The NHL returns to NBC for another season for viewers in the United States. Which games should every hockey fan be tuned in for?
The NHL is currently entering the eighth year of its ten-year contract with NBC as an exclusive broadcaster of nationally televised games. Hockey fans in the United States have gotten used to listening to Doc Emrick and the crew for the biggest games of the regular season and playoffs.
This year, NBC Sports Network has announced an expanded national schedule that will see 109 NHL regular season games broadcast on NBC and NBCSN. Teams on the rise such as the Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche will be more visible for viewers around the country.
Of course, the gem of the regular season calendar is the NHL Game of the Week that airs on network television. Traditionally, NBC broadcasts the game as a Sunday matinee, although there are exceptions such as the Thanksgiving Showdown and Stadium Series games.
Between all of those, there will be thirteen regular season games airing on network television this year. Since most of them occur over the stretch run of the campaign, they should be fun games to watch regardless of who is playing.
That being said, there are some teams and matchups who will have better and more exciting games than others. With that in mind, here is a completely subjective ranking of the thirteen nationally televised games this season from “worst” to “best.”