Boston Bruins fans without access to the team’s regular broadcast you can rejoice. The team announced Monday that thirteen of their games will be broadcast nationally for the 2017-2018 season. All nationally televised NHL games will air on either NBC or NBCSN.
The Bruins will be tied for the third most nationally televised games in 2017, trailing only the Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers.
Let’s take a look at who the Bruins will be facing in front of a national audience.
Nov. 8 @ New York Rangers
The Bruins first nationally televised games will be in Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers.
The Rangers upset the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Both teams were eliminated by the Ottawa Senators last season, and look to bounce back with a deeper playoff run.
Nov. 24 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
The Bruins first national game at home will be against the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champions.
The Bruins face several contenders early on in the season, Pittsburgh will highlight that early stretch.
Boston’s young defensive core will get a solid chance to prove themselves against the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
Nov. 29 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
This matchup will go under the radar for many, but there are a lot of great story lines to watch here.
The Bruins were a surprise playoff team a year ago, while the Lightning were surprisingly absent from the post season.
These teams both have solid cores are should provide an entertaining showdown.
The Lightning will be trying to prove that last year was a fluke, while the Bruins will be trying to prove that last year wasn’t.
Dec. 13 @ Detroit Red Wings
Like the matchup with the lightning, this game will see the Bruins matchup with a team looking to rebound after a disappointing 2017-2017 season.
Before the 2016-2017 season the Red Wings had gone 26 straight years without missing the playoffs.
The Red Wings like the Bruins are looking to get younger and begin building toward a new championship window.
Dec. 19 @ Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres were among the NHL’s worst last year, but this isn’t a team that the Bruins should sleep on.
The Sabres are beginning to show off a new young core led by Jack Eichel and could be a much better team than most people realize.
Dec. 28 @ Washington Capitals
The Bruins last national game of 2017 will be a tough matchup against the Washington Capitals.
The two time defending President’s Trophy winners lost a lot of pieces this offseason, but they are still very much championship contenders. They still posses a high-powered offense lead by Alex Ovechkin and TJ Oshie.
The Capitals cost the Bruins a chance at home ice in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs so the black and gold should be eager to get another crack at them in the nation’s capital.
Jan. 7 @ Pittsburgh Penguins
The Bruins second national game against the Penguins will see them travel to the steel city of Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh was tough to beat at home last season, and they should provide a tough challenge for the Bruins as they approach mid-season.
Jan. 17 vs. Montreal Canadiens
Hockey fans of all fan bases should be excited to see the Bruins take on the Canadiens on NBC.
This might be the greatest rivalry in the NHL, these two teams do not like each other and they’re both playoff hopeful teams.
This rivalry has a little extra spice to it now that former Bruins head coach Claude Julian is the head coach of the Canadiens. Julian lead the Bruins to one Stanley Cup championship as well as another Stanley Cup Final appearance.
Feb. 7 @ New York Rangers
This will be the Bruins second national game at Madison Square Garden.
Who doesn’t love a good Boston vs. New York showdown?
March 1 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
This is the Bruins third and final national game against the defending champs. This matchup will take place at TD Garden.
March 6 vs. Detroit Red Wings
This is the Bruins second national game against the Red Wings. This time it will take place at TD Garden.
Can the Red Wings be legitimate contenders this season?
March 11 @ Chicago Blackhawks
The Bruins will be faced with a stiff challenge down the stretch with a national game in Chicago.
The Blackhawks have had a lot of success over the last several seasons, and have been nearly unstoppable both at home and when on NBC.
This will be a great time late in the year for the Bruins to prove they can beat playoff caliber teams.
Chicago will be hungry after consecutive seasons with first-round playoff exits.
March 21 @ St. Louis Blues
St. Louis has been a bit unpredictable as of late, but they be in the playoff hunt at this time of the year, providing the Bruins another solid test.
March 25 @ Minnesota Wild
This will be the Bruins second consecutive national game against a Central Division team looking to prove themselves.
April 1 @ Philadelphia Flyers
The Bruins final nationally televised regular-season game will likely have major playoff implications.
The Flyers were absent from the postseason picture a year ago, but should rebound with a solid young core.
If the Black and Gold find themselves fighting for a wild card spot, this is likely the team they will be competing against. The Flyers should be much better, but they find themselves in a stacked Metro Division.
