NHL Game of the Week explained

Genre:NHL game telecasts
Presenter:Sean McDonough
Ray Ferraro
Emily Kaplan
Bob Wischusen
Ryan Callahan
Leah Hextall
Mike Monaco
A. J. Mleczko
Blake Bolden
Dave Jackson
Steve Levy
Mark Messier
P. K. Subban
John Buccigross
Kevin Weekes
Arda Ocal
Country:United States
Language:English
Num Seasons:15
Camera:Multi-camera
Runtime:180 minutes or until game ends
Company:NBC Sports (2006–2021) ESPN (2021–present)
Network:NBC
ABC
ESPN+
First Aired: - (NBC);
- present (ABC)
Related:NHL on NBC
NHL on ABC

The National Hockey League Game of the Week is a branding used for regular season National Hockey League weekend games that are typically televised on a national broadcast network in the U.S.

The branding was previously used by NBC on Sunday afternoons, beginning at the weekend of the NFL Conference Championship games when it held NHL broadcast rights between the 2005–06 and 2020–21 seasons. During the 2016–17, NBC began to promote the Star Sunday brand on both the Game of the Week and its Sunday Night Hockey broadcasts on sister cable network NBCSN, focusing primarily on the NHL's star players. Star Sunday featured extensive pre-game, in-game and post-game coverage of each featured player. The first game under the new package featured the New York Rangers and the Detroit Red Wings on January 22, 2017, with Ryan McDonagh and Dylan Larkin the featured players of their respective teams.[1]

Beginning with the 2021–22 season, ABC replaced NBC as the league's network broadcast partner.[2] [3] Since then, ABC has typically aired one game per weekend, usually on Saturday afternoons, beginning in February. Due to the current arrangement of ABC's sports programming being produced and co-branded by ESPN, the broadcasts carry the NHL on ESPN production and branding.

History

Historically, there was game of the week broadcasts in the past but until NBC Sports took over broadcasting rights to the National Hockey League from ESPN and ABC they were never consistent.

NHL on NBC era

Starting in, the most important games on primarily Sundays or Thursdays would be titled NHL on NBC Game of the Week which eventually got moved to only Sundays later that season.

Then as a part of the deal made between NBC and the NHL in, the game of the week package would add the NHL Thanksgiving Showdown to its schedule and this would continue until the 2020-21 season. [4] [5]

ESPN/ABC takes over

In March 2021, after nearly 20 years away, ESPN announced it had reacquired broadcasting rights to the NHL and as a part of that deal ABC would take over rights to air the game of the week package. [6] [7] [8] [9]

ABC Hockey Saturday as is would be called would debut on November 26, 2021 with the Thanksgiving Showdown between the New York Rangers and the Boston Bruins. [10]

ABC’s game of the week coverage consists of mostly of either doubleheaders or tripleheaders from Saturday afternoon to night which usually begins at the last weeks of the season which starts with a 30-minute pregame show.[11]

Schedules

2000s

2006–07 season

DateTimeAway teamScoreHome teamScore
January 13, 20072 P.M.Pittsburgh5Philadelphia3
Boston1NY Rangers3
Los Angeles5St. Louis6
January 28, 20073:30 P.M.Colorado1Detroit3
Dallas1Anaheim4
Philadelphia2Atlanta1
February 11, 20073:30 P.M.Colorado5Dallas7
Tampa Bay4New Jersey1
Chicago5Columbus4
February 18, 20073:30 P.M.Washington2Pittsburgh3
Chicago1NY Rangers2
San Jose2Dallas5
March 4, 200712:30 P.M.Colorado4 (OT)Detroit3
Philadelphia3Pittsburgh4 (SO)
March 11, 200712:30 P.M.Boston6Detroit3
Carolina1NY Rangers2 (SO)
March 25, 200712:30 P.M.Boston1Pittsburgh5
NY Rangers2 (SO)NY Islanders1
April 1, 200712:30 P.M.Detroit4Columbus1
6 P.M.Los Angeles2San Jose6
April 8, 20071 P.M.Buffalo3Philadelphia4
Chicago2Dallas3

2007–08 season

Starting this season, NBC aired these Game of the Week games on a national basis, in addition to carrying the national broadcasts of the Winter Classic on New Year's Day and the Stanley Cup Playoffs during the Spring.

