No one is happier about end of NHL lockout than NBC Sports

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/ FROM KEITH GROLLER hat's because NBC now has programming to fill lots of air time over the rest of the winter and through the spring on the NBC Sports Network and its regular NBC affiliates. Remember, Sunday Night Football, NBC's No. 1-rated sports franchise, is over until the fall. The ABC/ESPN and Turner families have the NBA. College basketball is basically everywhere but on NBC. Fox has next week's NFC title game and NASCAR to keep busy. CBS has the AFC title game, the Super Bowl and lots of college basketball to stay busy and then The Masters in April. But NBC really needs the NHL and will embrace its return next weekend. Here's a release about their extensive coverage: NBC AND NBC SPORTS NETWORK TO AIR 70 NHL REGULAR-SEASON GAMES IN 2013 14 Regular-Season Windows on NBC, Most Ever For Network Wednesday Night is Rivalry Night on NBC Sports Network Coverage Begins Sat., Jan. 19 with L.A. Kings Banner Raising on NBC, Followed by Regional Coverage of Blackhawks at Kings and Penguins at Flyers NBC Sports Network Coverage Begins Sun., Jan. 20 with Blackhawks at Coyotes at 10 p.m. ET Studio Shows NHL Live and NHL Overtime to Originate from New NBC Sports Group International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn. Hockey Day in America Features Doubleheader on NBC Followed by Evening Game on NBC Sports Network NEW YORK -- Jan. 13, 2013 — NBC Sports Group will air 70 NHL regular-season games across NBC and NBC Sports Network this season. The schedule includes 14 exclusive windows (15 games) on NBC, the most regular-season windows ever for the network, as well as 24 exclusive windows and 26 exclusive games on NBC Sports Network. Coverage begins the weekend of Jan. 19-20 with the NBC Sports Group presenting four games over two days, three on NBC and one on NBC Sports Network. Additional scheduling highlights include the Los Angeles Kings’ Stanley Cup championship banner raising, a Hockey Day in America tripleheader, and the start of rivalry nights on Wednesday night on NBC Sports Network. According to the National Hockey League, which released the schedule today, all games will be intra-conference with an emphasis on divisional play. OPENING WEEK: NBC drops the puck on its coverage at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 19 with NHL Live, featuring the Stanley Cup champion L.A. Kings’ banner raising. Following the ceremony, NBC offers regional coverage of the Kings hosting the Chicago Blackhawks (puck drop at 3:25 p.m. ET) and the Philadelphia Flyers hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins (3:35 p.m. ET). On Sun., Jan. 20 at 12:30 p.m. ET, NBC returns with the Buffalo Sabres hosting the Flyers. NBC Sports Network begins its season Sunday night by televising the Phoenix Coyotes at the Chicago Blackhawks at 10 p.m. ET. It continues coverage with a game on three consecutive nights from Monday through Wednesday. Following is the Opening Week schedule (all times ET): Date Away Home Time Network Sat., January 19 NHL Live Banner Raising 3:00 p.m. NBC Sat., January 19 Chicago Los Angeles 3:25 p.m. NBC Sat., January 19 Pittsburgh Philadelphia 3:35 p.m. NBC Sun., January 20 Philadelphia Buffalo 12:30 p.m. NBC Sun., January 20 Chicago Phoenix 10 p.m. NBCSN Mon., January 21 Detroit Columbus 7:30 p.m. NBCSN Tues., January 22 Philadelphia New Jersey 7:30 p.m. NBCSN Wed., January 23 Boston N.Y. Rangers 7:30 p.m. NBCSN WEDNESDAY NIGHT IS RIVALRY NIGHT: NBC Sports Network’s exclusive Wednesday night coverage will now feature some of the biggest rivalries in the NHL, including Bruins-Canadiens and Flyers-Penguins. The network will air exclusive coverage Wednesday nights giving NHL fans four straight nights of hockey action, Sunday-Wednesday, during most weeks. Rivalry Nights begin Wednesday, January 23 with the Bruins and Rangers facing off in another Boston-New York contest. Following are NBC Sports Network’s 2013 Rivalry Nights: Date Away Home Time January 23 Boston N.Y. Rangers 7:30 p.m. January 30 Chicago Minnesota 8 p.m. February 6 Boston Montreal 7:30 p.m. February 13 St. Louis Detroit 7:30 p.m. February 20 Philadelphia Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m. February 20 St. Louis Colorado 10 p.m. February 27 Washington Philadelphia 7:30 p.m. March 6 Colorado Chicago 8 p.m. March 13 Philadelphia New Jersey 7:30 p.m. March 20 Minnesota Detroit 7:30 p.m. March 27 Montreal Boston 7:30 p.m. April 3 Pittsburgh N.Y. Rangers 7:30 p.m. April 10 Boston New Jersey 7:30 p.m. April 17 Buffalo Boston 7:30 p.m. April 24 Los Angeles Detroit 7:30 p.m. HOCKEY DAY IN AMERICA: In its third year, Hockey Day in America will celebrate America’s passion for hockey on Sunday, February 17, featuring more than nine hours of coverage, including three games and six teams from some of the most avid U.S. hockey markets across both NBC and NBC Sports Network. In addition, coverage will include compelling features that tell the story of America’s passion for hockey. Coverage begins at Noon ET on NBC with NHL Live. The first two broadcasts on NBC are Pittsburgh at Buffalo at 12:30 p.m. ET and Los Angeles at Chicago at 3:30 p.m. ET. The final game of the celebration is between Washington at the New York Rangers at 6 p.m. ET and airs on NBC Sports Network. (All times ET and subject to change) Time Away Home Network Noon NHL Live NBC 12:30 Pittsburgh Buffalo NBC 3:30 Los Angeles Chicago NBC 6:00 Washington N.Y. Rangers NBC Sports Network NBC SPORTS GROUP OPENS STATE-OF-THE ART STUDIOS: NHL studio programming throughout the 2013 season will originate from the NBC Sports Group’s new, state-of-the-art International Broadcast Center located in Stamford, Conn. The first studio programming will air on NBC on Saturday, Jan. 19, prior to the