This is the best news of this early season for those of us in the States.
Hockey Night in Canada, the creme de la creme of hockey on TV and a treasure of this sport, will air this season not only on the great CBC, but the NHL Network as well in America. Any of you who are fortunate enough to know the joy of watching this incredible broadcast know, and to all others you are in for a treat! A true treat.
Hockey Night in Canada is Sports on TV's version of Art.
Every Saturday night, NHL Network will not only broadcast
the live Hockey Night In Canada double-header, but also the CBC pre-game
show Scotiabank Hockey Tonight and post-game show After Hours.
And yes of course, the best few minutes in all of hockey punditry...Don Cherry's "Coach's Corner."
Regular-season coverage on NHL Network gets underway in the U.S. on
Saturday, Oct. 4 when the New York Rangers take on the Tampa Bay Lightning
in Prague, Czech Republic and the Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins
meet in Stockholm, Sweden, in the Bridgestone NHL Premiere 2008™.
Additional highlights for the 2008-09 NHL broadcast schedule include:
Live NHL games every Saturday night throughout the season
26 double-headers and 1 triple-header
17 Wednesday-night games featuring TSN’s broadcast of Wednesday Night
Hockey
5 games featuring the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings
7 games featuring the Pittsburgh Penguins and Sidney Crosby
2 games featuring the Washington Capitals and last season’s Hart Trophy
winner Alex Ovechkin
5 original NHL Network game productions
“NHL Network is an important platform in super-serving our fans with
the hockey content they demand, 24 hours a day,” said John Shannon, NHL
Executive Vice President of Broadcasting and Programming. “With
top-quality production of marquee match-ups on a consistent schedule, in
addition to new original programming, NHL Network is creating appointment
television for hockey fans nationwide.”
NHL Network is the first 24-hour network dedicated to the National
Hockey League with unprecedented access to the most comprehensive hockey
coverage both on and off the ice. In addition to live NHL games, NHL
Network will broadcast live college hockey and the Memorial Cup. The
network also airs post-game press conferences, special event programming
on-location from NHL events such as NHL Winter Classic™, NHL All-Star
weekend, NHL Entry Draft and the Stanley Cup™ Final and its signature daily
live highlight show – NHL on the Fly – which airs nightly throughout the
hockey season.
NHL Network is now accessible to more than 80 million homes through
all of its carriage arrangements, including those with Cablevision, Charter
Communications, Comcast, Cox Communications, DIRECTV, DISH Network® and
Time Warner Cable. NHL Network launched in the U.S in October of 2007 and
in Canada in 2001. This is the second season NHL Network will broadcast
live NHL games in the U.S.
2008-09 NHL Network Regular-Season U.S. Broadcast Schedule
October
Saturday, Oct. 4 NY Rangers @ Tampa Bay 12:00 PM ET
Saturday, Oct. 4 Pittsburgh @ Ottawa 2:30 PM ET
Saturday, Oct. 11 Montreal @ Toronto 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Oct. 11 Vancouver @ Calgary 10:00 PM ET
Saturday, Oct. 18 Toronto @ Pittsburgh 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Oct. 18 Calgary @ Edmonton 10:00 PM ET
Saturday, Oct. 25 Ottawa @ Toronto 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Oct. 25 Edmonton @ Vancouver 10:00 PM ET
Monday, Oct. 27 Ottawa @ Buffalo 7:00 PM ET
Thursday, Oct 30 Ottawa @ Florida 7:30 PM ET
November
Saturday, Nov. 1 NY Rangers @ Toronto 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Nov. 1 Calgary @ Los Angeles 10:00 PM ET
Saturday, Nov. 8 Montreal @ Toronto 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Nov. 8 Minnesota @ Vancouver 10:00 PM ET
Saturday, Nov. 15 Toronto @ Vancouver 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Nov. 15 Colorado @ Edmonton 10:00 PM ET
