NBCSN did okay in 2019-2020. The network finally remembered there was a NHL team in Vancouver. The channel didn't have any scheduled games past February 20.
NBCSN had 4 telecasts between the Heritage Classic (required telecast) on October 26 and February 6. The channel did feature an all-Canadian matchup with Edmonton in Toronto but likely didn't have any NBC employees in Canada for the telecast.
The NHL Network had a light March before the COVID-19 coronavirus ended the NHL season on March 12. The U.S. channel carried as many Canucks games as NBCSN (1).
Winnipeg and Edmonton both lost a matinee in Philadelphia; the Jets because of the obsession over Alex Ovechkin and the Oilers from the COVID-19 coronavirus.
The NHL Network carried a decent number of Hometown Hockey games, all before the All-Star Game break. ESPN+ helped out with a quite a few Hockey Night in Canada games even if the HNIC feed wasn't always used.
NHL Network, NBCSN, and ESPN+ games in 2018-2019 season analysis
NHL Network and NBCSN games in 2017-2018 season analysis
NHL Network games in 2016-2017 season analysis
NHL Network games in 2015-2016 season analysis
NHL Network
10 HH 16 HNIC (counting HDIC)
October 5 Montréal @ Toronto, 7p (HNIC)
February 8 Ottawa @ Winnipeg, 2p (HDIC)
February 8 Toronto @ Montréal, 7p (HNIC)
February 29 Vancouver @ Toronto, 7p (HNIC)
The Vancouver Canucks had a great year not that viewers of the NHL Network would know. The Canucks got a Leap Year game in Toronto on Hockey Night in Canada. Of course, that game wasn't in Vancouver.
The Winnipeg Jets had a hot start with TV games. Things picked up in mid-winter a bit. The forced cancellation on February 22 was a blow to Jets fans. Winnipeg did get 3 home games, including a Hockey Day in Canada matchup.
October 4 Winnipeg @ New Jersey, 7p
October 6 Winnipeg @ NY Islanders, 7p (HH)
October 13 Pittsburgh @ Winnipeg, 7p (HH)
January 19 Winnipeg @ Chicago, 7p (HH)
February 1 St. Louis @ Winnipeg, 7p (HNIC)
February 22 Winnipeg @ Philadelphia, 1p (HNIC)
Ottawa got very few games with 0 trips to the capital of Canada. The Senators did surprisingly well in those appearances. This also meant that there were no TSN 5 appearances. The games were also confined within a 30-day period in the middle of winter.
December 30 Ottawa @ Pittsburgh, 7p
January 10 Ottawa @ Detroit, 7:30p
January 28 Ottawa @ Buffalo, 7p
Edmonton had a rare year where 2 home games were on the NHL Network. The U.S. channel has been very allergic to showing games in Alberta. The Oilers did get a home game on in March but the second one was cancelled due to the COVID-19 coronavirus.
October 14 Edmonton @ Chicago, 8:30p
November 24 Edmonton @ Arizona, 8p (HH)
December 31 NY Rangers @ Edmonton, 9p
March 7 Columbus @ Edmonton, 10p (HNIC)
March 15 Edmonton @ Philadelphia, 1:30p*
Calgary had a good team but only a few games, none in 2020. The NHL Network is sadly consistent in not showing games from Calgary.
October 31 Calgary @ Nashville, 8p
November 3 Calgary @ Washington, 7p (HH)
November 17 Calgary @ Las Vegas, 7p (HH)
December 22 Calgary @ Dallas, 7p (HH)
The Toronto Maple Leafs were on 13 times on the NHL Network. 9 were Hockey Night in Canada games with 2 Hometown Hockey telecasts. Only 6 of those games were in Toronto. * marks those games originally scheduled but cancelled due to the COVID-19 coronavirus.
October 7 St. Louis @ Toronto, 7p
October 19 Boston @ Toronto, 7p (HNIC)
November 2 Toronto @ Philadelphia, 7p (HNIC)
November 10 Toronto @ Chicago, 7p (HH)
November 16 Toronto @ Pittsburgh, 7p (HNIC)
December 7 Toronto @ St. Louis, 7p (HNIC)
December 20 Toronto @ NY Rangers, 7p
December 28 NY Rangers @ Toronto, 7p (HNIC)
January 12 Toronto @ Florida, 7p (HH)
January 18 Chicago @ Toronto, 7p (HNIC)
March 14 Toronto @ Boston, 7p (HNIC)*
March 21 Columbus @ Toronto, 7p (HNIC)*
The NHL Network likes Montréal, though the channel wants them to play better. There was a decent number of games in 2019, but the Habs only had 2 games in 2020, both on Hockey Night in Canada.
