After years of playing terrible hockey, just when the Buffalo Sabres look like they’re going to turn the corner and get better, NBC decides to look away.
NBC released their NHL television coverage schedule earlier today, and Buffalo will only be on NBCSN five times throughout the whole season, with no appearances on the marquee NBC channel. The broadcaster will show 109 games throughout the regular season, the highest since NBC won the television rights back in 2005.
The broadcaster has finally changed the cringeworthy and mirth-causing ‘Wednesday Night Rivalry’ segment, and will now be calling it simply ‘Wednesday Night Hockey’, but it will still be on the NBC Sports Network channel.
Of the 25 “Wednesday Night Hockey” showcases on NBCSN, 17 will be doubleheaders – all five of the Sabres games will be single features however, and none of them on the ‘Wednesday Night Hockey’ feature despite the games actually being on a Wednesday.
Tue, Nov. 13 Tampa Bay at Buffalo NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Wed, Nov. 21 Philadelphia at Buffalo NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Tue, Dec. 4 Toronto at Buffalo NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Dec. 21 Buffalo at Washington NBCSN 7 p.m.
Tue, Feb. 26 Buffalo at Philadelphia NBCSN 7 p.m.
Click here for NBC’s full hockey schedule, as well as information on the 2019 Winter Classic Stadium Series matchups.
Oh well, the 2018-19 Buffalo Sabres are just going to have to be Western New York’s best kept secret then.
Editor’s Note:
Viewing the decision from the NHL & NBC’s standpoint, the league and broadcaster are bringing Canadian teams into it now so someone has to get less games and it’s not the big markets. Why not take some away from the worst team in hockey three of the last five years and whose fanbase will watch whatever hockey is put on anyway?