NBC has announced its first choice of games for the NHL Game of the Week which debuts this Sunday. The network will have its choice of multiple games each week.
RED HOT BLACKHAWKS TAKE ON RED WINGS IN HOCKEYTOWN USA IN 2010 DEBUT OF NHL GAME OF THE WEEK, SUNDAY ON NBC SPORTS“There isn’t any doubt that this is the best team Chicago has had in a long time.” – NBC’s Milbury
“This is probably the best Mike Babcock has ever coached.” – NBC’s McGuire
Penguins at Flyers Flexed Into Jan. 24 “Game of the Week”
NEW YORK - Jan. 11, 2010 - The Chicago Blackhawks, who lead the NHL in points with 66 and are in search of their first Stanley Cup championship since 1961, travel to Detroit to face the Red Wings in a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Finals at Joe Louis Arena in the 2010 debut of the NHL Game of the Week, this Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports.
Mike “Doc” Emrick (play-by-play), Eddie Olczyk (analyst) and Pierre McGuire (inside-the-glass reporter) call the action. McGuire will pull double duty, hosting NBC’s studio show alongside analyst Mike Milbury on site at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. NBC’s NHL coverage is produced by Sam Flood, the son of a hockey coach and former captain of the Williams College hockey team.
MILBURY: “There isn’t any doubt that this is the best team Chicago has had in a long time. They play a speedy puck possession game that is fun to watch. And they have been answering the questions about their goaltending in a positive way. Detroit is coming off a good west coast swing. Given all that they’ve been through, they are starting to get their act together.”
MCGUIRE: “Chicago has had a tremendous year predicated on a lot of young stars who are complemented by role players who get it. They don’t have a lot of holes. Detroit is getting more stable after some key players have come back from injury. This is probably the best Mike Babcock has ever coached.”
OLYMPIANS IN THE GAME: Sunday’s game features 13 players who will compete on their respective Olympic teams. Following is a list of players competing Sunday who will face off in Vancouver in February:
USA
Detroit, D Brian Rafalski
Chicago, F Patrick Kane
Canada
Chicago, D Brent Seabrook
Chicago, D Duncan Keith
Chicago, F Jonathan Toews
Finland
Detroit, F Valtteri Filppula
Russia
Detroit, F Pavel Datsyuk
Slovakia
Chicago, F Marian Hossa
Chicago, F Thomas Kopecky
Sweden
Detroit, F Henrik Zetterberg
Detroit, F Tomas Holmstrom
Detroit, D Nicklas Lidstrom
Detroit, D Nicklas Kronwall
NBCSPORTS.COM: NBCSports.com will again offer “Star-cam” this season. It will follow a player from both teams throughout each of their shifts. Following the game, NBCSports.com will present bonus material, including “Star-cam” and “Net-cam” and bonus analysis from NBC Sports commentators.
PENGUINS AT FLYERS FLEXED INTO JAN. 24 “GAME OF THE WEEK”: The NHL and NBC Sports announced today that the Sunday, Jan. 24 contest between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers has been selected for the “NHL Game of the Week” on NBC Sports. Puck drop is at 12:30 p.m. ET. The game pits the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins, including C Sidney Crosby, against the resurgent Flyers.
FLEX SCHEDULING & CONSISTENT 12:30 PM ET START TIME: Again this year, “Game of the Week” broadcasts will consistently start at 12:30 p.m. ET on Sundays (except for April 11, Noon ET start time). For the third straight season, the NHL and NBC Sports will utilize flex scheduling and will be able to select from up to four games on Sunday afternoons. At least 13 days prior to the scheduled games, the NHL and NBC Sports will announce one of those games as the "Game of the Week" to be broadcast during the NBC Sports window. The other games will remain available to the teams’ regional carrier but will not be televised during NBC Sports' broadcast window.2009 NHL GAME OF THE WEEK REGULAR-SEASON FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE(All Games Announced At Least 13 Days Prior)Sunday, Jan. 17, 12:30 p.m. ET
Chicago @ Detroit (Flexed)
Sunday, Jan. 24, 12:30 p.m. ET
Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia (Flexed)
Sunday, Jan. 31, 12:30 p.m. ET
Detroit @ Pittsburgh
Tampa Bay @ Washington
Sunday, Feb. 7, 12:30 p.m. ET
Pittsburgh @ Washington
Boston @ Montreal
Sunday, Mar. 7, 12:30 p.m. ET
Boston @ Pittsburgh
Detroit @ Chicago
Carolina @ Atlanta
Sunday, Mar. 14, 12:30 p.m. ET
Philadelphia @ New York Rangers
Pittsburgh @ Tampa Bay
Colorado @ Dallas
Washington @ Chicago
Sunday, Mar. 21, 12:30 p.m. ET
New York Rangers @ Boston
Buffalo @ Carolina
Sunday, Apr. 4, 12:30 p.m. ET
Detroit @ Philadelphia
Sunday, Apr. 11, 12:00 p.m. ET
Boston @ Washington
New York Rangers @ Philadelphia
Detroit @ Chicago
More releases coming up.
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