DateTimeAway teamScoreHome teamScore
January 20, 20081:30 P.M.Boston3NY Rangers1
February 3, 20082 P.M.NY Rangers5Montreal3
February 10, 20081 P.M.Anaheim3Detroit2
February 17, 20081 P.M.Detroit0Dallas1
March 2, 200812:30 P.M.Philadelphia4NY Rangers5 (SO)
March 9, 200812:30 P.M.Pittsburgh4Washington2
March 16, 200812 P.M.Philadelphia1Pittsburgh7
March 30, 20083 P.M.NY Rangers1Pittsburgh3
April 6, 200812:30 P.M.Chicago1Detroit4

2008–09 season

DateTimeAway teamScoreHome teamScore
January 18, 200912:30 P.M.NY Rangers0Pittsburgh3
February 8, 200912:30 P.M.Detroit2Pittsburgh0
February 15, 200912:30 P.M.Philadelphia5NY Rangers2
February 22, 200912:30 P.M.Pittsburgh2Washington5
March 8, 200912:30 P.M.Boston3NY Rangers4
March 15, 200912:30 P.M.Philadelphia1NY Rangers4
March 22, 200912:30 P.M.Philadelphia3Pittsburgh1
April 5, 200912:30 P.M.Minnesota2Detroit3
April 12, 20092 P.M.Detroit0Chicago3

2010s

2009–10 season

DateTimeAway teamScoreHome teamScore
January 17, 201012:30 P.M.Chicago4 (SO)Detroit3
January 24, 201012:30 P.M.Pittsburgh2Philadelphia1
January 31, 201012:30 P.M.Detroit1Pittsburgh2 (SO)
February 7, 201012:30 P.M.Pittsburgh4Washington5 (OT)
March 7, 201012:30 P.M.Detroit5Chicago4
March 14, 201012:30 P.M.Washington4Chicago3
March 21, 201012:30 P.M.NY Rangers1Boston2
April 4, 201012:30 P.M.Detroit3Philadelphia4
April 11, 201012:30 P.M.Boston4 (SO)Washington3

2010–11 season

DateTimeAway teamScoreHome teamScore
January 23, 201112:30 P.M.Philadelphia4Chicago1
February 6, 201112:30 P.M.Pittsburgh0Washington3
February 13, 201112:30 P.M.Boston2Detroit4
February 20, 201112:30 P.M.Washington2Buffalo1
Philadelphia4N.Y. Rangers2
Detroit2 (SO)Minnesota1
3:30 P.M.Pittsburgh2Chicago3 (SO)
March 6, 201112:30 P.M.Philadelphia0NY Rangers7
March 13, 201112:30 P.M.Chicago3Washington4
March 20, 201112:30 P.M.NY Rangers5Pittsburgh2
April 3, 201112:30 P.M.NY Rangers3 (SO)Philadelphia2
April 10, 201112:30 P.M.Detroit4Chicago3

2011–12 season

The Pittsburgh Penguins had an overall five network TV appearances during this season, making it the first NHL team in Pennsylvania and the first NHL team to have overall five network appearances in a regular season.

DateTimeAway teamScoreHome teamScore
January 14, 201212:30 P.M.Chicago2Detroit3 (OT)
January 22, 201212:30 P.M.Washington3Pittsburgh4 (OT)
February 12, 201212:30 P.M.Washington2NY Rangers3
February 19, 201212:30 P.M.Pittsburgh2Buffalo6
San Jose2Detroit3
St. Louis1Chicago3
3:30 P.M.Boston0Minnesota2
March 4, 201212:30 P.M.Boston3NY Rangers4
March 11, 201212:30 P.M.Boston2Pittsburgh5
March 18, 201212:30 P.M.Pittsburgh2Philadelphia3 (OT)
April 1, 201212:30 P.M.Philadelphia6Pittsburgh4
April 7, 20121 P.M.Chicago3 (SO)Detroit2

2012–13 season

DateTimeAway teamScoreHome teamScore
January 19, 20133 P.M.Pittsburgh3Philadelphia1
Chicago5Los Angeles2
January 20, 201312:30 P.M.Philadelphia2Buffalo5
February 3, 201312:30 P.M.Pittsburgh6Washington3
February 10, 201312:30 P.M.Los Angeles2Detroit3
February 17, 201312:30 P.M.Pittsburgh4Buffalo3
3:30 P.M.Los Angeles2Chicago3
March 3, 201312:30 P.M.Chicago2 (SO)Detroit1
March 10, 201312:30 P.M.NY Rangers4Washington1
March 17, 201312:30 P.M.Boston1Pittsburgh2
March 31, 201312:30 P.M.Chicago7Detroit1
April 7, 201312:30 P.M.St. Louis1Detroit0
April 14, 201312:30 P.M.Chicago2St. Louis0
April 21, 20133 P.M.New Jersey1NY Rangers4
April 27, 20133 P.M.04

2013–14 season

[12]

DateTimeAway teamScoreHome teamScore
January 19, 201412:30 P.M.Boston2Chicago3 (SO)
January 26, 201412:30 P.M.NY Rangers7New Jersey3
February 2, 201412:30 P.M.Detroit5Washington6 (OT)
March 1, 20148 P.M.Pittsburgh1Chicago5
March 2, 201412:30 P.M.Philadelphia5 (OT)Washington4
March 9, 201412:30 P.M.Detroit0NY Rangers3
March 16, 201412:30 P.M.Philadelphia4Pittsburgh3
March 30, 201412:30 P.M.Boston4 (SO)Philadelphia3
April 6, 201412:30 P.M.St. Louis2Chicago4
April 12, 20143 P.M.Philadelphia4 (OT)Pittsburgh3
April 13, 201412:30 P.M.Detroit3St. Louis0