October 12 St. Louis @ Montréal, 7p (HNIC)
November 23 NY Rangers @ Montréal, 7p (HNIC)
November 28 New Jersey @ Montréal, 7p
December 1 Montréal @ Boston, 7p (HH)
December 14 Detroit @ Montréal, 7p (HNIC)
January 4 Pittsburgh @ Montréal, 7p (HNIC)
NHL Network 2019-2020
October 4 Winnipeg @ New Jersey, 7p
October 5 Montréal @ Toronto, 7p (HNIC)
October 6 Winnipeg @ NY Islanders, 7p (HH)
October 7 St. Louis @ Toronto, 7p
October 12 St. Louis @ Montréal, 7p (HNIC)
October 13 Pittsburgh @ Winnipeg, 7p (HH)
October 14 Edmonton @ Chicago, 8:30p
October 19 Boston @ Toronto, 7p (HNIC)
October 31 Calgary @ Nashville, 8p
November 2 Toronto @ Philadelphia, 7p (HNIC)
November 3 Calgary @ Washington, 7p (HH)
November 10 Toronto @ Chicago, 7p (HH)
November 16 Toronto @ Pittsburgh, 7p (HNIC)
November 17 Calgary @ Las Vegas, 7p (HH)
November 23 NY Rangers @ Montréal, 7p (HNIC)
November 24 Edmonton @ Arizona, 8p (HH)
November 28 New Jersey @ Montréal, 7p
December 1 Montréal @ Boston, 7p (HH)
December 7 Toronto @ St. Louis, 7p (HNIC)
December 14 Detroit @ Montréal, 7p (HNIC)
December 20 Toronto @ NY Rangers, 7p
December 22 Calgary @ Dallas, 7p (HH)
December 28 NY Rangers @ Toronto, 7p (HNIC)
December 30 Ottawa @ Pittsburgh, 7p
December 31 NY Rangers @ Edmonton, 9p
January 4 Pittsburgh @ Montréal, 7p (HNIC)
January 10 Ottawa @ Detroit, 7:30p
January 12 Toronto @ Florida, 7p (HH)
January 18 Chicago @ Toronto, 7p (HNIC)
January 19 Winnipeg @ Chicago, 7p (HH)
January 28 Ottawa @ Buffalo, 7p
February 1 St. Louis @ Winnipeg, 7p (HNIC)
February 8 Ottawa @ Winnipeg, 2p (HDIC)
February 8 Toronto @ Montréal, 7p (HNIC)
February 22 Winnipeg @ Philadelphia, 1p (HNIC)
February 29 Vancouver @ Toronto, 7p (HNIC)
March 7 Columbus @ Edmonton, 10p (HNIC)
March 14 Toronto @ Boston, 7p (HNIC)*
March 15 Edmonton @ Philadelphia, 1:30p*
March 21 Columbus @ Toronto, 7p (HNIC)*
Hometown Hockey
There were 10 Hometown Hockey games simulcast on the NHL Network, likely a record. No telecast aired after the All-Star Game break.
The channel did carry 7 of the first 9 telecasts. There has to be a way to get this on every week as an extra half hour of programming.
October 6 Winnipeg @ NY Islanders, 7p
October 13 Pittsburgh @ Winnipeg, 7p
November 3 Calgary @ Washington, 7p
November 10 Toronto @ Chicago, 7p
November 17 Calgary @ Las Vegas, 7p
November 24 Edmonton @ Arizona, 8p
December 1 Montréal @ Boston, 7p
December 22 Calgary @ Dallas, 7p
January 12 Toronto @ Florida, 7p
January 19 Winnipeg @ Chicago, 7p
NHL the month in preview April 2020
CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage
HNIC
There were 16 Hockey Night in Canada games, same as last year. Those numbers don't reflect the cancelled HNIC games due to the COVID-19 coronavirus. The games included a very rare late game not on the last day of the season.
The cancelled February 22 telecast involving the Winnipeg Jets was produced for Hockey Night, though that likely would have been a local U.S. simulcast.
