FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 3rd, 2017

NBC SPORTS CHICAGO ANNOUNCES ITS MASSIVE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS OCTOBER 5 HOME/SEASON OPENER & EXPANDED, SEASON-LONG, MULTI-PLATFORM COVERAGE DETAILS

NBC Sports Chicago’s 50-Game Blackhawks Regular Season Game Schedule gets underway with the 2017-18 HOME/SEASON OPENER
against the Two-Time Defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins this Thursday, October 5th! 

Live streaming coverage of EVERY Regular Season Blackhawks telecast on NBC Sports Chicago – including all Pre/Post-Game Shows –
to be made available to authenticated subscribers on NBCSportsChicago.com and via the NBC Sports app!

HOME/SEASON OPENER coverage on October 5 to feature “Breakfast with the Blackhawks” on Facebook Live, the Opening Night “Red Carpet Special,”
on-site United Center remote editions of “SportsTalk Live” & “Blackhawks Pre/Postgame Live,” plus – expanded social media coverage via every NBC Sports Chicago portal all day/night!  

NEW THIS SEASON: NBC Sports Chicago to carry “Blackhawks Pre/Postgame Live” before/after EVERY GAME (including all games airing on WGN, NBCSN, and NBC 5)!

NEW THIS SEASON: Former Blackhawks Fan Favorites ADAM BURISH and BRIAN CAMPBELL, along with home game reporter MICHELLE McMAHON, to join NBC Sports Chicago’s Blackhawks Coverage Team!

NBCSportsChicago.com to feature in-depth reporting from Blackhawks “Insider” Tracey Myers; Live Coverage of Every Postgame Press Conference,
“BlackhawksTalk Podcasts,” Expanded Game Highlights, plus 24/7 Twitter updates from NBC Sports Chicago crew of Blackhawks experts and much more! 

“Blackhawks Season Preview” special airs TOMORROW NIGHT at 7:00 PM CT!

Chicago, IL (October 3, 2017) – NBC Sports Chicago, the multi-platform home for the most games and the most comprehensive coverage of the Chicago Blackhawks, is once again ready to deliver another thrill-packed season of NHL excitement with 50 live regular season Blackhawks games (including live streaming to authenticated subscribers via NBCSportsChicago.com and the NBC Sports app).  NBC Sports Chicago is also announcing the addition of two former Blackhawks fan favorites (2010 Stanley Cup Champions Adam Burish & Brian Campbell) to its Blackhawks coverage team, plus – for the first time ever – LIVE pre/postgame coverage for EVERY Blackhawks telecast (including games airing on WGN, NBCSN, and NBC 5), and much more!

The 2017-18 Chicago Blackhawks regular season on NBC Sports Chicago gets underway with the HOME/SEASON OPENER against the back-to-back defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, October 5 with expanded, day-long multi-platform coverage; note the following details (all non-game programming also available to authenticated NBC Sports Chicago subscribers at NBCSportsChicago.com/WatchLive):