2014–15 season

[13]

DateTimeAway teamScoreHome teamScore
January 18, 201512:30 P.M.NY Rangers5Pittsburgh2
February 8, 201512:30 P.M.Chicago4St. Louis2
February 15, 201512:30 P.M.Pittsburgh1Chicago2 (SO)
February 22, 201512:30 P.M.Washington2Philadelphia3
3:30 P.M.Boston6Chicago2
February 28, 20158 P.M.NY Rangers2Philadelphia4
March 8, 201512:30 P.M.Detroit3Boston5
March 15, 201512:30 P.M.Detroit5Pittsburgh1
March 22, 201512 P.M.St. Louis1Detroit2 (OT)
April 5, 201512:30 P.M.Pittsburgh1Philadelphia4
April 11, 20153 P.M.Minnesota2St. Louis4
San Jose1Los Angeles4

2015–16 season

[14] NBC was supposed to air the Pittsburgh-Washington match-up on January 24, but however, the game was postponed due to hazardous weather, so the network instead selecting St. Louis-Chicago game as their match-up and it aired in the Primetime slot.

DateTimeAway teamScoreHome teamScore
January 24, 201612:30 P.M.PittsburghWashingtonPPD
January 24, 20167 P.M.St. Louis0Chicago2
February 7, 201612 P.M.Philadelphia2Washington3
February 14, 20163:30 P.M.Boston5Detroit6
February 21, 201612:30 P.M.Pittsburgh4Buffalo3
3:30 P.M.Chicago1Minnesota6
February 27, 20168 P.M.Detroit5Colorado3
February 28, 201612:30 P.M.Washington2Chicago3
March 13, 201612:30 P.M.Pittsburgh5NY Rangers3
April 3, 201612:30 P.M.Boston4Chicago6
April 9, 20163 P.M.Pittsburgh1Philadelphia3

2016–17 season

See also: Sunday Night Hockey. During the season, NBC's Star Sunday concept was added to the Game of the Week package.[15] The first game under the new brand took place on January 22, 2017, in a game between the New York Rangers and the Detroit Red Wings.[1]

DateTimeAway teamScoreHome teamScore
January 15, 20171:00 P.M.Philadelphia0Washington5
January 22, 2017*[16] 12:30 P.M.N.Y. Rangers1Detroit0
February 5, 2017*[17] 12 P.M.Los Angeles0Washington5
February 12, 2017*[18] 3 P.M.Detroit3Minnesota6
February 19, 201712:30 P.M.Washington1N.Y. Rangers2
3:30 P.M.Detroit5Pittsburgh2
February 25, 20178 P.M.Philadelphia2Pittsburgh4
February 26, 2017*[19] 12:30 P.M.Boston6Dallas3
March 12, 2017*[20] 12:30 P.M.Minnesota2Chicago4
March 26, 2017*[21] 12:30 P.M.Minnesota23(OT)
April 2, 2017*[22] 12:30 P.M.Boston3Chicago2
April 8, 20173 P.M.Washington3Boston1

(*) Designated as a Star Sunday game.

2017–18 season

During this season, the Philadelphia Flyers had an overall five network TV appearances, making it the final NHL team in Pennsylvania and the second NHL team to have overall five network appearances (the first was Pittsburgh Penguins in 2011–12 season).[23] NBC initially announced that no NHL games would be aired on the network during the 2018 Winter Olympics, however they changed course and added three Sunday afternoon games in February as a lead-in to the Winter Olympics, allowing Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk to stay home and call 3 NHL games.[24] [25] [26] [27] NBC correctly switched the final minutes of the 2018 NHL Stadium Series to its sister network NBCSN (except for viewers in the Washington D.C. market) at 11 p.m. Eastern Time after play stoppage due to the power outage delay.[28] Star Sunday returned on March 11, 2018, both as part of the Game of the Week and Sunday Night Hockey package.

DateTimeAway teamScoreHome teamScore
January 14, 201812:30 P.M.Detroit4Chicago0
January 21, 201812:30 P.M.Philadelphia2 (OT)Washington1
February 11, 201812:20 P.M.Pittsburgh4St. Louis1
February 18, 201812:20 P.M.Philadelphia7N.Y. Rangers5
February 25, 201812:20 P.M.St. Louis0Nashville4
March 3, 20188 P.M.Toronto2Washington5
March 11, 2018*[29] 12:30 P.M.Boston1Chicago3
March 25, 2018*[30] 12:30 P.M.Philadelphia4Pittsburgh5 (OT)
April 1, 2018*[31] 12:30 P.M.Boston3Philadelphia4 (OT)
April 7, 20183 P.M.N.Y. Rangers0Philadelphia5

(*) Designated as a Star Sunday game.