October 5 Montréal @ Toronto, 7p
October 12 St. Louis @ Montréal, 7p
October 19 Boston @ Toronto, 7p
November 2 Toronto @ Philadelphia, 7p
November 16 Toronto @ Pittsburgh, 7p
November 23 NY Rangers @ Montréal, 7p
December 7 Toronto @ St. Louis, 7p
December 14 Detroit @ Montréal, 7p
December 28 NY Rangers @ Toronto, 7p
January 4 Pittsburgh @ Montréal, 7p
January 18 Chicago @ Toronto, 7p
February 1 St. Louis @ Winnipeg, 7p
February 8 Ottawa @ Winnipeg, 2p (HDIC)
February 8 Toronto @ Montréal, 7p
February 29 Vancouver @ Toronto, 7p
March 7 Columbus @ Edmonton, 10p
March 14 Toronto @ Boston, 7p*
March 21 Columbus @ Toronto, 7p*
NBCSN
NBCSN only had 13 games with Canadian teams. The previous season was a NBCSN high point. The channel added a simulcast of the Washington feed against Montréal on February 20, so there were only 12 productions. The channel also disappeared after late February, bad even for NBCSN. There were 0 NBCSN telecasts cancelled due to the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Edmonton fell from 7 games to 4 and led the way for Canadian teams. 2 of those games were against San Jose, using essentially local announcers. 2 of those were home games: showing games in Alberta is almost verboten on U.S. television.
The Oilers-Maple Leafs game was significant on January 6 since this was an all-Canadian matchup. We suspect NBCSN didn't even send their announcers to Canada for that telecast. Ouch!
Montréal also had 4 games, including the NBC Sports Washington feed.
Toronto fell from 6 telecasts to 3, including the aforementioned game with Edmonton. Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid are their pretend friends.
Calgary got 2 games, 1 being the required telecast of the Heritage Classic against Winnipeg, the only telecast for the Jets. The Flames got a late game in Los Angeles with virtually local announcers.
Vancouver got a pity game given its 50th anniversary. The channel had previously banned the Canucks from its broadcasts. The ban on Ottawa lives on for another year.
October 9 Los Angeles @ Vancouver, 10p
October 15 Tampa Bay @ Montréal, 7p
October 16 Philadelphia @ Edmonton, 9:30p
October 26 Calgary @ Winnipeg, 10p
November 5 Boston @ Montréal, 7:30p
November 19 Edmonton @ San Jose, 10:30p
December 17 Buffalo @ Toronto, 7p
January 6 Edmonton @ Toronto, 7p
February 6 San Jose @ Edmonton, 9:30p
February 12 Montréal @ Boston, 7:30p
February 12 Calgary @ Los Angeles, 10p
February 18 Toronto @ Pittsburgh, 7p
February 20 Montréal @ Washington, 7p
ESPN+
If you kept your ESPN+ subscription going after the CFL, you got quite a lot of NHL games. We loved seeing the Battle of Alberta though hated the service at times avoiding Hockey Night in Canada feeds unless there was an all-Canadian game.
ESPN wasn't afraid to carry Canadian teams such as Vancouver and Ottawa.
There were 7 all-Canadian games, all of them in the West, down from 9 last year.
The numbers include the cancelled games from March 12 through the end of March thanks to the COVID-19 coronavirus. April telecasts were not released.
| Team | Overall | Home | Road |
| Toronto | 19 | 11 | 8 |
| Montréal | 10 | 3 | 7 |
| Ottawa | 9 | 4 | 5 |
| Winnipeg | 16 | 11 | 5 |
| Calgary | 17 | 9 | 8 |
| Edmonton | 20 | 9 | 11 |
| Vancouver | 20 | 12 | 8 |
October 2 Vancouver @ Edmonton, 10p
October 3 Winnipeg @ NY Rangers, 7p
October 10 Edmonton @ New Jersey, 7p
October 13 Calgary @ San Jose, 10p
October 15 Philadelphia @ Calgary, 9p
October 17 Ottawa @ Las Vegas, 10p
October 19 Calgary @ Los Angeles, 10p
