NHL Network's Canadian 2008-09 broadcast package kicks off with the Bridgestone Premiere 2008 Series from Prague, Czech Republic, as the New York Rangers take on this year's No. 1 overall pick Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning live on Sunday, October 5 at 12 noon ET.
NHL Network's extensive 2008-09 NHL national broadcast season offers hockey fans from across Canada 40 live games including 24 Sunday afternoon/night match-ups.
This year's broadcast schedule includes live games featuring fan favourites like last year's NHL MVP Alexander Ovechkin, sophomore sensation Patrick Kane and 2007-08 Vezina Trophy winner Martin Brodeur.
NHL Network features unique inside access into the league and its players, along with all the highlights, scores, stats and analysis any fan could want or need.
NHL Network's 40-game schedule also includes nine contests featuring the defending regular-season Eastern Conference Champion Montreal Canadiens, five games featuring Sidney Crosby and the 2007-08 Stanley Cup finalist Pittsburgh Penguins, three exclusive match-ups with the Ottawa Senators, and six originally-produced NHL Network games. Plus, five late-season Sunday games will be selected at a later date to take advantage of the more compelling match-ups as the regular season heads toward the playoffs. (See broadcast schedule below)
NHL On The Fly Fans can tune in for every single goal scored during NHL Network's flagship show NHL on The Fly. Hosts Dan Pollard and Brian Duff are joined in-studio by analysts Gary Green and Dave Reid nightly throughout the hockey season delivering live up-to-the minute hockey news, live game look-ins, extended highlights, overtime shootouts, real-time scores, interviews, pre-game and post-game reports and news conferences.
NHL Live! Don La Greca and E.J. Hradek host NHL Live!, the interactive talk radio show from the NHL/XM studio inside the NHL Powered By Reebok store in New York City, Monday through Friday from 12 noon – 2 p.m. ET. NHL Live! features comprehensive coverage of the NHL including interviews with top NHL players, coaches, executives and analysts. NHL Live! is produced by NHL Radio in association with XM Satellite Radio.
NHL All-Star Experience Contest This October, NHL Network is giving Canadian hockey fans the chance to win an exclusive behind-the-scenes NHL All-Star experience. The grand prize winner will receive a trip for four to the 2009 NHL All-Star Game in Montreal including four tickets to the NHL All-Star Game and the NHL All-Star Skills Competition and an exclusive VIP behind-the-scenes tour with flight and accommodations. The contest opens October 5 and runs throughout the month. For more information and to enter the contest, visit nhlnetwork.com.
NHL Network's 2008-09 Broadcast Schedule October Sunday, Oct. 5 NY Rangers vs. Tampa Bay 12 noon ET Sunday, Oct. 12 Phoenix @ Anaheim 8 p.m. ET Sunday, Oct. 19 Carolina @ Anaheim 8 p.m. ET Monday, Oct. 27 Ottawa @ Buffalo 7 p.m. ET Thursday, Oct. 30 Ottawa @ Florida 7:30 p.m. ET
November Sunday, Nov. 2 San Jose @ Colorado 8 p.m. ET Friday, Nov. 7 Montreal @ Columbus 7 p.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 9 San Jose @ Phoenix 8 p.m. ET Thursday, Nov. 13 Montreal @ Boston 7 p.m. ET Friday, Nov. 14 New Jersey @ Washington 7 p.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 16 Montreal @ St. Louis 6 p.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 23 New Jersey @ Tampa Bay 5 p.m. ET Friday, Nov. 28 Montreal @ Washington 7 p.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 30 Anaheim @ Carolina 7 p.m. ET
December Sunday, Dec. 7 Phoenix @ Chicago 7 p.m. ET Sunday, Dec. 14 Columbus @ Chicago 7 p.m. ET Sunday, Dec. 21 Carolina @ Montreal 7 p.m. ET Sunday, Dec. 28 Chicago @ Minnesota 6 p.m. ET
January Thursday, Jan. 1 Pittsburgh @ Boston 7 p.m. ET Friday, Jan. 2 Montreal @ New Jersey 7 p.m. ET Friday, Jan. 2 Philadelphia @ Anaheim 10 p.m. ET Sunday, Jan. 4 Minnesota @ Colorado 8 p.m. ET Sunday, Jan. 11 Chicago @ Nashville 7 p.m. ET Friday, Jan. 16 Anaheim @ Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m. ET Thursday, Jan. 29 Ottawa @ St. Louis 8:30 p.m. ET Friday, Jan. 30 Pittsburgh @ New Jersey 7 p.m. ET
February Friday, Feb. 6 Columbus @ Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m. ET Sunday, Feb. 8 Dallas @ Nashville 6 p.m. ET Sunday, Feb. 15 Carolina @ Buffalo 6 p.m. ET Sunday, Feb. 22 Minnesota @ Chicago 7 p.m. ET
March Sunday, Mar. 1 Pittsburgh @ Dallas 6 p.m. ET Thursday, Mar. 5 Minnesota @ San Jose 10:30 p.m. ET Friday, Mar. 6 Montreal @ Atlanta 7:30 p.m. ET Sunday, Mar. 8 Montreal @ Dallas 6 p.m. ET Sunday, Mar. 15 TBD Sunday, Mar. 22 TBD Sunday, Mar. 29 TBD
April Sunday, Apr. 5 TBD Thursday, Apr. 9 Montreal @ Boston 7 p.m. ET Sunday, Apr. 12 TBD Schedule subject to change
As the definitive hockey destination, NHL Network offers viewers a 24-hour all-access pass to complete hockey coverage both on and off the ice, including live NHL games featuring stars such as Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin. The network's daily signature show – NHL On The Fly – offers fans exclusive live look-ins to each NHL game, including every goal from every game, complete shootouts, extended highlights, stellar saves, features, interviews, pre- and post-game reports, team press conferences, expert analysis from a variety of hockey insiders and former players, plus special event coverage from the Winter Classic in Chicago, NHL All-Star Game, NHL Stanley Cup Final and NHL Entry Draft. Additional NHL Network programming includes live NCAA hockey, action from the American Hockey League, as well as international and amateur hockey, player profiles, interview shows and youth-oriented programs.
NHL Network is available in Canada by contacting digital cable or satellite providers.
Would be interesting to see how this stacks up vs subscribing to the NHL Game Center Online for $169 for the season. With promises that you can watch up to 4 games at once from a computer anywhere...40 games a week, a replay game feature without blackouts, which will do away with the need to record those games you miss.
I think this would be the cheaper route as you'd have to subscribe to Digital Cable first (be it with Shaw, Express Vu or Star Choice), then subscribe to the NHL Network on top of that. For someone like me who doesn't watch a whole lot of TV anymore, adding to my cable bill ISN'T an option.