Saturday, Nov. 22 Chicago @ Toronto 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Nov. 22 Detroit @ Calgary 10:00 PM ET
Wednesday, Nov. 26 Montreal @ Detroit 7:30 PM ET
Wednesday, Nov. 26 Los Angeles @ Edmonton 10:00 PM ET
Saturday, Nov. 29 Philadelphia @ Toronto 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Nov. 29 Vancouver @ Calgary 10:00 PM ET
December
Saturday, Dec. 6 Washington @ Toronto 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Dec. 6 Edmonton @ San Jose 10:00 PM ET
Wednesday, Dec. 10 Calgary @ Detroit 7:30 PM ET
Saturday, Dec. 13 Washington @ Montreal 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Dec. 13 Vancouver @ Edmonton 10:00 PM ET
Wednesday, Dec. 17 Calgary @ Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
Saturday, Dec. 20 Toronto @ Pittsburgh 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Dec. 20 Chicago @ Vancouver 10:00 PM ET
Sunday, Dec. 21 Carolina @ Montreal 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Dec. 27 Montreal @ Pittsburgh 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Dec. 27 Ottawa @ Calgary 10:00 PM ET
January
Wednesday, Jan. 7 Montreal @ NY Rangers 7:30 PM ET
Saturday, Jan. 10 Toronto @ Philadelphia 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Jan. 10 San Jose @ Vancouver 10:00 PM ET
Wednesday, Jan. 14 Ottawa @ Atlanta 7:30 PM ET
Saturday, Jan. 17 Montreal @ Ottawa 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Jan. 17 Phoenix @ Calgary 10:00 PM ET
Wednesday, Jan. 28 Buffalo @ Calgary 8:00 PM ET
Wednesday, Jan. 28 Nashville @ Vancouver 10:30 PM ET
Thursday, Jan. 29 Ottawa @ St. Louis 8:30 PM ET
Saturday, Jan. 31 Pittsburgh @ Toronto 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Jan. 31 Minnesota @ Vancouver 10:00 PM ET
February
Wednesday, Feb. 4 Toronto @ Buffalo 7:30 PM ET
Saturday, Feb. 7 Toronto @ Montreal 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Feb. 7 Chicago @ Vancouver 10:00 PM ET
Wednesday, Feb. 11 Ottawa @ Buffalo 7:30 PM ET
Saturday, Feb. 14 Pittsburgh @ Toronto 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Feb. 14 Calgary @ Phoenix 10:00 PM ET
Wednesday, Feb. 18 Montreal @ Washington 7:30 PM ET
Saturday, Feb. 21 Ottawa @ Montreal 3:00 PM ET
Saturday, Feb. 21 Vancouver @ Toronto 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Feb. 21 Calgary @ Edmonton 10:00 PM ET
Wednesday, Feb. 25 NY Rangers @ Toronto 7:30 PM ET
Saturday, Feb. 28 Toronto @ Ottawa 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Feb. 28 Minnesota @ Edmonton 10:00 PM ET
March
Wednesday, Mar. 4 Montreal @ Buffalo 7:30 PM ET
Friday, Mar. 6 Montreal @ Atlanta 7:30 PM ET
Saturday, Mar. 7 Edmonton @ Toronto 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Mar. 7 San Jose @ Vancouver 10:00 PM ET
Wednesday, Mar. 11 Tampa Bay @ Ottawa 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Mar. 14 Calgary @ Toronto 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Mar. 14 Colorado @ Edmonton 10:00 PM ET
Wednesday, Mar. 18 Dallas @ Calgary 9:30 PM ET
Saturday, Mar. 21 Toronto @ Montreal 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Mar. 21 Vancouver @ Phoenix 10:00 PM ET
Wednesday, Mar. 25 Calgary @ Pittsburgh 7:30 PM ET
Saturday, Mar. 28 Boston @ Toronto 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Mar. 28 Minnesota @ Calgary 10:00 PM ET
April
Wednesday, Apr. 1 Philadelphia @ Toronto 7:30 PM ET
Saturday, Apr. 4 Montreal @ Toronto 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Apr. 4 Vancouver @ Edmonton 10:00 PM ET
Saturday, Apr. 11 Ottawa @ Toronto 7:00 PM ET
Saturday, Apr. 11 Edmonton @ Calgary 10:00 PM ET
* Subject to change, subject to local blackout
NHL Network in Canada Schedule
NHL Network Announces 2008-09 NHL Broadcast Plans In Canada
-- 40-game schedule includes five match-ups with Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby –
-- Begins Oct. 5 with NY Rangers vs. Tampa Bay live from Prague –
-- NHL All-Star Experience Contest to give four fans exclusive behind-the-scenes tour --
Toronto, ON (October 3, 2008) – 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.