2018–19 season

[32] For the first time, NBC selected two regional games which to aired it in primetime on February 2, 2019. Star Sunday returned on February 3, 2019, both as part of the Game of the Week and Sunday Night Hockey package. This marked the first and only season of Star Sunday to have its presenting sponsor; AT&T was the first presenting sponsor and they branded themselves as Star Sunday presented by AT&T.

DateTimeAway teamScoreHome teamScore
January 20, 201912:30 P.M.Washington5Chicago8
February 2, 20198 P.M.Tampa Bay3N.Y. Rangers2
Chicago4 (OT)Minnesota3
February 3, 2019*[33] 12:30 P.M.Boston1Washington0
February 10, 2019*[34] 12:30 P.M.St. Louis5(OT)Nashville4
February 17, 201912:30 P.M.N.Y. Rangers5Pittsburgh6
3:30 P.M.St. Louis4Minnesota0
February 23, 20198 P.M.Pittsburgh3Philadelphia4 (OT)
March 3, 2019*[35] 12:30 P.M.Washington3 (SO)N.Y. Rangers2
March 24, 2019*[36] 12:30 P.M.Philadelphia1Washington3
March 31, 2019*[37] 12:30 P.M.N.Y. Rangers3Philadelphia0

(*) Designated as a Star Sunday game.

2020s

2019–20 season (NBC)

For this season only, Brian Boucher replaced Pierre McGuire on the lead broadcast team with Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk. McGuire would be reassigned to work with NBC's other broadcast teams. The Pittsburgh Penguins originally had six network television appearances during that season (for the first time since the 2011–12 season), however, due to the cancellation of their final two network TV appearances (the Washington-Pittsburgh match-up on March 22 and the Pittsburgh-Philadelphia match-up on March 29) because of the coronavirus pandemic, they reduced to four[38] [39] as the games are postponed due to the pandemic, in which the rest of the regular season was paused indefinitely due to the pandemic.[40] [41] [42] [43] All players and hockey staff were asked to self-quarantine in their home cities until further notice.[44] [45] [46] [47] On May 26, 2020, Gary Bettman, the NHL commissioner, was announced that the rest of the regular season was cancelled.[48] [49] [50] [51] [52] [53] [54]

DateTimeAway teamScoreHome teamScore
January 19, 202012:30 P.M.Boston3Pittsburgh4
February 2, 202012:30 P.M.Pittsburgh4Washington3
February 9, 202012:30 P.M.Boston1Detroit3
February 15, 20208 P.M.Los Angeles3Colorado1
February 16, 202012:30 P.M.Detroit1Pittsburgh5
3:30 P.M.Boston3N.Y. Rangers1
February 23, 202012 P.M.Pittsburgh3Washington5
March 1, 202012 P.M.Philadelphia5N.Y. Rangers3

2020–21 season (NBC)

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the 2020–21 NHL season has been delayed to January 13, 2021, and all teams would play a 56-game division-only schedule with the NHL temporarily realigning divisions to minimize travel as much as possible, with all seven Canadian teams playing one division due to COVID-19 cross-border travel restrictions imposed by the Government of Canada.

NBC Sports broadcast 16 NHL regular season games, which is the most ever NHL regular season games broadcast on NBC. The NHL on NBC schedule featured a number of rivalries, including the Capitals–Penguins rivalry, the Blackhawks–Red Wings rivalry, the Bruins-Rangers rivalry, and the Avalanche-Blues rivalry. Meanwhile, the Washington Capitals had five network television appearances this season, the third NHL team to have largest appearances during the regular season. The final NHL on NBC game was on May 8, 2021, with two games aired regionally, all but New York metro and Boston markets, who got the Penguins-Sabres game, got the Bruins-Rangers rivalry game, and the regional games were shared with the teams' respective broadcasters in their aforementioned markets.[55] [56] It also marked as the final season for the games to aired on NBC after 16 years, as 10 games were regained by over-the-air ABC beginning next season.[57]

DateTimeAway teamScoreHome teamScore
January 17, 202112 P.M.Washington3Pittsburgh4 (SO)
January 24, 202112:30 P.M.Detroit2Chicago6
February 7, 202112 P.M.Philadelphia7Washington4
February 14, 20213 P.M.Washington3Pittsburgh6
February 20, 20213 P.M.[58] Vegas2Colorado3
February 21, 20213 P.M.[59] New Jersey3Washington4
February 28, 202112 P.M.Boston4N.Y. Rangers1
March 7, 202112 P.M.Buffalo2N.Y. Islanders5
March 28, 202112 P.M.N.Y. Rangers4Washington5
April 4, 202112 P.M.Detroit5Tampa Bay1
April 17, 20213 P.M.Pittsburgh3Buffalo2
April 18, 202112 P.M.Washington3Boston6
April 24, 20213 P.M.Colorado3St. Louis5
April 25, 20213 P.M.Boston0Pittsburgh1
May 2, 20213 P.M.Tampa Bay2Detroit1
May 8, 2021[60] 3 P.M.N.Y. Rangers5Boston4
Buffalo0Pittsburgh1

2021–22 season (ABC)

This season, ABC took over as the national over-the-air broadcaster for the NHL as part of a seven-year multiplatform deal with ESPN. They kicked off their coverage with the Thanksgiving Showdown on November 26th. All games were simulcast on ESPN+, and featured a stats-based IceCast alternate broadcast, excluding the Thanksgiving Showdown.

