Blackhawks awarded 12 national TV appearances
The Chicago Blackhawks will make 12 national television appearance during the 2011-12 regular season, NHL officials announced Thursday.
Under the current agreement between the NHL and its broadcast partners (NBC and VERSUS), 12 national telecasts is the maximum allowed for a single club.
The Hawks’ game against the Detroit Red Wings on Feb. 21 at the United Center will be broadcast nationally on VERSUS in addition to airing locally on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, increasing the Blackhawks’ total national television appearances to 13.
Seven of the 13 scheduled appearances on national television for the Blackhawks are on VERSUS, beginning when the club faces off against the Phoenix Coyotes at the United Center on Dec. 6.
Additionally, Chicago’s final four scheduled nationally televised contests may be aired on either NBC or VERSUS, which will be determined once the league and networks announce those games as part of their flex scheduling agreement.
Here is the national schedule for Blackhawks games:
Dec. 5: Phoenix at United Center, 7 p.m. VERSUS
Dec. 14: Minnesota at Xcel Energy Center, 6:30 p.m. VERSUS
Dec. 20: Pittsburgh at CONSOL Energy Center, 6:30 p.m. VERSUS
Jan. 8: Detroit at United Center, 6:30 p.m. VERSUS
Jan. 14: Detroit at Joe Louis Arena, 11:30 a.m. NBC
Jan. 18: Buffalo at United Center, 6:30 p.m. VERSUS
Feb. 19: St. Louis at United Center, 2 p.m. NBC
Feb. 21: Detroit at United Center, 7 p.m. VERSUS**
Feb. 26: Anaheim at Honda Center, 6 p.m. VERSUS
Mar. 11: Los Angeles at United Center, 6 p.m. VERSUS/NBC
Mar. 18: Washington at United Center, 6 p.m. VERSUS/NBC
Mar. 25: Nashville at United Center, 6:30 p.m. VERSUS/NBC
Apr. 7: Detroit at Joe Louis Arena, 3 p.m. VERSUS/NBC
* Denotes flex game to be carried on VERSUS or NBC
**-Game is not exclusive to VERSUS and will also be broadcast on CSN