Broadcast Schedule
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 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
The Rangers Are Up to Something...
The Rangers today decided to tell two of the young d-men that they are going to Hartford when the team returns to the Mainland....
Why tell them this now when the team is still in Europe?
Are the Rangers really going to carry on six defenseman when they return?
Something is up and I am on it...
Stay tuned...MUCH more to come.
From yesterday...
Savard for Bieksa (e4)
Sources are telling me that a deal may be in the works that would send Marc Savard to Vancouver for Kevin Bieksa. This trade does make sense on certain levels as Vancouver needs scoring and Boston does need d-help. I just don't know if Bieska is enough. As is sometimes the case with rumours I don't get privy to ALL of the minor pieces of a deal, so maybe there is more...
What do you all think of this trade? Who wins if this happens?
Khabibulin may be going to KHL, but not likely HC Dinamo Minsk.
There is a report out that Khabibulin may be going to Russia, but according to a source of mine familiar with the situation, "There is no way Khabibulin would play for Minsk. Not a chance."
Sundin and Foppa Rocky Mountain High?
Rumours today from Sweden and America are confirming a rumour I heard a few weeks ago that Mats Sundin and Peter Forsberg may be planning a joint return to Colorado in early 2009. According to the Swedish source, "All the players at the morning skate yesterday were talking about this including one player who lives very near to and talks to Sundin all of the time."
The source out in California concurred saying that he had a conversation with a person in the Avalanche organization who confirmed that there was "a definite interest in both Swedes and that preliminary planning had taken place for the last month."
I am not a fan of two players coming on board mid-season at all for what it says to the guys who have been there all along, but how do you argue that two guys of this ilk can't help a team?
What do you think?
As the HBSL enters it's fourth season we've decided to make some exciting changes to improve what was already the best fantasy hockey game out there.
Everyone can Sign Up!
You no longer have to be a HockeyBuzz Season Ticket Holder to participate in the HBSL, but there's a catch. Because we appreciate the support that Season Ticket Holders have provided since HockeyBuzz first launched, only STH's will be eligible for the grand prize of an HDTV.
At the end of the regular season, Season Ticket Holders will be put into a bracket to compete for the grand prize while everyone else will be placed into a bracket for a chance to win a customized NHL jersey from IceJerseys.com. Plus you'll get to brag to all your friends that you outplayed hundreds of hockey fans in the best fantasy hockey game in the world. The ladies will really be impressed by that.
League Play
In the past we've generated random match-ups at the start of each week. This season we're going to split everyone up into 18-24 team leagues at the start of the season. You'll know your schedule and your league opponents from the start of the season. To make things more interesting, we're going to group everyone based on their favorite NHL team. Each league will place one team in both the STH Playoff Bracket and the Free Playoff Bracket, with the remaining playoff spots being filled with wild-cards.
Goalie Shutouts
While it's not the most significant change to the game, we've gotten a lot of requests in the past to include shutouts in the scoring. Shutouts will be worth 10 points, so make sure you invest some money into your goaltenders.
Salary Cap Hits
Since we first launched the HBSL in 2005 the goal was to make the game as much like building an NHL team as possible. With the addition of Cap Central to HockeyBuzz we now have the data to use salary cap hits rather than player salaries.
Good Luck!
With Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin past their entry level contracts and the change to salary cap hits, there's not a lot of cheap talent out there. The rosters should be a lot more diverse this year which should make for a challenging season.
Sign Up Now! 
Join the Discussion:
»