  • 10:30 AM – Breakfast with the Blackhawks – NBC Sports Chicago will get to the United Center ice early with live coverage of the team’s very first regular season morning skate practice session.  Hosted by Blackhawks Pre/Postgame Live’s Pat Boyle and NBCSportsChicago.com’s Blackhawks “Insider” Tracey Myers, Blackhawks Morning Skate Live will be streamed “exclusively” on Facebook Live (Facebook.com/NBCSChicago).  Interviews with Blackhawks players and coaches can be seen on NBC Sports Chicago’s Facebook page later in the morning.
  • (THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE AFTERNOON/EVENING) – In addition to Facebook (Facebook.com/NBCSChicago) and Twitter (@NBCSChicago & @NBCSBlackhawks), NBC Sports Chicago’s social media outlets will provide fans with a multitude of Opening Night “Sights & Sounds” moments provided via Snapchat (‘NBCSChicago’), along with additional photos/quick video offerings from ‘NBCSChicago’ via Instagram and Instagram Live. 
  • 5:30 PM – Red Carpet Special – NBC Sports Chicago will be at the United Center to provide fans with special coverage of the Blackhawks players/coaches/ambassadors “Red Carpet” arrival as they get ready to start up the 2017-18 NHL season in style.  The “Red Carpet Special” will be hosted by Pat Boyle, who will be joined by former Blackhawks center/2013 Stanley Cup Champion/current Blackhawks Community Liaison Jamal Mayers, and new addition to the network’s Blackhawks coverage team this season – fan favorite and a member of the 2010 Blackhawks Stanley Cup Championship roster – Adam Burish, who will provide player insight, along with some fashion commentary along the way.  Plus, NBC Sports Chicago’s new Blackhawks home game reporter, Michelle McMahon, who previously handled numerous anchor/reporting duties at the NHL Network, will be reporting from the red carpet throughout the show.  The “Red Carpet Special” can also be viewed on Facebook Live (www.Facebook.com/NBCSChicago).
  • 6:00 PM – SportsTalk Live presented by The Chevy Silverado – Special Opening Night United Center remote edition pre-game discussion & analysis with host David Kaplan and a panel of Blackhawks/NHL experts.
  • 6:30 PM – Chevy Blackhawks Pregame Live – Special edition pre-game show live from the United Center featuring hosts Pat Boyle, Jamal Mayers, and yet another fan favorite joining NBC Sports Chicago’s Blackhawks coverage this season – 2010 Stanley Cup Champion/current Blackhawks Hockey-Business Operations Liaison – Brian Campbell.  This one-hour edition of Chevy Blackhawks Pregame Live will provide a complete look at the 2017-18 squad featuring player/coaches/VIP interviews, a number of season preview feature segments, detailed Blackhawks vs. Penguins player match-up discussion, along with additional in-arena Opening Night reports from McMahon.
  • 7:30 PM – HOME/SEASON OPENER – Chicago Blackhawks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins – Featuring the call from Hall of Famer Pat Foley and former Blackhawks defenseman/veteran analyst Steve Konroyd (NOTE: Konroyd will be filling in for U.S. Hockey Hall of Famer/Blackhawks legend Eddie Olczyk, who’s currently on a medical leave of absence).
  • 10:00 PM – Blackhawks Postgame Live presented by HawkAuto.com (time approx.) – Hosted by Boyle, Mayers, and Campbell, with postgame locker room reports from McMahon, Blackhawks Postgame Live will provide fans with a complete game recap/analysis, plus live post-game press conferences and player interviews.
  • 10:30 PM – In the Loop presented by GMC (time approx.) – Expanded “Opening Night” recap, along with the latest hot topics, highlights, and can’t miss videos from the day in sports.
  • 12:30 AM – Blackhawks vs. Pittsburgh (game replay)

 

In addition to its Opening Night coverage, NBC Sports Chicago has announced it will begin providing its viewers with surrounding Blackhawks Pre/Postgame Live coverage for EVERY game (home and road) on the Blackhawks schedule, which includes local broadcast Blackhawks telecasts airing on WGN-TV, along with exclusive national games airing on either NBCSN or NBC (seen locally on WMAQ-TV/NBC 5 Chicago).  These additional airings of Blackhawks Pre/Postgame Live will feature primary host Pat Boyle, along with a rotation of studio analysts, including Jamal Mayers, Adam Burish, and Brian Campbell.  On nights of home games, Michelle McMahon will also provide viewers with pre/post-game reports and locker room interviews.  NOTE: Due to live game programming airing on the main NBC Sports Chicago channel location on occasion, a number of Blackhawks Pre/Postgame Live editions will air on the network’s alternate channel, NBC Sports Chicago+.

Throughout the season, EVERY Blackhawks game telecast airing on NBC Sports Chicago, including surrounding Blackhawks Pre/Postgame Live coverage, will be accessible live via NBCSportsChicago.com and the NBC Sports app to authenticated NBC Sports Chicago subscribers.  The live streaming service is currently available to customers of Comcast/Xfinity, DIRECTV, DISH Network, AT&T U-verse, Mediacom, RCN, WOW!, Time Warner Cable and Charter among numerous other carriers.  For a full list of carriers and more information about NBC Sports Chicago’s live streaming service of Blackhawks games, viewers are urged to visit the following link: nbcsportschicago.com/live-faq.