DateTeamsStart times (All times Eastern)Play-by-playColor commentator(s)Inside the Glass analystIce level reporterNotes
November 26 New York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins1 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroA. J. MleczkoN/ABruins-Rangers rivalry
2021 NHL Thanksgiving Showdown
Originally Blues-Blackhawks, which filled the vacant 3:30 ET slot on ESPN+, which Rangers-Bruins had occupied
February 26New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins3 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily KaplanPenguins-Rangers rivalry
Special “IceCast” alternate broadcast was also produced and broadcast on ESPN+
March 5Chicago Blackhawks vs. Philadelphia Flyers3 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily Kaplan2010 Stanley Cup Finals rematch
Special “IceCast” alternate broadcast was also produced and broadcast on ESPN+
March 12Philadelphia Flyers vs. Carolina Hurricanes3 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily KaplanSpecial “IceCast” alternate broadcast was also produced, and broadcast on ESPN+
March 19New York Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning8:00 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily KaplanFirst ever NHL regular season game on ABC to air in primetime
Special “IceCast” alternate broadcast was also produced and broadcast on ESPN+
March 26Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vegas Golden Knights3 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily KaplanSpecial “IceCast” alternate broadcast was also produced and broadcast on ESPN+
April 2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Colorado Avalanche3 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily KaplanSpecial “IceCast” alternate broadcast was also produced and broadcast on ESPN+
April 9 Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins3 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily KaplanCapitals–Penguins rivalry
Sidney Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin
Special “IceCast” alternate broadcast was also produced and broadcast on ESPN+
April 16 Minnesota Wild vs. St. Louis Blues3 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily Kaplan2022 Winter Classic rematch
Special “IceCast” alternate broadcast was also produced and broadcast on ESPN+
April 23New York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins3 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily KaplanBruins-Rangers rivalry
Special “IceCast” alternate broadcast was also produced and broadcast on ESPN+

2022–23 season (ABC)

ABC lost the rights to the Thanksgiving Showdown to TNT, but gained the rights to the NHL Stadium Series in return. ABC also introduced doubleheaders on select Saturdays, as well as a tripleheader during the last Saturday of the season. Like last season, all games were simulcast on ESPN+, and featured a separate Star Watch, Puck Possesser, or All-12 alternate broadcast.

DateTeamsStart times (All times Eastern)Play-by-playColor commentator(s)Ice-level analyst(s)Rinkside reporter(s)Rules analystNotes
February 11 Tampa Bay at Dallas1 p.m.Bob WischusenBrian BoucherLeah HextallDave Jackson2020 Stanley Cup Finals rematch
Washington at Boston3:30 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily Kaplan
February 18Washington at Carolina8 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily Kaplan, Kevin Weekes, and Marty Smith2023 NHL Stadium Series
Game was originally scheduled to air on ESPN
February 25New York Rangers at Washington1 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily KaplanCapitals–Rangers rivalry
Pittsburgh at St. Louis3:30 p.m.Bob WischusenBrian BoucherLeah Hextall
March 4New York Rangers at Boston1 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily KaplanBruins–Rangers rivalry
Colorado at Dallas3:30 p.m.Bob WischusenBrian BoucherLeah Hextall
March 11Detroit at Boston1 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily Kaplan
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh3:30 p.m.Bob WischusenBrian BoucherLeah HextallFlyers–Penguins rivalry
March 18Pittsburgh at New York Rangers8 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily KaplanPenguins–Rangers rivalry
2022 First Round rematch
March 25Washington at PittsburghSean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily KaplanCapitals–Penguins rivalry
Sidney Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin
April 1Boston at Pittsburgh3 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily Kaplan2023 NHL Winter Classic rematch
April 8Pittsburgh at Detroit1 p.m.Bob WischusenBrian BoucherLeah HextallOriginally Blues-Wild
2008 and 2009 Stanley Cup Finals rematch
Vegas at Dallas3:30 p.m.Mike MonacoA. J. Mleczkocolspan=2
New Jersey at Boston8 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily KaplanOriginally Penguins-Red Wings, which filled the 1 ET void left by Blues-Wild being flexed out
Bruins can tie NHL team record for most wins in a regular season.

