NHL on Fox

NHL on Fox was a television program that televised NHL games on the Fox television network and produced by Fox Sports. The program ran from the 1994–95 NHL season until 1998–99 NHL season. Fox paid $31 million a year ($155 million in total) to televise the NHL.

Coverage Overview

NHL's initial deal with Fox was significant as a network television contract in the United States was long thought unattainable during the presidency of John Ziegler. For 17 years after the 1975 Finals was broadcast on NBC, there would be no national over-the-air network coverage of the NHL in the United States, except CBS' coverage of Game 2 of the 1979 Challenge Cup and Game 6 of the 1980 Stanley Cup Finals, and NBC's coverage of the NHL All-Star Game from 1990 to 1994) and only spotty coverage on regional networks. This was due to the fact that no network was willing to commit to a large number of games, in turn, providing low ratings for NHL games. ABC eventually resume broadcasting regular NHL games (on a time buy basis through ESPN) for the 1992–93 season (and continuing through the 1993–94 season before Fox took over for the next five seasons). The Fox deal is perhaps best remembered for the FoxTrax puck, which while generally popular according to Fox Sports, generated a great deal of controversy from longtime fans of the game.

Fox inaugurated its NHL coverage on April 2, 1995, towards the end of the 1994–95 regular season, with 6 games (between NY Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers; St. Louis Blues at Detroit Red Wings; Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals; Chicago Blackhawks at Dallas Stars; Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning; and San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks). Mike Emrick and John Davidson served as the lead broadcast team for national game broadcasts on FOX, while regionally distributed games were handled by a variety of announcers, in addition to Emrick and Davidson. For the first 4 years of the deal, James Brown hosted the show from the Fox Network Center in Los Angeles and Dave Maloney as analyst from the Fox Network Center studios in Los Angeles. For the 5th and final season, Suzy Kolber served as the studio host and Terry Crisp served as the studio analyst. Occasionally, active NHL players such as Mike Modano would serve as guest analysts.

FoxTrax

FoxTrax (colloquially also called the glow puck, smart puck, laser puck, Fox Puck or super puck) was a specialized ice hockey puck with internal electronics that allowed its position to be tracked designed for NHL telecasts on the Fox television network. Primarily, it was used to visually highlight the puck on-screen and display a trail when the puck was moving rapidly. In 1994, Fox won a contract to broadcast NHL games in United States. A common complaint among viewers was that the puck was difficult to follow on the ice. Thus, FoxTrax was created to remedy this problem. The FoxTrax puck was first used during the 1996 NHL All-Star Game. It was last used during Game 1 of the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals. FOX was scheduled to televise Games 5, and 7, but the series ended in 4 games. In August of 1998, NHL broadcast rights went to ABC, and FoxTrax was not brought back for the final season.

Stanley Cup Playoff Coverage

In the first two rounds of the playoffs, 2 games were televised each round. Canadians were upset over the apparent preference that NHL had to Fox ahead of CBC for scheduling of playoff games as Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette wrote that the schedule was "just another example of how the NHL snubs its nose at the country that invented hockey and its fans." The controversy repeated itself in 2007 as CBC was once again given second billing to Versus' coverage of the playoffs.

All-Star Game, Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals

For the NHL All-Star Game, Conference Finals, and Stanley Cup Finals, the games are national games were hosted from the arena. The 1996 and 1997 NHL All-Star Games were televised in prime time.

Stanley Cup Finals

Fox split coverage of the Stanley Cup Finals with ESPN. Game 1 of the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals was the first Finals game shown on network television since 1980 and the first in prime time since 1973. Games 1, 5, and 7 were usually scheduled to be televised by FOX. Games 2, 3, 4, and 6 by ESPN, however from 1995-1998, the Finals were all 4 game sweeps and 1999 ended in 6 games. The consequence was that (except for 1995, when Fox did televised Game 4) the decisive game was never on network television. Perhaps in recognition of this, Games 3–7 were always televised by ABC in the succeeding broadcast agreement between the NHL and ABC Sports/ESPN. Game 4 of the 1995 Stanley Cup Final was notable because not only did New Jersey Devils win the Stanley Cup, but also their lead television play-by-play announcer, Mike Emrick announced it.

