Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

NHL Network Announces Expanded Studio Programming

10/04/2016 at 1:32pm EDT

October 4, 2016 - With the 2016 - 2017 NHL season set to begin in eight days, NHL Network today announced it will expand its live weekday studio programming with a new show, NHL Now, at 4:00 p.m. ET. Co-hosted by E.J. Hradek, Steve Mears and new NHL Network host Michelle McMahon, NHL Now will originate from two different NHL Network studios and make its debut on the opening night of the season, Wednesday, October 12.

With fans gearing up for the night’s action, NHL Now will have a fast-paced format that will include Arena Cam interviews from morning skates across the country, commentary from analysts and correspondents throughout the game, and interviews with players and team personnel. McMahon, who recently served as Fox Sports Carolinas’ pre-game host of Hurricanes Live and as a rink-side reporter, has joined NHL Network and will serve as a co-host with Hradek and Mears. Longtime NHL reporter Chuck Gormley, who most recently served as a Washington Capitals insider for Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, will also serve as a regular contributor.

Two-time Stanley Cup champion Scott Gomez has joined NHL Network as an on-air analyst and will make his debut on Monday, October 17. A 16-year NHL veteran and the 2000 Calder Memorial Trophy winner, Gomez joins NHL Network after serving as a guest analyst during the network’s coverage of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs. A first-round draft pick of the New Jersey Devils in 1998, Gomez tallied 756 points in 1,079 career games over 16 seasons with the Devils, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks and St. Louis Blues.

Originating from the new studio The Rink, NHL Network’s flagship program NHL Tonight will return weekdays at a new, earlier time at 6:00 p.m. ET to feature comprehensive game previews, plus look-ins of live games, highlights, instudio demonstrations. Following NHL Tonight, NHL Network’s nightly highlights show On The Fly will recap every game from across the league.

In addition to three daily studio shows, NHL Network will feature live regular season games throughout the 2016- 2017 season, beginning with a ten-game slate this October. The schedule begins with an Atlantic Division matchup featuring the Boston Bruins visiting the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, October 15 at 7:00 p.m. ET. Nine Stanley Cup Playoff teams will be featured this month, including the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins matching up against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, October 29 at 7:00 p.m. ET. Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane, who ranked first on NHL Network’s offseason countdown series Top 50 Players Right Now, will be in action twice this month, starting with a home game against the Calgary Flames, on Monday, October 24 at 8:30 p.m. ET. NHL Network will also simulcast SportsNet’s production of the Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic™ in the U.S. when the Winnipeg Jets host the Edmonton Oilers at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg on Sunday, Oct. 23 live at 3:00 p.m. ET.

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About Kukla's Korner Hockey

Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

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