In addition, airing TOMORROW NIGHT (Wed, Oct. 4) at 7:00 PM CT on NBC Sports Chicago, Blackhawks fans can look forward to a special sneak preview of the 2017-18 NHL season with the Blackhawks Season Preview presented Chevy special.  Hosted by Boyle & Mayers, this half-hour special, filled with player/coaches interviews and detailed season preview analysis, will provide viewers with a comprehensive look at this year’s Blackhawks roster and all the off-season trades & acquisitions that will have this team primed for a hopeful deep run in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

In addition to its live stream of every NBC Sports Chicago Blackhawks game telecast, NBCSportsChicago.com will also provide fans with even more exclusive Blackhawks content throughout the season including the following:

  • NBCSportsChicago.com will stream EVERY Blackhawks postgame press conference LIVE (sponsored by HawkAuto.com) – providing insider access to coach Joel Quenneville addressing the media as it happens – as part of the “Blackhawks Postgame Live” stream.
  • Blackhawks “Insider” Tracey Myers returns for her eighth season on the beat, who will be joined by Blackhawks digital reporter and producer Charlie Roumeliotis, entering his third season covering the team. Follow @NBCSBlackhawks on Twitter for full team coverage, giveaways, fan photos and game day news throughout the 2017-18 NHL campaign.
  • Video highlights from every Blackhawks game, including in-game highlights after each period.  Pre-game interviews from morning skates will also be provided, as well as extensive post-game reaction from the locker room and analysis from the “Blackhawks Postgame Live” presented by HawkAuto.com.
  • “Blackhawks Talk PODCAST” – Featuring Blackhawks Pre/Postgame Live host Pat Boyle, analyst Jamal Mayers, “Insider” Tracey Myers, digital reporter/producer Charlie Roumeliotis, and an array of special guests, NBC Sports Chicago’s “Blackhawks Talk” podcast features in-depth Blackhawks discussion on the hottest topics and breaking news throughout the season. Fans can download all of NBC Sports Chicago’s podcasts at NBCSportsChicago.com/podcasts and simply subscribe to them via Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Stitcher.  The podcasts can be played on any mobile device, laptop, or desktop computer.
  • Push Alerts: NBC Sports Chicago will deliver Blackhawks push notifications for breaking team and player news, “Insider” reports, plus game reminder alerts via NBC Sports Chicago’s SportsTalk app for iOS and Android devices.
  • BlackhawksTalk (NBCSportsChicago.com/Blackhawks) – NBCSportsChicago.com’s high-velocity, real-time, comprehensive Blackhawks news and opinion section featuring original commentary, reporting and social media aggregation. BlackhawksTalk contains interactive content with continually updated insights from the network’s talent, which includes the #BlackhawksTalk podcast.
  • Fans can also follow and connect with NBC Sports Chicago’s extensive Blackhawks coverage on Facebook (including numerous “Facebook Live” segments with NBC Sports Chicago talent), Instagram and Snapchat at ‘NBCSChicago’
  • Blackhawks coverage on NBCSportsChicago.com is presented by Toyota.

 