two regional games. NHL Live is NBC Sports Network’s live pre- and post-show with highlights and analysis of NHL matchups before and after every game. It traditionally airs a half-hour prior to live-event coverage. NHL Overtime airs Monday-Wednesday nights after NHL telecasts. It examines all NHL games played that night with news, highlights, and analysis. FLEX SCHEDULING ON NBC: For the sixth consecutive season, the NHL and NBC Sports Group will utilize flex scheduling, which provides the ability to select from up to four games on Sunday afternoons. At least 13 days prior to the scheduled games, the NHL and NBC will announce which game will air. Following are the current games scheduled for NBC: NBC 2012-13 NHL regular-season schedule (all times ET, subject to change): Date Away Home Time Saturday, January 19 Chicago Los Angeles 3:25 p.m. Saturday, January 19 Pittsburgh Philadelphia 3:35 p.m. Sunday, January 20 Philadelphia Buffalo 12:30 p.m. Sunday, February 3 Pittsburgh Washington 12:30 p.m. Sunday, February 10 Los Angeles Detroit 12:30 p.m. Sunday, February 17 Pittsburgh Buffalo 12:30 p.m. Sunday, February 17 Los Angeles Chicago 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 3 Chicago Detroit 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 10 N.Y. Rangers Washington 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 17 Boston Pittsburgh 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 31 Chicago Detroit 12:30 p.m. Sunday, April 7 St. Louis Detroit 12:30 p.m. Sunday, April 14 Chicago St. Louis 12:30 p.m. Sunday, April 21 New Jersey N.Y. Rangers 3 p.m. Saturday, April 27 New Jersey N.Y. Rangers 3 p.m. NBC Sports Network 2012-13 NHL regular-season schedule (all times ET, subject to change): Date Away Home Time Sunday, January 20 Chicago Phoenix 10 p.m. Monday, January 21 Detroit Columbus 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 22 Philadelphia New Jersey 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 23 Boston N.Y. Rangers 7:30 p.m. Sunday, January 27 Minnesota St. Louis 8 p.m. Tuesday, January 29 N.Y. Islanders Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 30 Chicago Minnesota 8 p.m. Monday, February 4 Dallas Colorado 9 p.m. Tuesday, February 5 Tampa Bay Philadelphia 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 6 Boston Montreal 7:30 p.m. Sunday, February 10 New Jersey Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m. Monday, February 11 Los Angeles St. Louis 9 p.m. Tuesday, February 12 N.Y. Rangers Boston 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 13 St. Louis Detroit 7:30 p.m. Sunday, February 17 Washington N.Y. Rangers 6 p.m. Tuesday, February 19 San Jose St. Louis 8 p.m. Wednesday, February 20 Philadelphia Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 20 St. Louis Colorado 10 p.m. Sunday, February 24 Tampa Bay Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m. Monday, February 25 Dallas Nashville 8 p.m. Tuesday, February 26 Boston N.Y. Islanders 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 27 Washington Philadelphia 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 3 Montreal Boston 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 4 Tampa Bay Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5 Philadelphia N.Y. Rangers 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 6 Colorado Chicago 8 p.m. Sunday, March 10 Buffalo Philadelphia 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12 Philadelphia Boston 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 13 Philadelphia New Jersey 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 17 Buffalo Washington 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 18 Philadelphia Tampa Bay 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 19 Washington Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 20 Minnesota Detroit 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 24 Washington N.Y. Rangers 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 25 Los Angeles Chicago 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 26 Philadelphia N.Y. Rangers 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 27 Montreal Boston 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 31 Washington Philadelphia 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 1 Colorado Detroit 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 2 Buffalo Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 3 Pittsburgh N.Y. Rangers 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 7 New Jersey Buffalo 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 9 Chicago Minnesota 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 10 Boston New Jersey 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11 Pittsburgh Tampa Bay 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 14 Detroit Nashville 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 15 Dallas Chicago 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 16 NY Rangers Philadelphia 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 17 Buffalo Boston 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18 New Jersey Philadelphia 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 21 St. Louis Colorado 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 22 Montreal Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23 Boston Philadelphia 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 24 Los Angeles Detroit 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 25 Pittsburgh New Jersey 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27 TBD TBD 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27 TBD TBD 10 p.m. For more information about NBC Sports Group shows and properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios and headshots, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com --NBC SPORTS GROUP--