NHL Network to Air Game 4 of Capitals/Lightning

NHL Network continues to get into the business of airing live games this playoff season, and important ones at that.

With three games airing on Wednesday night, and only one able to be aired on VERSUS in Philadelphia/Boston Game 3, NHL Network is shouldering some of the load. They’ll be broadcasting Game 4 of the Washington/Tampa Bay series according to NHL.com’s schedule page, which will be the second in two nights of what will be an oddly timed series. That series features games at 12:30, 6:30 and 7, days on back-to-backs, and everything else but the kitchen sink.

Anyway, good on the NHL Network to get some games. One has to wonder if they’ll see any playoff action in the future, if it will be included in the alternate networks NBC Sports Group plans to use for the Stanley Cup Playoffs next year and beyond, or if it even can. This may be the last playoff game NHL Network airs for quite some time, with both Game 7’s able to be turned into doubleheaders. This means all three games Wednesday night will see some national television, if you include San Jose/Detroit getting joined in progress on VERSUS. We tend not to though, so whatever.