2023-24 season (ABC)

ABC had four doubleheader weeks this season, as well as the Stadium Series, and two tripleheaders, one on the same day as the first game of the Stadium Series, the other on the last Saturday of the season. All games will once again be simulcast on ESPN+.

DateTeamsStart times (All times Eastern)Play-by-playColor commentator(s)Ice-level analyst(s)Rinkside reporter(s)Rules analystNotes
January 13New York Rangers at Washington1 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily KaplanDave JacksonCapitals–Rangers rivalry
February 10St. Louis at Buffalo1 p.m.Bob WischusenA. J. Mleczko
Washington at Boston3:30 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily Kaplan
February 17Los Angeles at Boston12:30 p.m.Bob WischusenRyan CallahanLeah HextallAdded to replace the Oilers-Bruins matchup for March 5th on ESPN+ and Hulu
Edmonton at Dallas3 p.m.Mike MonacoA. J. MleczkoFirst game on ABC to feature Canadian team since 2004 Stanley Cup Finals
Philadelphia at New Jersey8 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily Kaplan and Kevin WeekesDevils–Flyers rivalry
2024 NHL Stadium Series
February 18New York Rangers at New York Islanders3 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily Kaplan and Kevin WeekesIslanders–Rangers rivalry
2024 NHL Stadium Series
February 24St. Louis at Detroitnoon.Bob WischusenKevin WeekesLeah Hextall
New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia3 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily KaplanFlyers-Rangers rivalry
Originally scheduled to air on ESPN+ and Hulu
March 2Florida at Detroit3 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily KaplanOriginally Wild-Blues
March 9Carolina at New Jersey12:30 p.m.John BuccigrossRyan Callahan2023 Conference Semifinals rematch
Added to replace the Oilers-Sabres matchup scheduled to air on ESPN+ and Hulu that same day
Pittsburgh at Boston3 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily KaplanAlternate NHL Big City Greens Classic broadcast aired alongside ABC feed on Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney+, and ESPN+
March 16New York Rangers at Pittsburgh3 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily KaplanPenguins-Rangers rivalry
March 23Florida at New York Rangers8 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily Kaplan
April 6Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh1 p.m.Bob WischusenRyan CallahanLeah Hextall
Florida at Boston3:30 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily Kaplan2023 First Round rematch
April 13New York Islanders at New York Rangers12:30 p.m.Bob WischusenRyan CallahanLeah HextallIslanders-Rangers rivalry
2024 Stadium Series rematch
Seattle at Dallas3 p.m.Mike MonacoA. J. MleczkoBlake Bolden2023 Conference Semifinals rematch
Boston at Pittsburgh8 p.m.Sean McDonoughRay FerraroEmily Kaplan

