NEWS
MSG Networks to Debut New Hockey Series This Fall
"The Essential Games" to Feature Rangers and Devils Season Retrospectives on MSG and MSG+
New Episodes Twice Each Week Starting Monday, September 24
New York, NY (September 21, 2012) - MSG Networks will launch a new hockey series this fall titled "The Essential Games" that will look back at the Rangers and Devils 2011-12 seasons. "The Essential Games" will premiere on Monday, September 24 at 8:00 p.m. with the first Rangers episode.
A 12-part retrospective on both the Rangers and Devils' 2011-12 seasons, "The Essential Games" will be hosted by MSG Networks' Rangers and Devils on-air talent as they break down each game in the series and discuss the importance of each win. The Rangers' series will feature Joe Micheletti and John Giannone and the Devils' lineup will feature Steve Cangialosi and Glenn "Chico" Resch. The series will include both teams' first round games from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which led to the teams clashing in the Eastern Conference Finals and the Devils moving on to Stanley Cup Finals.
The series will run twice-a-week starting with the Rangers' premiere episode on MSG on Monday. The Devils' "The Essential Games" episodes will debut on MSG+ in October.
"The Essential Games" Rangers series starts off with an early season match-up with the Washington Capitals, a team that knocked the Rangers out of the playoffs the previous season. The game also marked the debut of rookie Carl Hagelin, who ended up having a tremendous impact on the Rangers' season.
"We had heard John Tortorella talk so often about the importance of team speed and there was a kid we had heard some whispers about, Carl Hagelin," says Micheletti. "So there was some anticipation about him making his debut and it was not only quite the debut, but it turned this Rangers team into a team that discovered more team speed, and he was certainly the catalyst for that."
Below is a list of the games that will be featured "The Essential Games." Days and times of the remaining episodes will be announced at a later date.
"The Essential Games" – Rangers (MSG)
Monday, September 24 – 8:00 p.m.
Rangers at Capitals (11/25/2011): Ruslan Fedotenko scored twice, Ryan Callahan had three assists and rookie Carl Hagelin made his Rangers debut as New York broke a two-game losing streak with a 6-3 win over Washington.
Wednesday, September 26 – 8:00 p.m.
Rangers at Sabres (12/10/2011): In Carl Hagelin's breakout game, the rookie put two into the net, both assisted by Michael Del Zotto, to lead the Rangers to a 4-1 win in Buffalo – the 2,500th regular season win in Rangers franchise history.
Rangers at Coyotes (12/17/2011)
Rangers at Bruins (1/21/2012)
Rangers at Flyers (2/11/2012)
Rangers at Bruins (2/14/2012)
Rangers vs. Blue Jackets (2/19/2012)
Rangers at Jets (3/28/2012)
Rangers vs. Senators: Game 1, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals (4/12/2012)
Rangers at Senators: Game 3, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals (4/16/2012)
Rangers at Senators: Game 6, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals (4/23/2012)
Senators at Rangers: Game 7, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals (4/26/2012)
"The Essential Games" – Devils (MSG+)
Devils vs. Kings (10/13/2011)
Devils at Flyers (11/3/2011)
Devils vs. Senators (12/8/2011)
Devils vs. Stars (12/16/2011)
Devils vs. Rangers (1/31/2012)
Devils at Flyers (2/4/2012)
Devils at Rangers (2/7/2012)
Devils at Hurricanes (3/31/2012)
Devils vs. Senators (4/7/2012)
Devils vs. Panthers: Game 4, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals (4/19/2012)
Devils vs. Panthers: Game 6, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals (4/24/2012)
Devils at Panthers: Game 7, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals (4/26/2012)
In addition, eight episodes of "Islanders Best of 2011-12," hosted by Bill Pidto with analysts Butch Goring and Pat Flatley, will review the top games from the Islanders 2011-12 season and debut in October on MSG+.
As the exclusive local television home of the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, New York Liberty and New York Red Bulls, and the official regional sports networks of the New York Giants, MSG Networks telecasts over 400 live professional games per year. MSG Networks also telecasts 150 live college basketball games and over 40 live college football games from top national conferences (SEC, Big 12, Big East, Pac 12, Conference USA), as well as horse racing, boxing and award-winning original programming. In 2012, MSG Networks earned 16 New York Emmy Awards, including 14 for MSG – tops in the New York region for the third year in a row – and two for MSG+. Over the past five years, MSG Networks has totaled 77 New York Emmy Awards, including 69 for MSG – also the most of any New York station or network in that time – and eight for MSG+.
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