Stanley Cup Finals Broadcast Schedules

• 1995: Games 1, 4, 5, and 7 on FOX; Games 2, 3, and 6 on ESPN
• 1996: Games 1, 3, 5, and 7 on FOX; Games 2, 4, and 6 on ESPN
• 1997: Games 1, 5, 6, and 7 on FOX; Games 2, 3, and 4 on ESPN
• 1998: Games 1, 5, and 7 on FOX; Games 2, 3, 4, and 6 on ESPN
• 1999: Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 on FOX; Games 3, 4, and 6 on ESPN

The end of NHL on FOX

Things ended badly between FOX and the NHL when the league announced a new TV deal with ESPN that also called for ABC to become the new network TV partner (as previously mentioned). Fox challenged that it wasn't given a chance to match the network component of the deal, but ABC ultimately prevailed. Fox placed a bid for NHL broadcast rights when they came up for renewal in 2011, but they dropped out of bidding as a result of a bidding war between NBCUniversal and ESPN. NBC Universal (who owns the NBC, Versus, and USA networks) won the bidding and a 10-year contract extension.

Coverage overview

Regular season

Fox's logo for their regular season broadcasts.

Fox televised between 2 and 11 regionally distributed games on Saturday or Sunday afternoons during the regular season, where anywhere from 2 to 6 games ran concurrently. All times below are Eastern.

1994–95

Main article: 1994–95 NHL season

Date	Teams	Start times (All times Eastern)	Commentator crews
4/2/95	New York Rangers at Philadelphia St. Louis at Detroit Boston at Washington Chicago at Dallas Florida at Tampa Bay San Jose at Anaheim	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 6 p.m.	Mike Emrick and John Davidson Pat Foley and Mickey Redmond Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Dave Strader and Denis Potvin Dick Stockton and Mike Eruzione Kenny Albert and Gary Green
4/9/95	Boston at Buffalo New York Rangers at New Jersey Dallas at St. Louis Detroit at Chicago Los Angeles at Anaheim	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 6 p.m.	Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Mike Emrick and John Davidson Jiggs McDonald and Greg Millen Pat Foley and Mickey Redmond Kenny Albert and Gary Green
4/16/95	Pittsburgh at Philadelphia Detroit at St. Louis New York Rangers at New York Islanders Chicago at Dallas Tampa Bay at Florida Los Angeles at San Jose	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 6 p.m.	Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Mike Emrick and John Davidson Kenny Albert and Denis Potvin Pat Foley and Mickey Redmond Jiggs McDonald and Greg Millen Dave Strader and Gary Green
4/23/95	New York Rangers at Boston Chicago at St. Louis Detroit at San Jose Philadelphia at Buffalo Anaheim at Los Angeles	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 6 p.m.	Mike Emrick and John Davidson Dave Strader and Denis Potvin Pat Foley and Mickey Redmond Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Kenny Albert and Gary Green
4/30/95	St. Louis at San Jose New York Rangers at Philadelphia Washington at Florida Chicago at Detroit Pittsburgh at Boston Anaheim at Los Angeles	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 6 p.m.	Kenny Albert and Mickey Redmond Mike Emrick and John Davidson Dick Stockton and Mike Eruzione Dave Strader and Denis Potvin Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Bob Miller and Gary Green

