CBC Sports Announces Its 2010 NHL First Round Playoff Broadcast Schedule

After making its selections for the NHL Conference Quarterfinals, CBC has issued this press release announcing the series it will air. It has the first pick of the Canadian teams involved and it ensures it gets Vancouver which is featured in most of its Hockey Night in Canada broadcasts and Ottawa which is playing defending Stanley Cup Champs, Pittsburgh. Plus it gives Sidney Crosby to CBC for at least four games.

TSN gets the Washington-Montreal series, but since we don’t get TSN press releases, I can’t give you what it’s saying about the playoffs.

Here’s CBC’s release.

THE QUEST FOR THE CUP BEGINS AS CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA GEARS UP FOR THE 2010 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Round One schedule features the best match-ups; extensive coverage of Canadian NHL teams; LIVE and interactive features on CBCSports.ca/stanleycup; special Playoff Preview show April 13 

               

From the first puck drop to the hoisting of the Stanley Cup in June, CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA is home to the biggest names and brightest stars, bringing Canadians wall-to-wall coverage of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs and exclusive Canadian coverage of the Stanley Cup Final in High-Definition.

“CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada continues the long standing tradition of bringing the passion of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs to Canadians,” said Sherali Najak, executive producer, CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada. “Our mandate is to provide hockey fans with an exciting schedule and unparalleled coverage of the matchups, players and personalities that make this our game.”

CBC’s powerhouse playoff schedule kicks off on Tuesday, April 13 at 8 p.m. local with CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada: Stanley Cup Countdown preview show in front of a live studio audience. Host Ron MacLean will be joined by analysts Kelly Hrudey, Mike Milbury and P.J. Stock to set the stage for the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The one-hour special will breakdown all eight Playoff series with detailed analysis of the sixteen teams competing in the NHL post-season. Following the special will be  the first puck drop of the Playoffs on Wednesday, April 14.  All of the games in the Pittsburgh/Ottawa, Vancouver/Los Angeles, Buffalo/Boston and San Jose/Colorado series will be available exclusively on CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA. 

On Wednesday, April 14, CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA kicks off its schedule with a must-see doubleheader. Ron MacLean will host the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs along with Don Cherry, Mike Milbury, Kelly Hrudey and P.J. Stock.  The action gets underway at 7 p.m. ET when Sidney Crosby and the defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins host Daniel Alfredsson and the Ottawa Senators at Mellon Arena. Bob Cole will call the series alongside analyst Garry Galley supported by rinkside reporter Elliotte Friedman. Analyst Glenn Healy will be in the heart of the action between the benches for the duration of the series. In the nightcap of the twin bill, CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA will go to HP Pavilion in San Jose at 10:30 p.m. ET as Joe Thornton and the San Jose Sharks host Paul Stastny and the Colorado Avalanche. This West Conference Quarterfinal best-of-seven showdown will be called play-by-play commentator Mark Lee and analyst Kevin Weekes. (Please see below for complete first round broadcast schedule and distribution).

The excitement continues on Thursday, April 15 at 7 p.m. ET as Ryan Miller and the Buffalo Sabres host Zdeno Chara and the Boston Bruins at HSBC Arena. Reporter Cassie Campbell, play-by-play commentator Dean Brown and analyst Greg Millen will cover this East Quarterfinal series. At 10 p.m. ET the west coast roars as Art Ross Trophy winner Henrik Sedin and the Vancouver Canucks welcome Drew Doughty and the upstart Los Angeles Kings to GM Place for the start of their best-of-seven series. Jim Hughson will call the series with analyst Craig Simpson and rinkside reporter Scott Oake. On Saturday, April 17 at 9:30 p.m. ET, CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA sets the stage with Hockey Tonight, the pre-game show, followed by game two of the Vancouver/Los Angeles series. Hockey Tonight, returns on Sunday, April 18 at 6 p.m. ET to set up game three of the Pittsburgh/Ottawa series (Please see below for complete first round broadcast schedule).

CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada will feature the Vancouver/Los Angeles series in Punjabi, with Parminder Singh handling play-by-play for the Punjabi language broadcasts, working alongside analyst Harnarayan Singh. The Punjabi broadcasts will be available at CBCSports.ca.

CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA goes live and interactive throughout the Playoffs on CBCSports.ca/stanleycup. Each CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA broa
dcast will be streamed live on-demand at CBCSports.ca/stanleycup, where hockey fans will also be able catch up to the minute news, features, previews, highlights and analysis for every game.   The Stanley Cup I-Desk, hosted by Hall of Fame journalist Scott Morrison and Hockey Night in Canada Radio on SIRIUS host Jeff Marek will feature live chats with hockey fans across the country during all games broadcast on CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA. Facebook users can become fans of CBC Sports at facebook.com/cbcsports, and try out the Beard Yourself application that allows fans to sport the perfect playoff beard on their profile picture while cheering on their favourite team throughout the Playoffs. Twitter users can join the CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA Twitter feed, twitter.com/cbcsports, to see all breaking news as it happens throughout the Playoffs. 

In addition, fans will have a chance to put together their own winning lineup for the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs with CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada Playoff Pool. Just like the regular season, fans will have a chance to win great prizes and to drive off with the grand prize, a new 2011 Kia Sorento.

CBCSports.ca’s Stanley Cup Countdown broadcast begins Tuesday, April 13 at 1 p.m. ET and will continue through the playoffs. The daily 30-minute preview show will be hosted by Morrison and Marek, and will preview the upcoming night’s games, as well as look back at what transpired the night before.

Hockey Night in Canada Radio on SIRIUS with host Jeff Marek will also offer comprehensive coverage of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs on SIRIUS Satellite Radio’s Channel 97 airing Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. ET (encore presentation from 8-11 p.m. ET).

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages.

CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA: 2010 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

ROUND ONE – CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS

BROADCAST SCHEDULE

All series best of seven. Schedule subject to change.

PITTSBURGH (#4) VS. OTTAWA (#5) – Bob Cole/Gary Galley/Elliotte Friedman

G1 – Ottawa @ Pittsburgh, Wed, April 14 @ 7 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

G2 – Ottawa @ Pittsburgh, Fri, April 16 @ 7 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

G3 – Pittsburgh @ Ottawa, Sun, April 18 @ 6:30 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

G4 – Pittsburgh @ Ottawa, Tues, April 20 @ 7 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

G5** – Ottawa @ Pittsburgh, Thurs, April 22 @ 7 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

G6** – Pittsburgh @ Ottawa, Sat, April 24 @ 7 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

G7** – Ottawa @ Pittsburgh, Tues, April 27 @ 7 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

SAN JOSE (#1) VS. COLORADO (#8) – Mark Lee/Kevin Weekes

G1 – Colorado @ San Jose, Wed, April 14 @ 10:30 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

G2 – Colorado @ San Jose, Fri, April 16 @ 10:30 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

G3 – San Jose @ Colorado, Sun, April 18 @ 9:30 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

G4 – San Jose @ Colorado, Tues, April 20 @ 10 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

G5** – Colorado @ San Jose, Thurs, April 22 @ 10:30 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

G6** – San Jose @ Colorado, Sat, April 24 – TBD, FULL NETWORK

G7** – Colorado @ San Jose, Mon, April 26 – TBD, FULL NETWORK

BUFFALO (#3) VS. BOSTON (#6) – Dean Brown/Greg Millen/Cassie Campbell

G1 – Boston @ Buffalo, Thurs, April 15 @ 7 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

G2 – Boston @ Buffalo, Sat, April 17 @ 1 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

G3 – Buffalo @ Boston, Mon, April 19 @ 7 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

G4 – Buffalo @ Boston, Wed, April 21 @ 7 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

G5** – Boston @ Buffalo, Fr
i, April 23 @ 7 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

G6** – Buffalo @ Boston, Mon, April 26 @ 7 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

G7** – Boston @ Buffalo, Wed, April 28 @ 7 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

VANCOUVER (#3) VS. LOS ANGELES (#6) – Jim Hughson/Craig Simpson/Scott Oake

G1 – Los Angeles @ Vancouver, Thurs, April 15 @ 10 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

G2 – Los Angeles @ Vancouver, Sat, April 17 @ 10 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

G3 – Vancouver @ Los Angeles, Mon, April 19 @ 10 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

G4 – Vancouver @ Los Angeles, Wed, April 21 @ 10 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

G5** – Los Angeles @ Vancouver, Fri, April 23 @ 10 p.m. ET, FULL NETWORK

G6** – Vancouver @ Los Angeles, Sun, April 25 – TBD, FULL NETWORK

G7** –  Los Angeles @ Vancouver, Tues, April 27 – TBD, FULL NETWORK

That’s it.