan. 3 Buffalo N.Y. Rangers NBCSN 7 p.m.
Tue., Jan. 3 Los Angels San Jose NBCSN 10 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 4 N.Y. Rangers Philadelphia NBCSN 8 p.m.
Thur., Jan. 5 Buffalo Chicago NBCSN 8:30 p.m.
Sun., Jan. 8 Minnesota Anaheim NBCSN 8 p.m.
Tue., Jan. 10 Boston St. Louis NBCSN 8 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 11 Pittsburgh Washington NBCSN 8 p.m.
Thur., Jan. 12 Montreal Minnesota NBCSN 8 p.m.
Sun., Jan. 15 Minnesota Chicago NBCSN 7 p.m.
Mon., Jan. 16 Washington Pittsburgh NBCSN 7 p.m.
Tue., Jan. 17 Chicago Colorado NBCSN 9 p.m.
Wed., Jan 18 Boston Detroit NBCSN 8 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 18 San Jose Los Angeles NBCSN 10:30 p.m.
Sun., Jan. 22 N.Y. Rangers Detroit NBC 12:30 p.m.
Mon., Jan. 23 San Jose Colorado NBCSN 9 p.m.
Tue., Jan. 24 St. Louis Pittsburgh NBCSN 7 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 25 Philadelphia N.Y. Rangers NBCSN 8 p.m.
Thur., Jan. 26 St. Louis Minnesota NBCSN 8 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 1 Boston Washington NBCSN 8 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 1 Colorado Los Angeles NBCSN 10:30 p.m.
Thur., Feb. 2 N.Y. Rangers Buffalo NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 5 Los Angeles Washington NBC 12 p.m.
Mon., Feb. 6 St. Louis Philadelphia NBCSN 7 p.m.
Tue., Feb. 7 Los Angeles Tampa Bay NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 8 Chicago Minnesota NBCSN 8 p.m.
Thur., Feb. 9 N.Y. Islanders Philadelphia NBCSN 7 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 10 Tampa Bay Minnesota NBCSN 8 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 12 Detroit Minnesota NBC 3 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 12 Montreal Boston NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Mon., Feb. 13 N.Y. Rangers Columbus NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 15 St. Louis Detroit NBCSN 8 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 15 Florida San Jose NBCSN 10:30 p.m.
Thur., Feb. 16 Colorado Buffalo NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 19 Washington N.Y. Rangers NBC 12:30 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 19 Detroit Pittsburgh NBC 3 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 19 Chicago Buffalo NBCSN 6 p.m.
Sun. Feb. 19 Boston San Jose NBCSN 8:30 p.m.
Tue., Feb. 21 Chicago Minnesota NBCSN 8 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 22 Washington Philadelphia NBCSN 8 p.m.
Thur., Feb. 23 N.Y. Islanders Montreal NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 25 Philadelphia Pittsburgh NBC 8 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 26 Boston Dallas NBC 12:30 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 26 St. Louis Chicago NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Mon., Feb. 27 Los Angeles Minnesota NBCSN 8 p.m.
Tue., Feb. 28 Colorado Philadelphia NBCSN 7 p.m.
Wed., Mar. 1 Pittsburgh Chicago NBCSN 8 p.m.
Thur., Mar. 2 N.Y. Rangers Boston NBCSN 7 p.m.
Sun., Mar. 5 St. Louis Colorado NBCSN 8 p.m.
Mon., Mar. 6 Dallas Washington NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Tue., Mar. 7 Philadelphia Buffalo NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Mar. 8 Detroit Boston NBCSN 8 p.m.
Sun., Mar. 12 N.Y. Rangers Detroit NBC 12:30 p.m.
Sun., Mar. 12 Minnesota Chicago NBCSN 7 p.m.
Mon., Mar. 13 Carolina N.Y. Islanders NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Tue., Mar. 14 Chicago Montreal NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Mar. 15 Pittsburgh Philadelphia NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Mar. 15 Detroit Colorado NBCSN 10 p.m.
Mon., Mar. 20 Buffalo Detroit NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Tue., Mar. 21 San Jose Minnesota NBCSN 8:30 p.m.
Wed., Mar. 22 N.Y. Islanders N.Y. Rangers NBCSN 8 p.m.
Sun., Mar. 26 Philadelphia Pittsburgh NBC 12:30 p.m.
Sun., Mar. 26 Minnesota Detroit NBCSN 7 p.m.
Mon., Mar. 27 Chicago Tampa Bay NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Mar. 29 Chicago Pittsburgh NBCSN 8 p.m.
Thur., Mar. 30 Dallas Boston NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Apr. 2 Boston Chicago NBC 12:30 p.m.
Sun., Apr. 2 Philadelphia N.Y. Rangers NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Tue., Apr. 4 Chicago Colorado NBCSN 9 p.m.
Wed., Apr. 5 N.Y. Rangers Washington NBCSN 8 p.m.
Thur., Apr. 6 Nashville Dallas NBCSN 8 p.m.
Fri., Apr. 7 Tampa Bay Montreal NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Apr. 8 Washington Boston NBC 3 p.m.
Sat., Apr. 8 TBD TBD NBCSN TBD
Sun., Apr. 9 TBD TBD NBCSN TBD

 

*Some games will be blacked out in local markets and televised in those markets by a regional carrier.

 

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–