Notes and References

  1. Web site: "STAR SUNDAY" NHL GAME OF THE WEEK FEATURES RYAN MCDONAGH & DYLAN LARKIN – N.Y. RANGERS FACE DETROIT RED WINGS SUNDAY AT 12:30 P.M. ET ON NBC . NBC Sports Group . January 19, 2017 . January 28, 2017.
  2. News: March 10, 2021. NHL back on ESPN with 7-year multiplatform deal. ESPN. March 11, 2021.
  3. News: Draper. Kevin. March 11, 2021. N.H.L. Returns to ESPN in a 7-Year Deal With an Emphasis on Streaming. The New York Times. September 18, 2021. 0362-4331.
  4. Web site: NBC/Versus To Air NHL Games For The Next Ten Years . Ken. Fang . Fangsbites.com . April 19, 2011 . April 19, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111018033414/http://fangsbites.com/2011/04/nbcversus-to-air-nhl-games-for-the-next-ten-year/ . October 18, 2011 .
  5. News: NBC/Versus to pay billion for NHL rights. Andy. Roth. WGR. April 20, 2011. April 21, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160927212354/http://www.wgr550.com/NBC-Versus-to-pay--2-billion-for-NHL-rights/9654332. September 27, 2016. mdy-all.
  6. News: March 10, 2021. NHL back on ESPN with 7-year multiplatform deal. ESPN. March 11, 2021.
  7. News: Draper. Kevin. March 11, 2021. N.H.L. Returns to ESPN in a 7-Year Deal With an Emphasis on Streaming. The New York Times. September 18, 2021. 0362-4331.
  8. Web site: NHL, ESPN, Disney reach groundbreaking seven-year rights deal. September 18, 2021. NHL.com.
  9. Web site: NHL deal with ESPN, Disney takes hockey into the future. September 18, 2021. NHL.com.
  10. News: Lucia. Joe. September 16, 2021. ESPN, Turner release NHL schedules for 2021-22 season, featuring 78 regular season games on cable and broadcast. Awful Announcing. November 14, 2021.
  11. Web site: Chi . Danny . 2022-09-07 . The Walt Disney Company Announces 103 Exclusive National Hockey League Games Across ESPN, ESPN+, Hulu and ABC Beginning October 11 . 2022-09-21 . ESPN Press Room U.S. . en-US.
  12. Web site: NBC SPORTS GROUP TO AIR 103 NHL REGULAR-SEASON GAMES IN 2013-14 . NBC Sports Group . July 19, 2013 . May 7, 2016.
  13. Web site: NBC SPORTS GROUP TO AIR 103 NHL REGULAR-SEASON GAMES IN 2014-15 . NBC Sports Group . July 22, 2014 . May 7, 2016.
  14. Web site: NBC SPORTS GROUP TO AIR 105 NHL REGULAR-SEASON GAMES IN 2015-16 . NBC Sports Group . July 27, 2015 . May 7, 2016.
  15. Web site: NBC SPORTS GROUP SCHEDULED TO AIR RECORD NUMBER OF NHL REGULAR-SEASON GAMES IN 2016-17 . NBC Sports Group . July 21, 2016 . July 25, 2016.
  16. NBC selected Ryan McDonagh and Dylan Larkin as featured Star Sunday players for the game.
  17. NBC selected Jeff Carter and Alexander Ovechkin as featured Star Sunday players for the game.
  18. NBC selected Henrik Zetterberg and Devan Dubnyk as featured Star Sunday players for the game.
  19. NBC selected David Pastrnak and Tyler Seguin as featured Star Sunday players for the game.
  20. NBC selected Eric Staal and Duncan Keith as featured Star Sunday players for the game.
  21. NBC selected Mikko Koivu as featured Star Sunday player for the game. No Red Wings player was selected; instead Joe Louis Arena was selected as the Red Wings' representative to mark the network's final game at the venue.
  22. NBC selected Patrice Bergeron and Brent Seabrook as featured Star Sunday players for the game.
  23. Web site: NBC SPORTS GROUP SCHEDULED TO AIR NEARLY 100 NHL REGULAR SEASON GAMES IN 2017-18 . NBC Sports Group . July 31, 2017 . August 2, 2017.
  24. Web site: NBC SPORTS ADDS THREE GAMES TO ITS 2017-18 NHL SCHEDULE . NBC Sports Group . January 1, 2018 . January 2, 2018.
  25. Web site: 2018-01-10 . NBC OLYMPICS ANNOUNCES HOCKEY COMMENTARY TEAMS FOR PYEONGCHANG WINTER OLYMPICS . 2023-04-02 . NBC Sports Pressbox . en.
  26. Web site: Allen . Kevin . As NBC Sports juggles Winter Olympics, NHL coverage, it envisions unique opportunity . 2023-04-02 . USA TODAY . en-US.
  27. Web site: 2018-02-08 . NBC SPORTS PRESENTS THREE SUNDAY NHL MATINEE MATCHUPS DURING NEXT THREE WEEKENDS ON NBC . 2023-04-02 . NBC Sports Pressbox . en.
  28. Web site: NBC cuts away from NHL Stadium Series game for local news. Awful Announcing. March 3, 2018. March 4, 2018.
  29. NBC selected David Krejci and Patrick Kane as featured Star Sunday players for the game.
  30. NBC selected Claude Giroux and Sidney Crosby as featured Star Sunday players for the game.
  31. NBC selected Wayne Simmonds and Patrice Bergeron as featured Star Sunday players for the game.
  32. Web site: NBC SPORTS SCHEDULED TO AIR RECORD 109 GAMES DURING 2018-19 NHL REGULAR SEASON . NBC Sports Group . August 13, 2018 . August 13, 2018.
  33. NBC selected Alexander Ovechkin and Patrice Bergeron as featured Star Sunday players for the game.
  34. NBC selected Vladimir Tarasenko and P. K. Subban as featured Star Sunday players for the game.
  35. NBC selected Nicklas Backstrom and Mika Zibanejad as featured Star Sunday players for the game.
  36. NBC selected Claude Giroux and T. J. Oshie as featured Star Sunday players for the game.
  37. NBC selected Sean Couturier and Mika Zibanejad as featured Star Sunday players for the game.
  38. Web site: Report: Pierre McGuire removed from NBC's No. 1 NHL team in favor of Brian Boucher. Awful Announcing. September 4, 2019 . September 4, 2019.
  39. Web site: NBC SPORTS TO AIR 109 NHL GAMES DURING 2019-20 REGULAR SEASON . NBC Sports Group . August 6, 2019 . October 8, 2019.
  40. Web site: March 11, 2020. CORONAVIRUS IMPACT: SAN JOSE SHARKS TO PLAY 3 GAMES WITHOUT FANS IN MARCH. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200723035100/https://abc7news.com/amp/san-jose-sharks-games-cancelled-march-madness-roster-santa-clara-county-coronavirus-updates/6004759/. July 23, 2020. March 12, 2020. ABC7News.com.
