NHL Looking Ahead: 5 Best Nationally Televised Matchups of 2014-15′

Jun 16, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of Los Angeles Kings rally to celebrate winning the 2014 Stanley Cup at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The new NHL season is quickly approaching, with every teams 82 game schedule announced last month. Now, national television corporation NBC has followed suit by announcing their full slate of broadcasts for this upcoming year.

Some are no-brainers, as it’s customary to feature the previous seasons champion raising their Stanley Cup banner to the rafters, while others make you scratch your head. For example, why would two teams that did almost nothing during free agency and the draft, not to mention got bounced out of the playoffs fairly early in the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins, be the ones chosen to kick off NBC’s broadcasts?

Whatever the reason, I don’t have any veto power so there’s no point in questioning the decisions that were ultimately made. Instead, I’ll use this slideshow to give you the five best nationally televised games of the season ahead. Keep in mind this is solely my opinion, and you do not have to agree. If you have a differing opinion, feel free to leave it in the comment section below.

Until then, sit back, relax and happy reading!