NHL Network, NHL.com and NHL Radio To Provide Comprehensive Coverage Throughout the 2010 Playoff Season; NHL Network’s On The Fly Coverage Begins Sunday Night

NHL NETWORK, NHL.COM AND NHL RADIO TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE THROUGHOUT THE 2010 NHL PLAYOFF SEASON
NHL Network’s On The Fly Playoff Coverage Begins Sunday Night

TORONTO (April 9, 2010) – From the drop of the puck in October, memorable moments, incredible highlights and surprising storylines from the 2009-10 season have been written in NHL® history books — with more certain to come from the games that remain through Sunday night.  With that final whistle comes the anticipation of the most exciting time of the year — the Stanley Cup® Playoffs.  Today, the NHL announced its comprehensive 2010 Stanley Cup Playoff plans for NHL Network™, NHL.com and NHL Radio™.

The NHL’s media platforms will have all angles covered when the NHL’s post-season begins on Wednesday, April 14.  Pre- and post-game reports, real-time reporting from inside the NHL’s video room, expert analysis, feature interviews and live press conferences will enable fans to follow and get inside every playoff match-up.

As the 2009-10 regular season draws to a close Sunday night, NHL Network’s signature nightly program, On The Fly™, will be on the air immediately following the conclusion of the Penguins vs. Islanders game (5 p.m. ET start).  NHL Network analysts Gary Green and Denis Potvin will provide a complete season wrap-up, highlight the day’s games and discuss the match-ups for the conference quarter-finals.

NHL Network also will present a comprehensive breakdown of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs — including player and team features, predictions and analysis — with special, one-hour shows that preview the Eastern Conference on Monday, April 12, and the Western Conference on Tuesday, April 13, at 8 p.m. ET.  The shows will be hosted by Brian Duff and Dan Pollard and feature analysts Gary Green and former NHL player Mike Johnson, as well as other experts from around the League.

The 2010 LG NHL Draft Lottery, a weighted system to determine the order of selection for the first 14 picks of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, will take place Tuesday, April 13, at 8 p.m. ET.  The 30-minute program will be broadcast by TSN in Canada and simulcast on VERSUS and streamed live on NHL.com in the U.S.

NHL.com will provide extensive coverage of the blood, sweat and tears of playoff hockey from day one of the postseason until the Stanley Cup has been won.  In addition to their reporting from game and practice sites, NHL.com reporters will take fans inside the League’s video room with real-time video review explanations from the NHL’s Hockey Operations headquarters in Toronto.  The NHL.com team of writers also will make playoff predictions and provide in-depth reporting about playoff leaders and team rosters.

On Wednesday, April 14, NHL.com will premiere the Blackberry All-Access Pre Game Show, a playoff game-day web show that will air every day through the Stanley Cup Final on which a playoff game is played.

From her post at the NHL Powered by Reebok Store in New York City, host Deb Placey will take viewers on a virtual tour of the playoff markets — including remote reports from writers and broadcasters at team practices, insider features, interviews with special guests and a break-down of all the need-to-know game day facts and figures.  The show, published on NHL.com on the afternoon of each game day, will feature Blackberry product integration through live reports sent via Blackberry Messenger (BBM) from correspondents onsite at team venues. Viewers also will have the opportunity to gain access to exclusive content, get the insider “tip of the day” and receive breaking news through BBM by adding Stanley10 to their list of friends on their Blackberry smartphones.

NHL Live! ™, the NHL’s daily radio show — broadcast live on Sirius XM Radio, streamed on NHL.com and simulcast on NHL Network weekdays from noon – 2 p.m. ET — will continue to provide listeners the most up-to-date playoff information as teams prepare for their evening match-ups.  Guest analysts and NHL coaches and players will join the NHL Live! team.

And every Thursday throughout the playoffs in the regular 6 – 7 p.m. ET time slot, the Commissioner will host his weekly radio show, NHL Hour with Commissioner Gary Bettman.

About NHL Network
As the definitive hockey destination, NHL Network offers viewers a 24-hour all-access pass to complete hockey coverage both on and off the ice, including live NHL games. The network’s daily signature show – NHL On The Fly – offers fans exclusive live look-ins to NHL games, including goals, shootouts, features, interviews, pre- and post-game reports and expert analysis from a variety of hockey insiders and former players, plus special coverage from NHL events. Additional programming includes simulcast of Sirius XM Radio’s NHL Live! which broadcasts Mon-Fri from NHL Powered By Reebok, international and amateur hockey, player profiles, interview shows and youth-oriented programs.  NHL Network is available to more than 85 million homes in the U.S. and Canada. To access NHL Network, contact digital cable or satellite providers. For more information log on to www.nhlnetwork.com.