1995–96

Main article: 1995–96 NHL season

Date	Teams	Start times (All times Eastern)	Commentator crews
1/27/96	New York Rangers at Boston Philadelphia at Pittsburgh* Anaheim at Los Angeles Colorado at San Jose Tampa Bay at St. Louis Detroit at Chicago	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Mike Emrick and John Davidson Dave Strader and Greg Millen Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab Kenny Albert and Denis Potvin Pat Foley and Mickey Redmond
2/3/96	Chicago at San Jose Florida at Tampa Bay New York Rangers at Colorado* Pittsburgh at Detroit Buffalo at Boston Philadelphia at St. Louis	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Dave Strader and Greg Millen Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab Mike Emrick and John Davidson Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Rick Jeanneret and Mickey Redmond Kenny Albert and Denis Potvin
2/10/96	St. Louis at Dallas New York Rangers at New Jersey Detroit at Tampa Bay Philadelphia at Boston* Chicago at Pittsburgh San Jose at Los Angeles	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Kenny Albert and Denis Potvin Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Dave Strader and Greg Millen Mike Emrick and John Davidson Pat Foley and Mickey Redmond Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab
3/31/96	Boston at Buffalo Pittsburgh at Philadelphia St. Louis at Detroit* Dallas at Chicago New York Rangers at New York Islanders	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Mike Emrick and John Davidson Pat Foley and Mickey Redmond Kenny Albert and Denis Potvin
4/7/96	Colorado at Dallas Detroit at Chicago* Boston at Philadelphia New York Rangers at New Jersey Anaheim at San Jose	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Dave Strader and Greg Millen Mike Emrick and John Davidson Kenny Albert and Denis Potvin Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Randy Hahn and Pete Stemkowski
4/14/96	Detroit at Dallas Pittsburgh at Boston Philadelphia at Tampa Bay New York Rangers at Florida* St. Louis at Chicago Los Angeles at Colorado	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Dave Strader and Greg Millen Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab Mike Emrick and John Davidson Pat Foley and Mickey Redmond Kenny Albert and Denis Potvin

*Denotes use of FoxTrax puck.

1996–97

Main article: 1996–97 NHL season

Date	Teams	Start times (All times Eastern)	Commentator crews
1/25/97	Colorado at Boston New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Detroit at Philadelphia Anaheim at Los Angeles Tampa Bay at Florida	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab Mike Emrick and John Davidson Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Bob Miller and Jim Fox Kenny Albert and Craig Simpson
2/1/97	Phoenix at Pittsburgh Detroit at St. Louis Colorado at San Jose New York Rangers at Philadelphia Washington at Florida	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Mike Lange and Paul Steigerwald Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Kenny Albert and Craig Simpson Mike Emrick and John Davidson Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab
2/8/97	New York Rangers at New York Islanders Chicago at Colorado St. Louis at Boston Detroit at Pittsburgh	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab Kenny Albert and Craig Simpson Mike Emrick and John Davidson
2/15/97	Pittsburgh at Philadelphia Colorado at St. Louis Boston at Phoenix New York Rangers at Chicago	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Mike Emrick and John Davidson Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab Kenny Albert and Craig Simpson Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti
2/22/97	Phoenix at Anaheim Chicago at Pittsburgh Detroit at St. Louis Philadelphia at Florida	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Kenny Albert and Craig Simpson Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Mike Emrick and John Davidson
3/1/97	Philadelphia at Boston Florida at Tampa Bay New York Rangers at Detroit Chicago at Colorado	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Sam Rosen and Craig Simpson Kenny Albert and Joe Micheletti Mike Emrick and John Davidson Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab

