NBC is getting wild with its NHL TV schedule for 2018-19 season

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 28: Toronto Maple Leafs Left Wing James van Riemsdyk (25), Left Wing Andreas Johnsson (18), Center Auston Matthews (34) and other Maple Leafs players celebrate setting a franchise record with the 46 win of the season after the NHL regular season game between the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 28, 2018, at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photograph by Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

This year’s NHL TV schedule is being dubbed as the most diversifying schedule that NBC has ever had for the NHL, featuring under-promoted teams.

On Monday, NBC, which holds the NHL’s broadcasting rights, announced the NHL TV schedule for broadcasting games this season — and it’s a bit different than in years past.

There’s no more “Wednesday Night Rivalry,” as NBC scrapped that in favor of Wednesday Night Hockey. There will be 25 showcases on Wednesday night, and 17 of those will feature double-headers, which is the most in NBC’s history. This year, 67 of NBC’s 110 games during the regular season will feature at least one Western Conference team.

The Chicago Blackhawks again have the most games on NBC and its partners, as they have 19 games scheduled to appear nationally. The Washington Capitals have 18 and the Philadelphia Flyers have 17 this season, which is an increase for both of them from last season. The Pittsburgh Penguins will appear on NBC 15 times, one shy of 16 from last year.

There will be some games on NBC and NBC Sports Network this season that aren’t usually broadcast nationally. For example, for the first time, the Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins will go head-to-head on national television. This is an excellent way to promote two of the best hockey players in the world in Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid. That game will happen on February 13.

Another example is when Toronto will visit Winnipeg on October 24. In the past, it would be broadcast nationally in Canada but NBC wanted to promote Patrik Laine, Auston Matthews and John Tavares as they should as Laine and Matthews are outstanding young superstar players.

The teams that won’t appear at all on NBC this season are the Ottawa Senators and the Vancouver Canucks. Vancouver hasn’t appeared for the last five seasons, and Ottawa was on just once last year.

Next: Each NHL Team's Biggest 'What if' Moment

The Los Angeles Kings might be the biggest loser from last season to this season, as they appeared 12 times on NBC’s networks last year but will only appear five times this season.

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