Your Announcers and Open Thread for Wild-Avalanche

Minnesota vs. Colorado, 9PM, VERSUS
Play by Play: Dave Strader
Color: Daryl Reaugh
Reporter: Lindsay Soto

NOTE: Hockey Central will air at Midnight.  In between the game and Hockey Central will air a special episode of Sports Jobs with Junior Seau featuring the Washington Capitals.

NHL Net to Air The Best of Ovechkin on December 10th

NEW YORK (December 9, 2009) – In his short time in the NHL, Alex Ovechkin has earned a prominent place in hockey history.  In just four-plus seasons, the two-time defending Hart Trophy, Lester B. Pearson Award and Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner already has scored more memorable goals than most players do in an entire career.

At 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, Dec. 10^th, NHL Network™ presents An Ovechkin Ovation: Alex’s Greatest Goals, a 30-minute program debating which of Ovechkin’s goal scoring exploits is the best.  The prolific scorer is featured in the broadcast, commenting on his favorite goals.  Ovechkin’s Capitals teammates join Capitals media personalities and other hockey notables discussing Alex’s most spectacular and jaw-dropping goals.

A dynamic force on the ice, Ovechkin has amassed 20 goals in 22 games played this season, one behind the league leader.

“An Ovechkin Ovation: Alex’s Greatest Goals,” begins at 7 p.m. ET in the U.S. and Canada and can be viewed in high definition in the U.S.  Immediately following the show at 7:30 p.m., ET, U.S. viewers will see Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the rest of the defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins travel to Montreal to square off against the Canadiens.  Local blackouts apply.

Milbury Off Winter Classic Coverage?

Once again, we bring you NBC’s Winter Classic listings:

1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
NHL WINTER CLASSIC (live)
Commentators: Bob Costas, Mike Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire, Darren Pang
Site: Fenway Park, Boston, MA
*Available in High Definition

A name missing from that list is NBC studio analyst Mike Milbury.  Could it be due to his Boston connection?  Could he be a part of some ceremonies at Fenway Park?  Does CBC have him in 1st position?  Or is it something else?  We’ll do some investigating and see what we can come up with.

While you’re at it, watch NBC’s version of the Winter Classic promo, which features Boston punks Dropkick Murphys and some Bob Costas narration here.

The Best of Randy Moller, Part Three

Oilers to Try Innovative New Online Broadcasts Starting Tonight

From Eric Duhatschek of The Globe & Mail:

(Wednesday) night’s date in Tampa between the Lightning and the visiting Edmonton Oilers. It is one of two games this season the Oilers are unable to broadcast through traditional media outlets, according to Allan Watt, the team’s vice-president of communications and broadcast. As a result, for the first time in their history, the Oilers are making the game available on their website. Game time is 5:30 MST; but the broadcast will kick off 15 minutes earlier with a pre-game show.

Watt suggested the Oilers were “venturing into new territory with this webcast” (true) and that it would provide fans with “a unique new format to catch the game” (also true).

To enhance the overall viewing experience, the play-by-play team of Kevin Quinn and Louis DeBrusk will be tweeting with fans throughout the broadcast via Twitter. Fans can also submit questions to host Gene Principe that, in turn, will ask during his intermission interview segment. In order to lure more viewers in, the Oilers are running a contest that offers a $500 Pro Hockey Life gift certificate at the end of each period to a viewer who correctly identifies the “mystery” player of the period.

Finally, the Oilers are even making the morning skate available online at 9:30am MST on Wednesday. If nothing else, that should give fantasy players a chance to figure out the starting goaltenders.

This is a fantastic idea.  I think more teams that don’t televise all 82 games should give this a shot.  Hell, even teams that do broadcast a full schedule should.  Have separate announcers do a game on the internet that mimics sort of the “NHL Rules” telecasts ESPN did earlier in the decade.  The web, as has been stated time and again, could be a huge key to gaining the NHL new fans.