1997–98

Main article: 1997–98 NHL season

Date	Teams	Start times (All times Eastern)	Commentator crews
1/24/98	Philadelphia at Detroit St. Louis at Chicago New Jersey at New York Rangers Los Angeles at Anaheim Dallas at Colorado Boston at Pittsburgh	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Mike Emrick and John Davidson Josh Lewin and Daryl Reaugh Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti John Kelly and Craig Simpson Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab Kenny Albert and Terry Crisp
1/31/98	New York Rangers at Boston Chicago at Los Angeles Detroit at Pittsburgh Dallas at St. Louis Tampa Bay at Florida Colorado at San Jose	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Mike Emrick and John Davidson Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Josh Lewin and Daryl Reaugh Kenny Albert and Terry Crisp John Kelly and Craig Simpson
2/7/98	New Jersey at New York Islanders Carolina at Boston Philadelphia at Colorado Chicago at Dallas Los Angeles at Anaheim Detroit at St. Louis	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Howie Rose and Chico Resch Kenny Albert and Terry Crisp Mike Emrick and John Davidson John Kelly and Craig Simpson Josh Lewin and Daryl Reaugh Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab
2/28/98	Philadelphia at New York Rangers Chicago at Colorado Pittsburgh at Boston Washington at Tampa Bay St. Louis at Los Angeles Phoenix at Dallas	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Mike Emrick and John Davidson Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Josh Lewin and Daryl Reaugh Kenny Albert and Terry Crisp John Kelly and Craig Simpson Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab
3/7/98	Detroit at Los Angeles New York Rangers at New Jersey Florida at Washington Dallas at St. Louis Philadelphia at Pittsburgh Chicago at Boston	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	John Kelly and Craig Simpson Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab Kenny Albert and Terry Crisp Josh Lewin and Daryl Reaugh Mike Emrick and John Davidson Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti
3/14/98	Buffalo at Pittsburgh Detroit at Philadelphia New York Rangers at Boston Chicago at Tampa Bay Colorado at Los Angeles Phoenix at St. Louis	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab Mike Emrick and John Davidson Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Kenny Albert and Terry Crisp John Kelly and Craig Simpson Josh Lewin and Daryl Reaugh
3/21/98	Phoenix at Los Angeles Boston at Buffalo Philadelphia at Pittsburgh Detroit at New York Rangers Colorado at San Jose	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	John Kelly and Craig Simpson Kenny Albert and Terry Crisp Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Mike Emrick and John Davidson Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab
3/28/98	Carolina at Philadelphia New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Anaheim at Colorado Detroit at St. Louis Florida at Boston San Jose at Dallas	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	John Kelly and Craig Simpson Mike Emrick and John Davidson Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Kenny Albert and Terry Crisp Josh Lewin and Daryl Reaugh
4/4/98	Detroit at Chicago Colorado at St. Louis Florida at Philadelphia Los Angeles at Washington New York Rangers at New York Islanders	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Mike Emrick and John Davidson Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab Josh Lewin and Daryl Reaugh Kenny Albert and Terry Crisp
4/11/98	New York Rangers at Detroit Florida at Pittsburgh Phoenix at St. Louis Washington at Philadelphia Dallas at Tampa Bay Colorado at Los Angeles	1 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m. 1 p.m. 6 p.m.	Mike Emrick and John Davidson Kenny Albert and Terry Crisp Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Josh Lewin and Daryl Reaugh John Kelly and Craig Simpson
4/18/98	Chicago at Dallas Detroit at Colorado New York Rangers at Philadelphia Anaheim at Los Angeles Boston at Pittsburgh	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab Mike Emrick and John Davidson Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti John Kelly and Craig Simpson Kenny Albert and Terry Crisp

Notes

• FOX was initially scheduled to air a Pittsburgh Penguins-Tampa Bay Lightning game on April 4, but FOX removed the game.

1998–99

Main article: 1998–99 NHL season

Date	Teams	Start times (All times Eastern)	Commentator Crews
2/7/99	New York Rangers at Boston Detroit at Pittsburgh Colorado at Dallas	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Mike Emrick and John Davidson Kenny Albert and Peter McNab
2/14/99	Detroit at New York Rangers Philadelphia at Colorado	3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Mike Emrick and John Davidson Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti
2/21/99	Boston at Chicago Colorado at Dallas Detroit at Buffalo	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Kenny Albert and Peter McNab Jiggs McDonald and Joe Micheletti Mike Emrick and John Davidson
2/28/99	Philadelphia at New York Rangers Pittsburgh at Washington Los Angeles at Dallas	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Mike Emrick and John Davidson Kenny Albert and Peter McNab Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti
3/7/99	Colorado at Pittsburgh New York Rangers at Boston St. Louis at Dallas	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Mike Emrick and John Davidson Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Kenny Albert and Peter McNab
3/14/99	Detroit at Colorado St. Louis at Chicago New York Rangers at New York Islanders	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Mike Emrick and John Davidson Kenny Albert and Peter McNab Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti
3/21/99	Pittsburgh at NY Rangers Detroit at Philadelphia Colorado at Chicago	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Mike Emrick and John Davidson Kenny Albert and Peter McNab
3/28/99	Philadelphia at Detroit St. Louis at Chicago Los Angeles at Colorado	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m	Mike Emrick and John Davidson Kenny Albert and Peter McNab Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti
4/4/99	NY Rangers at New Jersey Detroit at Dallas	3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Mike Emrick and John Davidson
4/11/99	Pittsburgh at Detroit^ Colorado at St. Louis Los Angeles at Dallas	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Mike Emrick and John Davidson Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Kenny Albert and Peter McNab
4/18/99	Pittsburgh at NY Rangers^ Dallas at Colorado Boston at Philadelphia	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Sam Rosen Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab Kenny Albert and Joe Micheletti