  41. Web site: Chick. John. March 11, 2020. Ohio to ban mass gatherings including sporting events. March 12, 2020. theScore.
  42. Web site: March 12, 2020. NHL pauses regular season because of coronavirus. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200314025848/https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-coronavirus-status/c-316155530. March 14, 2020. March 12, 2020. NHL.com.
  43. Web site: July 31, 2020. NHL suspends season due to coronavirus. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200312173958/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/12/nhl-to-suspend-season-due-to-coronavirus.html. March 12, 2020. March 12, 2020. CNBC.
  44. Web site: March 17, 2020. Senators player tests positive for COVID-19. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200318163337/https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/senators-player-tests-positive-for-covid-19/c-316208628. March 18, 2020. March 19, 2020. NHL.com.
  45. Web site: March 17, 2020. Ottawa Senators player is first NHLer to test positive for COVID-19. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200318220410/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/source-ottawa-senators-player-first-nhler-test-positive-covid-19/. March 18, 2020. March 19, 2020. Sportsnet.ca.
  46. Web site: Elliott. Helene. March 28, 2020. A second Colorado Avalanche player tests positive for COVID-19. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200404093025/https://www.latimes.com/sports/hockey/story/2020-03-28/second-colorado-avalanche-player-tests-positive-for-covid-19. April 4, 2020. April 4, 2020. Los Angeles Times.
  47. News: Bell. Jarrett. Jeff. Zillgitt. April 4, 2020. Donald Trump to sports commissioners: He's hopeful NFL starts on time. USA Today. Gannett. McLean, Virginia. live. April 6, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200405153200/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2020/04/04/donald-trump-holds-phone-call-nba-nhl-mlb-nfl-commissioners/2947961001/. April 5, 2020.
  48. Web site: Gulitti. Tom. May 26, 2020. NHL plans to return with 24-team Stanley Cup Playoffs. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200527001941/https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-plans-to-return-with-24-team-stanley-cup-playoffs/c-317031010. May 27, 2020. May 26, 2020. NHL.com. en-US.
  49. Web site: Newton. Paul. May 19, 2020. US-Canada border will remain closed to nonessential travel for at least another month. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200521034459/https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/us-canada-border-coronavirus/index.html. May 21, 2020. May 23, 2020. CNN.com.
  50. News: May 22, 2020. NHLPA authorizes further negotiations on 24-team return to play format. Sportsnet. Toronto. live. May 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200531115232/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/nhlpa-executive-board-approves-nhls-proposed-return-play-format/. May 31, 2020.
  51. Web site: Seravalli. Frank. May 22, 2020. NHLPA agrees to more talks on League's 24-team Return to Play proposal. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200601141559/https://www.tsn.ca/nhlpa-agrees-to-more-talks-on-league-s-24-team-return-to-play-proposal-1.1478445. June 1, 2020. May 23, 2020. TSN.ca.
  52. Web site: Zargham. Mohammad. May 22, 2020. U.S. to exempt foreign athletes from coronavirus-related entry bans. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200524021100/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/article-us-to-exempt-foreign-athletes-from-coronavirus-related-entry-bans/. May 24, 2020. May 24, 2020. The Globe and Mail. Reuters.
  53. Web site: May 23, 2020. U.S. opens border to foreign pro athletes. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200603012441/https://www.tsn.ca/u-s-opens-border-to-foreign-pro-athletes-1.1478582. June 3, 2020. May 24, 2020. TSN.ca.
  54. Web site: Wyshynski. Greg. May 26, 2020. NHL adopts 24-team playoff if season returns. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201011163433/https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/29225074/nhl-adopts-24-team-playoff-season-returns. October 11, 2020. May 27, 2020. ESPN.com.
  55. Web site: NBC SPORTS ANNOUNCES ITS EXCLUSIVE NHL SCHEDULE FOR 2020-21 REGULAR SEASON. NBC Sports Group. December 29, 2020. December 30, 2020.
  56. Web site: 2021-05-03. NBC SPORTS' "PUSH FOR THE PLAYOFFS" HEATS UP WHEN WASHINGTON CAPITALS FACE OFF AGAINST NEW YORK RANGERS ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT HOCKEY THIS WEEK. 2021-05-16. NBC Sports Pressbox. en.
  57. Web site: ESPN Scores NHL Package With Stanley Cup on ABC. Broadcasting & Cable. March 10, 2021. April 28, 2021.
  58. Game postponed after the first period due to weather concerns. Resumed at 12 A.M. on NBCSN.
  59. The Rangers were originally scheduled to be the Capitals' opponent, but that game was moved to March 20. As a result, the Capitals' home game against the Devils on March 7 was rescheduled to February 21, and due to the rescheduling of the Flyers–Bruins game at Lake Tahoe, this game was moved to the Game of the Week slot.
  60. The Rangers–Bruins game was televised in most markets, with MSG Network and NESN airing the game in the New York and Boston markets. The Sabres–Penguins game was televised exclusively in the New York and Boston markets, with MSG Western New York and AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh airing the game in the Buffalo and Pittsburgh markets.