NBC SPORTS CHICAGO
NBCSportsChicago.com/NBC Sports app

2017 – 2018 Chicago Blackhawks Schedule

REGULAR SEASON

  1. Thu, Oct 5            vs. Pittsburgh                           7:30 pm         HOME/SEASON OPENER!
  2. Mon, Oct. 9          @ Toronto                                6:00 pm
  3. Tue, Oct. 10         @ Montreal                              6:30 pm
  4. Thu, Oct. 12         vs. Minnesota                           7:30 pm
  5. Sat, Oct. 21          @ Arizona                                8:00 pm
  6. Tue, Oct. 24         @ Las Vegas                            9:00 pm
  7. Fri, Oct. 27           vs. Nashville                             7:30 pm
  8. Sat, Oct. 28          @ Colorado                              8:00 pm
  9. Sun, Nov. 5          vs. Montreal                             6:00 pm
  10. Thu, Nov. 9          @ Philadelphia                          6:00 pm
  11. Sun, Nov. 12        vs. New Jersey                         6:00 pm
  12. Wed, Nov. 22       @ Tampa Bay                          6:30 pm
  13. Sat, Nov. 25         @ Florida                                 6:00 pm
  14. Mon, Nov. 27        vs. Anaheim                             7:30 pm
  15. Thu, Nov. 30        vs. Dallas                                 7:30 pm
  16. Sat, Dec. 2           @ Dallas                                  8:00 pm
  17. Sun, Dec. 3          vs. Los Angeles                        6:00 pm
  18. Fri, Dec. 8            vs. Buffalo                                7:30 pm         NBCSCH+
  19. Tue, Dec. 12        vs. Florida                                7:30 pm
  20. Thu, Dec. 14        @ Winnipeg                              7:00 pm
  21. Sun, Dec. 17        @ Washington                          6:00 pm
  22. Thu, Dec. 21        @ Dallas                                  7:30 pm
  23. Thu, Dec. 28        @ Vancouver                           9:00 pm
  24. Fri, Dec. 29          @ Edmonton                            8:00 pm
  25. Fri, Jan. 5             vs. Las Vegas                           7:30 pm
  26. Tue, Jan. 9           @ Ottawa                                 6:30 pm
  27. Fri, Jan. 12           vs. Winnipeg                             7:30 pm
  28. Sat, Jan. 20          vs. NY Islanders                       7:30 pm
  29. Thu, Jan. 25         @ Detroit                                 6:30 pm
  30. Sat, Feb. 3           @ Calgary                                9:00 pm
  31. Tue, Feb. 6          vs. Calgary                               7:30 pm
  32. Thu, Feb. 8          vs. Dallas                                 7:30 pm
  33. Sat, Feb. 10         @ Minnesota                            7:00 pm
  34. Mon, Feb. 12        @ Arizona                                8:00 pm
  35. Tue, Feb. 13         @ Las Vegas                            9:00 pm
  36. Thu, Feb. 15         vs. Anaheim                             7:30 pm
  37. Wed, Feb. 21       vs. Ottawa                                7:30 pm
  38. Fri, Feb. 23          vs. San Jose                            7:30 pm
  39. Sat, Feb. 24         @ Columbus                            6:00 pm
  40. Sat, Mar. 3           @ Los Angeles                         3:00 pm
  41. Sun, Mar. 4          @ Anaheim                              3:00 pm
  42. Thu, Mar. 8          vs. Carolina                              7:30 pm
  43. Sat, Mar. 10         @ Boston                                 12:00 pm
  44. Thu, Mar. 15        @ Winnipeg                              7:00 pm
  45. Tue, Mar. 20        vs. Colorado                             7:30 pm
  46. Thu, Mar. 22        vs. Vancouver                          7:30 pm
  47. Mon, Mar. 26        vs. San Jose                            7:30 pm
  48. Thu, Mar. 29        vs. Winnipeg                             7:30 pm
  49. Fri, Mar. 30          @ Colorado                              8:00 pm         NBCSCH+
  50. Fri, Apr. 6             vs. St. Louis                             7:30 pm

 

 25 Home, 25 Road regular season games
Total: 50 games

All Times Central Time
Schedule Subject to Change 

NBC Sports Chicago, a partnership between the Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), Chicago Bulls (NBA), Chicago Cubs (MLB), Chicago White Sox (MLB) and the NBC Sports Group, features over 275 live pro games in high definition each year.  In addition, NBC Sports Chicago delivers extensive pre/post-game coverage for its core pro team partners, as well as the Chicago Bears, along with numerous entertaining local sports discussion/social media-focused programs via In the Loop and SportsTalk Live.  Through the network’s growing digital platform, NBCSportsChicago.com, Chicago sports fans tap into the most comprehensive and dedicated 24/7 online destination for breaking news, up-to-the-minute game previews/recaps, highlights, multimedia video clips, and standout coverage from the network’s team of “Insiders.”  Follow the network on Twitter via @NBCSChicago.  

NBC Sports Regional Networks is NBC Sports Group’s portfolio of nine regional networks that delivers more than 2,200 live sporting events and original content to more than 35 million homes. Aligned within Eastern and Western Divisions, the NBC Sports Regional Networks are: NBC Sports Boston, NBC Sports Philadelphia, NBC Sports Philadelphia +, NBC Sports Washington, NBC Sports Washington + and SNY; and NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports California, NBC Sports Chicago and NBC Sports Northwest. For more information on NBC Sports Group properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios, headshots and logos, please visit www.NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com.

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