As part of the new ten-year television deal signed earlier this year, NBC will open its coverage of the 2011-12 NHL season on the day after Thanksgiving.
The seventh season of the NHL on NBC will begin November 25 with the Red Wings taking on the defending champion Bruins. The game, set for 1 PM ET, will be the first of the annual ‘Black Friday’ NHL telecasts on NBC mandated by the network’s new TV deal with the league.
NBC’s coverage resumes with the Rangers/Flyers Winter Classic on January 2, also set for 1 PM.
Regular weekly NHL coverage begins on Saturday, January 14, with the Blackhawks facing the Red Wings. The weekly slate will be highlighted by the February 19 Hockey Day in America doubleheader featuring regional action in the early window and a national Bruins/Wild game at 3 PM.
Of note, the Hockey Day doubleheader would air opposite an NBA doubleheader on ABC (Mavericks/Knicks and Magic/Heat) in the event an NBA season is played.
Regular season coverage concludes on Saturday, April 7, with NBC airing choosing between one of four games at a time to be determined.
During the last two months of the season, the NHL game that NBC does not select as part of its flexible schedule will air on NBC Sports Network (currently Versus). For example, on March 18, NBC will select either Penguins/Flyers or Capitals/Blackhawks to air at 12:30 PM ET. The game the network does not select will air on NBCSN at 7:00 PM.
(Information from NBC Media Village)