^The Pittsburgh Penguins–New York Rangers game on April 18 (Wayne Gretzky's final game before his retirement) began MSG Network. The week prior (April 11), WNYW aired another Yankees game over the Pittsburgh–Detroit NHL game, which instead aired on MSG from start to finish.

Stanley Cup playoffs coverage

1995

Main article: 1995 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Date	Teams	Start times (All times Eastern)	Commentators
5/7/95	Buffalo at Philadelphia New Jersey at Boston Dallas at Detroit Vancouver at St. Louis	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Dave Strader and Denis Potvin Mike Emrick and John Davidson Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Pat Foley and Mickey Redmond
5/14/95	New York Rangers at Quebec Washington at Pittsburgh Buffalo at Philadelphia Detroit at Dallas	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Mike Emrick and John Davidson Kenny Albert and Denis Potvin Jiggs McDonald and Mickey Redmond Dave Strader and Joe Micheletti
5/21/95	San Jose at Detroit New York Rangers at Philadelphia	3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Mike Emrick and John Davidson
5/28/95	New Jersey at Pittsburgh	3 p.m.	Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Joe Micheletti
6/4/95	Chicago at Detroit	3 p.m.	Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Joe Micheletti
6/11/95	New Jersey at Philadelphia	3 p.m.	Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Joe Micheletti
6/17/95	New Jersey at Detroit	8 p.m.	Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Joe Micheletti
6/24/95	Detroit at New Jersey	8 p.m.	Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Joe Micheletti

Notes

• The May 14 game in Quebec was the final home game for Quebec Nordiques. The franchise became Colorado Avalanche.
• The June 24 game in New Jersey was the Stanley Cup Finals' deciding game as New Jersey Devils swept Detroit Red Wings. Although FOX did retain rights to certain other games where the Cup could be decided (including any and all Game 7s), 1995 was the only time during its run as NHL broadcaster that FOX actually carried the Cup-clinching victory on-air.

1996

Main article: 1996 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Date	Teams	Start times (All times Eastern)	Commentators
4/21/96	Philadelphia at Tampa Bay New York Rangers at Montreal* Detroit at Winnipeg Chicago at Calgary	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Mike Emrick and John Davidson Kenny Albert and Mickey Redmond Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab
4/28/96	New York Rangers at Montreal* Pittsburgh at Washington Detroit at Winnipeg	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Mike Emrick and John Davidson Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Pat Foley and Mickey Redmond
5/5/96	St. Louis at Detroit* New York Rangers at Pittsburgh	3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti  Mike Emrick and John Davidson
5/12/96	Florida at Philadelphia St. Louis at Detroit*	3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Mike Emrick and John Davidson Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti
5/19/96	Colorado at Detroit*	3 p.m.	Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Joe Micheletti
5/26/96	Pittsburgh at Florida*	3 p.m.	Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Joe Micheletti
6/4/96	Florida at Colorado*	8 p.m.	Mike Emrick, John Davidson, Joe Micheletti, and Sandra Neil
6/8/96	Colorado at Florida*	8 p.m.	Mike Emrick, John Davidson, Joe Micheletti, and Sandra Neil

Notes

• Denotes use of FoxTrax puck.
• The April 28 game in Winnipeg was the final home game for the original Winnipeg Jets. The franchise would become the Phoenix Coyotes in the fall of 1996.

