NHL Unveils 2012-13 National Television Schedule

SUNRISE, Fla. – The National Hockey League (NHL) announced today the television schedules for national broadcast partners NBC, NBC Sports Network, CBC, TSN, TSN2, RDS and NHL Network-U.S. for the 2012-13 regular season and the Florida Panthers are set to appear in 13 national broadcasts throughout the season.

Four of the Panthers’ games will be seen on national broadcasts in the U.S., including three on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) and one contest on NHL Network. The first air date comes Oct. 15 when Florida heads to Washington (7:30 p.m. EST start on NBCSN) for a Southeast Division matchup with the Capitals. NBCSN will showcase the Panthers a week later on Oct. 22 when Florida visits the New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. EST). The third NBCSN broadcast showcases a New Year's Eve matchup against the New York Rangers (7 p.m. EST). The Panthers will make their only appearance on NHL Network with a national broadcast on their visit to the Rangers in Madison Square Garden on March 21 (7 p.m. EST).

Canadian audiences will also see the Panthers on nine occasions throughout the season. Both of Florida's home games against Winnipeg (Nov. 3 and Feb. 2; 7 pm EST) will be aired as part of Hockey Night in Canada's programming on CBC. TSN2 will broadcast the Panthers’ games against the Capitals (Oct. 15), Islanders (Oct. 22) and Rangers (Dec. 31) to coincide with NBCSN's broadcasts. RDS will once again broadcast all Panthers-Canadiens matchups during the season, with games on Dec. 28 (7:30 p.m. EST), Jan. 8 (7:30 p.m. EST), March 10 (6 p.m. EST) and April 9 (7:30 p.m. EST).

In the U.S., NBC and NBC Sports Network enter the second season of the 10-year agreement with the NHL, the largest media rights deal in League history. It also is the eighth consecutive season both networks have served as a national television partner of the NHL in the U.S. In Canada, CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada begins its 60th regular season of NHL broadcasts. TSN, whose relationship with the NHL dates back to 1987, continues as the League’s national English-language cable partner. French-language telecast partner RDS has been televising NHL games since its inception in 1989 and enters its 10th consecutive season presenting every Montreal Canadiens game.

The Panthers are set to open the 2012-13 season Oct. 13 against the Tampa Bay Lightning and will raise a Southeast Division Championship banner in a pre-game ceremony. Select lower-bowl season tickets are available for as low as $30 now by calling 954-835-PUCK or clicking to FloridaPanthers.com.

Sunrise Sports & Entertainment is the premier company of its kind in South Florida. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Home to the Florida Panthers Hockey Club and internationally recognized concerts and events, the Broward County-owned BankAtlantic Center is one of the top ranked venues of its kind in the world.