According to Vegas odds, there are 10 teams with a better chance of being 2020 Stanley Cup champions than the Pittsburgh Penguins.
According to NBC, the list of teams that could be NHL ratings champions is much smaller.
The Penguins will make 16 appearances on national television next season, according to a schedule released by NBC on Tuesday. That’s up one from last season and even with the year before that.
The key indicator that the network thinks highly of the Penguins as a ratings draw is the list of games scheduled to air on broadcast television later in the season.
From Jan. 19 through the end of the season, NBC will air nine Sunday afternoon games. The Penguins will take part in six of them, including three matchups against the Washington Capitals.
The Penguins will also make six appearances on Wednesday Night Hockey, which is the NBC Sports Network’s marquee matchup each week.
NBC will have exclusive rights for 12 of the 16 national broadcasts, which means AT&T Sportsnet will air 70 of the team’s 82 games next season.
Penguins’ Sunday appearances on NBC
Jan. 19 Boston, 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 2 at Washington, 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 16 Detroit, 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 23 at Washington, noon
March 22 Washington, noon
March 29 at Philadelphia, noon
Penguins on Wednesday Night Hockey on NBC Sports Network
Oct. 16 Colorado, 7 p.m.
Oct. 23 at Tampa Bay, 8 p.m.
Dec. 4 St. Louis, 8 p.m.
Feb. 26 at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.
March 18 at NY Rangers, 7:30 p.m.
March 25 at Chicago, 8 p.m.