October 20 Montréal @ Minnesota, 5p
October 20 Edmonton @ Winnipeg, 7p
October 21 Columbus @ Toronto, 7p
October 22 Toronto @ Boston, 7p
October 25 Washington @ Vancouver, 10p
October 27 San Jose @ Ottawa, 7p
October 28 Florida @ Vancouver, 10p
October 29 Winnipeg @ Anaheim, 10p
October 30 Vancouver @ Los Angeles, 10:30p
October 31 Montréal @ Las Vegas, 10p
November 2 Ottawa @ Boston, 7p
November 2 Winnipeg @ Las Vegas, 10p
November 4 Arizona @ Edmonton, 9p
November 7 Las Vegas @ Toronto, 7p
November 8 Vancouver @ Winnipeg, 8p
November 8 New Jersey @ Edmonton, 9p
November 9 St. Louis @ Calgary, 10p
November 10 New Jersey @ Vancouver, 4p
November 11 Ottawa @ Carolina, 7p
November 12 Columbus @ Montréal, 7p
November 12 Edmonton @ San Jose, 10:30p
November 13 Dallas @ Calgary, 9:30p
November 15 Boston @ Toronto, 7p
November 19 Toronto @ Las Vegas, 10p
November 22 NY Rangers @ Ottawa, 7:30p
November 23 Calgary @ Philadelphia, 1p
November 26 Boston @ Montréal, 7p
November 27 Edmonton @ Colorado, 10p
December 1 Edmonton @ Vancouver, 10p
December 3 Toronto @ Philadelphia, 7p
December 8 Buffalo @ Edmonton, 8p
December 9 Calgary @ Colorado, 9p
December 10 Montréal @ Pittsburgh, 7p
December 15 Philadelphia @ Winnipeg, 5p
December 17 Carolina @ Winnipeg, 8p
December 17 Pittsburgh @ Calgary, 9p
December 19 Nashville @ Ottawa, 7:30p
December 20 Pittsburgh @ Edmonton, 9p
December 21 Detroit @ Toronto, 7p
December 23 Carolina @ Toronto, 2p
December 27 Calgary @ Edmonton, 9p
January 2 Chicago @ Vancouver, 10p
January 4 Edmonton @ Boston, 1p
January 4 NY Islanders @ Toronto, 7p
January 14 Nashville @ Edmonton, 9p
January 16 Montréal @ Philadelphia, 7p
January 17 Tampa Bay @ Winnipeg, 8p
January 27 Washington @ Montréal, 7p
January 27 St. Louis @ Vancouver, 10p
January 28 St. Louis @ Calgary, 9p
January 29 Vancouver @ San Jose, 10:30p
January 30 Montréal @ Buffalo, 7p
February 1 Edmonton @ Calgary, 10p
February 2 Vancouver @ Carolina, 2p
February 3 Florida @ Toronto, 7p
February 4 Edmonton @ Arizona, 9p
February 6 Winnipeg @ St. Louis, 8p
February 9 Chicago @ Winnipeg, 7p
February 11 Chicago @ Edmonton, 9p
February 12 Chicago @ Vancouver, 10:30p
February 14 Montréal @ Pittsburgh, 7p
February 16 Toronto @ Buffalo, 7p
February 16 Chicago @ Winnipeg, 8:30p
February 17 Anaheim @ Calgary, 4p
February 19 Minnesota @ Vancouver, 10:30p
February 20 Pittsburgh @ Toronto, 7p
February 21 Boston @ Calgary, 9p
February 22 Carolina @ Toronto, 7p
February 22 Boston @ Vancouver, 10p
February 24 Ottawa @ Columbus, 7p
February 25 Toronto @ Tampa Bay, 7p
February 27 Washington @ Winnipeg, 8p
February 27 Calgary @ Nashville, 8p
March 1 Calgary @ Florida, 4p
March 1 Vancouver @ Columbus, 7p
March 2 Edmonton @ Nashville, 8p
March 3 Toronto @ San Jose, 10:30p
March 4 Arizona @ Vancouver, 10:30p
March 5 Edmonton @ Chicago, 8:30p
March 6 Las Vegas @ Winnipeg, 8p
March 6 Colorado @ Vancouver, 10p
March 8 Las Vegas @ Calgary, 7p
March 11 Ottawa @ Los Angeles, 10:30p
March 13 Vancouver @ Colorado, 9p*
March 16 Edmonton @ Washington, 7p*
March 19 NY Islanders @ Toronto, 7p*
March 20 Tampa Bay @ Edmonton, 9p*
March 23 Florida @ Toronto, 7p*
March 23 Vancouver @ Las Vegas, 10p*
March 24 Florida @ Ottawa, 7:30p*
March 24 Winnipeg @ Nashville, 8p*
March 26 Toronto @ Carolina, 7p*
March 27 Colorado @ Winnipeg, 8p*
March 27 Calgary @ Vancouver, 10p*
March 29 Las Vegas @ Winnipeg, 3p*
March 31 Toronto @ Washington, 7p*
March 31 Montréal @ Chicago, 8:30p*
logo credits: NHL Network/NBCSN/ESPN+
Comments