1997

Main article: 1997 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Date	Teams	Start times (All times Eastern)	Commentators
4/20/97	NY Rangers at Florida Detroit at St. Louis Colorado at Chicago Anaheim at Phoenix	2 p.m. 2 p.m. 2 p.m. 3 p.m.	Mike Emrick and John Davidson Kenny Albert and Craig Simpson Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab
4/27/97	Detroit at St. Louis Dallas at Edmonton Anaheim at Phoenix	2 p.m. 2 p.m. 3 p.m.	Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Kenny Albert and Craig Simpson Jiggs McDonald and Peter McNab
5/4/97	Anaheim at Detroit NY Rangers at New Jersey	2 p.m. 2 p.m.	Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti  Mike Emrick and John Davidson
5/11/97	NY Rangers at New Jersey Philadelphia at Buffalo*	2 p.m. 2 p.m.	Mike Emrick and John Davidson Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti
5/18/97	NY Rangers at Philadelphia	2 p.m.	Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Joe Micheletti
5/25/97	NY Rangers at Philadelphia	2 p.m.	Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Joe Micheletti
5/31/97	Detroit at Philadelphia	8 p.m.	Mike Emrick, John Davidson, Joe Micheletti, and Christine Simpson

1998

Main article: 1998 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Date	Teams	Start times (All times Eastern)	Commentators
4/26/98	New Jersey at Ottawa Washington at Boston Detroit at Phoenix Dallas at San Jose	2 p.m. 2 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Kenny Albert and Terry Crisp Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Mike Emrick and John Davidson Jiggs McDonald and Daryl Reaugh
5/3/98	Washington at Boston Detroit at Phoenix	2 p.m. 3 p.m.	Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti  Mike Emrick and John Davidson
5/10/98	St. Louis at Detroit* Montreal at Buffalo	2 p.m. 2 p.m.	Mike Emrick and John Davidson Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti
5/17/98	St. Louis at Detroit	2 p.m.	Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Joe Micheletti
5/24/98	Detroit at Dallas	2 p.m.	Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Joe Micheletti
5/31/98	Dallas at Detroit	2 p.m.	Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Joe Micheletti
6/9/98	Washington at Detroit*	8 p.m.	Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Joe Micheletti

1999

Main article: 1999 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Date	Teams	Start times (All times Eastern)	Commentators
4/25/99	New Jersey at Pittsburgh Detroit at Anaheim Phoenix at St. Louis	3 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m.	Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Mike Emrick and John Davidson Kenny Albert and Peter McNab
5/2/99	New Jersey at Pittsburgh Phoenix at St. Louis	2 p.m. 2 p.m.	Mike Emrick and John Davidson Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti
5/9/99	Buffalo at Boston Detroit at Colorado	2 p.m. 2 p.m.	Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti Mike Emrick and John Davidson
5/16/99	Detroit at Colorado Buffalo at Boston	2 p.m. 2 p.m.	Mike Emrick and John Davidson Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti
5/23/99	Buffalo at Toronto	2 p.m.	Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Joe Micheletti
5/30/99	Colorado at Dallas	2 p.m.	Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Joe Micheletti
6/8/99	Buffalo at Dallas	8 p.m.	Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Joe Micheletti
6/10/99	Buffalo at Dallas	8 p.m.	Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Joe Micheletti
6/17/99	Buffalo at Dallas	8 p.m.	Mike Emrick, John Davidson, and Joe Micheletti

Personalities

• Mike Emrick-John Davidson
• Sam Rosen-Joe Micheletti
• Kenny Albert-Gary Green, Denis Potvin, Craig Simpson, Terry Crisp, Peter McNab
• Pat Foley-Mickey Redmond
• Rick Jeanneret-Mickey Redmond
• John Kelly-Craig Simpson
• Mike Lange-Paul Steigerwald
• Josh Lewin-Daryl Reaugh
• Jiggs McDonald-Peter McNab
• Bob Miller-Gary Green
• Howie Rose-Chico Resch
• Dick Stockton-Mike Eruzione
• Dave Strader-Denis Potvin or Greg Millen

Studio Commentators

• James Brown: Studio host (1994–1998)
• Terry Crisp: Studio analyst (1998–1999)
• Suzy Kolber: Studio host (1998–1999)
• Dave Maloney: Studio analyst (1994–1998)

Reporters

• Joe Micheletti
• Sandra Neil
• Chris Simpson