Courtesy Steve LePore of the Battle of New York blog comes the news that NBC will air the Ice Bowl outdoor hockey game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres on New Year’s Day.
The game is tentatively scheduled for 1:00 PM, and would air opposite the Cotton Bowl on FOX, the Capital One Bowl on ABC, the Outback Bowl on ESPN and the Gator Bowl on CBS. The college football competition should put a damper on any ideas that the game will bring “the largest audience ever to watch an NHL game in the United States.”
This is somewhat of an about face. After the 2007-08 NHL schedule was released, indications were that the outdoor game would air on New Year’s Day; however, after criticism of the fact that the game would air opposite New Year’s Day bowl games, it appeared as if the NHL and NBC were considering moving the game to a later date (February 17).
It is unknown if the game will replace one of NBC’s nine already scheduled weekend telecasts.
