Caps to Debut New Internet Show

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals will launch Caps on the Fly tonight, Oct. 26, at 6 p.m., as WashingtonCaps.com gives Caps fans an opportunity to watch this new podcast live on location. The monthly, hour-long video podcast will broadcast live from the Hilton Garden Inn in Washington, D.C., on WashingtonCaps.com.

The first Caps on the Fly will be hosted by WashingtonCaps.com senior writer Mike Vogel, who will be joined by special guests vice president and general manager George McPhee and captain Chris Clark to discuss the state of the Capitals and the upcoming games. Fans at the Hilton Garden Inn or listening online will be able to submit questions for the hosts or guests.

WashingtonCaps.com, in particular its audio and video segments, has proven to be extremely popular with fans looking for more Caps content. The site saw its monthly visits increase by 95% in 2008-09 and its audio and/or video podcasts routinely draw audiences in the thousands (live and downloaded).

WashingtonCaps.com currently offers three audio and/or video shows that stream live and are available for download or viewing on the site: Capitals Report presented by Subway, a weekly show that airs Wednesday afternoon, PreCap presented by Scenic America, which airs at 2 p.m. on gamedays, and Two-Man Advantage, which airs at 5:45 p.m. on the evenings of home games at Verizon Center.

The Hilton Garden Inn is located in the vibrant heart of downtown Washington, D.C., at 815 14th Street. The 14-story Hilton Garden Inn Washington D.C. Downtown hotel delivers a refreshing blend of urban luxury and friendly hospitality. Spacious accommodations, a convenient downtown Washington, D.C., location, an array of lifestyle amenities and exceptional service make the Hilton Garden Inn Washington D.C. Downtown hotel a relaxing oasis from a busy day at the office or touring the historic and inspiring sights of Washington, D.C. To book a room log on to www.washingtondcdowntown.stayhgi.com.

Your Belated College Hockey TV Schedule For 2009-10 Season

Let’s be honest here.  We weren’t aware college hockey season had started until noticing Ryan Lambert’s (Two-Line Pass) column on Notre Dame in Puck Daddy last week.

Inside College Hockey features regional TV games as well, but we’ll try to generalize it down to national networks (ESPNU, CBS College Sports, Fox College Sports, Big Ten, NHL Network) after the jump.  Enjoy.

Monty Python Mondays

Spot the (Obvious) Mistake

Check out the image we’re talking about here.  Good catch by vulcansmuse on Twitter.

Off For the Week, Here’s Your HNIC Open Thread

Toronto vs. Vancouver, 7PM, CBC Full Network (Except Ottawa/Quebec), NHL Network
Play by Play: Jim Hughson
Color: Craig Simpson
Inside the Glass: Glenn Healy

NY Rangers vs. Montreal, 7PM, CBC in Quebec
Play by Play: Bob Cole
Color: Greg Millen and Guy Carbonneau

Boston vs. Ottawa, 7PM, CBC in Parts of Ontario
Play by Play: Dean Brown
Color: Gary Galley

Things We Haven’t Been Paying Attention To: The NHL Net’s New Logo

Yesterday was CBC day, today is NHL Net day.  What does everyone think of the NHL Network’s new logo?  We hadn’t seen much of it because we don’t get the channel at school.  It’s not bad, it distances you from the idea that the NHL has complete editorial control over the network.  But still, the old one seemed pretty simple and classy.  What do you all think?

NHL Net Launching Nightly Pre-Game Show (Plus the Rest of Your NHL Net Schedule Next Week)

Starting Monday, the NHL Network is launching a live, nightly (Monday-Friday, 6PM) pre-game show titled “Verizon Wireless All-Access Pre-Game”.  We’ll look into getting some more info on this before it debuts on Monday.  Here’s the rest of your NHL Net schedule for the week.

UPDATE: Schuyler Baehman from the NHL informs us that the show will be shot in the NHL offices in New York City and be hosted by Rob Simpson.

Monday, Oct. 26
6:00 Verizon All-Access Pre-Game Show
7:00 The Off-Season: Shane O’Brien
7:30 Off the Ice: Rick Nash, Tim Thomas, Victor Hedman
8:00 NHL On The Fly

Tuesday, Oct. 27
6:00 Verizon All-Access Pre-Game Show
7:00 A Day That Changed the Game: June 5, 1967
8:00 NHL On the Fly

Wednesday, Oct. 28
6:00 Verizon All-Access Pre-Game Show
7:00 1979 Stanley Cup Film
7:30 Off the Ice: Ryan Getzlaf, Jay Bouwmeester, Milan Lucic, Colin Wilson
8:00 NHL On the Fly

Thursday, Oct. 29
6:00 Verizon All-Access Pre-Game Show
7:00 LIVE: Washington vs. Atlanta
9:30 NHL On the Fly

Friday, Oct. 30
6:00 Verizon All-Access Pre-Game Show
7:00 NCAA Hockey: Western Michigan vs. Michigan St.
9:30 NHL On the Fly

Saturday, Oct. 31
6:30 Hockey Night in Canada Pre-Game Show
7:00 LIVE: Toronto vs. Montreal
9:30 NHL On the Fly

Sunday, Nov. 1
7:00 50 Years Behind the Mask
8:00 NHL On the Fly

Hoedown Friday

Lanny McDonald Is Your Next Battle of the Blades Guest Judge

Lanny McDonald, one of the most beloved Toronto Maple Leaf players, is returning to historic Maple Leaf Gardens as a guest judge on CBC Television’s BATTLE OF THE BLADES, Sunday, October 25 and Monday, October 26, at 8 p.m. McDonald is married to figure skater Ardell McDonald, making the hockey legend’s story one that mirrors what the BATTLE OF THE BLADES has accomplished.

McDonald started his illustrious NHL career in 1973 as the first draft choice of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Widely recognized for his iconic moustache, he also played with the Colorado Rockies, starting in 1979, and later joined the Calgary Flames where he helped bring them to glory by winning the team’s first Stanley Cup in 1989. This was also the year he retired from the sport.

Drawing from what he knows of hockey and figure skating, McDonald’s comments will bring added variety when combined with the remarks from regular judges Sandra Bezic and Dick Button. All three will preside together as the show’s remaining five pairs contend to win $100,000 for the charity of their choice.

More Hockey Night News: Leafs to Get Dropped from HNIC Main Games?

Good God, the Leafs do indeed suck this year.  So it must be rough for Hockey Night in Canada to decide whether to keep their still sizable audience on the featured game during the opening HNIC on CBC.  But Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun has the story:

The next two weeks are audience locks — with the Leafs visiting Vancouver and Montreal. But if Toronto’s record still stinks after that, the CBC won’t hesitate to adjust the picture in its national distribution.

“After that, we may start to play with how much of the country sees the Leafs or the Sens or the Habs based on team performance and matchup,” Scott Moore, the executive director of CBC Sports said yesterday in an e-mail.

For now, the numbers are holding up surprisingly well. The Leafs most recent loss this past Saturday against the New York Rangers brought in a healthy 1.7 million viewers, the most watched sports show of the week.

Seven days earlier, the Leafs-Penguins were strong at 1.69 million and the first Saturday, a three-game national split, which included the Leafs and Washington, drew 1.74 million.

HNIC does need to be in the business of getting the biggest audience possible, but the question is how long until the Leafs stop becoming a curiosity.