Changes: NHL on USA

NHL on USA
	USANetworkMondayNightNHL.png ; The logo for USA Network's regular season telecasts on Monday nights in 1983.
Genre	Sports
Created by	USA Network Sports
Directed by	Henry Irizawa
Starring	See list of commentators section
Country of origin	United States
Language(s)	English
No. of seasons	6
Production
Executive; producer(s)	Jim Zrake
Producer(s)	Mark D. Stulberger; Tim Rappleye (associate producer)
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	180 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	USA Network
Picture format	Template:Plainlist
Original run	Template:Start date – Template:End date
Chronology
Followed by	NHL on NBC (Select first two rounds of Stanley Cup)
Related shows	NHL on NBC; NHL on Versus
External links
NHL website

Revision as of 22:37, 19 January 2022

Template:Short description

NHL on USA is the de facto title of a television show that broadcasts National Hockey League games on the USA Network. The network last broadcast regular-season games in 1985, but as part of current parent company NBCUniversal's contract to cover the NHL, the network resumed broadcasting a handful of games in the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs,^[1]^[2] by serving as an overflow channel for NHL playoff games^[3] that cannot air on sister networks NBC or NBCSN through the end of 2021, when the latter network will cease operations.

History

Before the USA Network came to be (1969-1980)

Manhattan Cable and HBO (1969–1977)

Manhattan Cable (subsequently referred to as the MSG Network) debuted in the spring of 1969 and did all home events from the Madison Square Garden: New York Knicks basketball, New York Rangers hockey, college basketball, horse shows, Golden Gloves boxing, tennis, the Westminster Dog Show, ice capades, professional wrestling, etc. The first reference to the channel as “MSG Network” was sometime around 1971–72, although the name did not become official until 1977.

The first televised events were NHL and NBA playoffs in the spring of 1969; in those playoffs Marty Glickman did play-by-play for the Knicks broadcasts while Win Elliott did play-by-play for the Rangers.

Meanwhile, HBO began simulcasting some MSG games in 1972 beginning with the Rangers/Vancouver Canucks game on November 8, 1972 (the first ever program televised on HBO, to a few subscribers in Wilkes-Barre, PA). 1974–75 marked the only year in which HBO used MSG announcers for their feed. Because HBO is a premium cable service, this created a burden on announcers to fill in dead airtime on HBO while commercials aired on MSG Network. HBO did not broadcast Knicks or Rangers games after the 1976–77 season.

UA-Columbia (1977–1980)

When the MSG/HBO marriage ended in 1977, Madison Square Garden proceeded to seek a new partner to launch a national network to show off its events. So for several years, beginning with the 1977–78 season, all MSG home events (such as those involving the Knicks, Rangers, etc.) were then televised on a fledgling network that would eventually become known as the USA Network. This channel, which debuted on September 22, 1977, was basically a continuation of the existing MSG Network. The key difference however, was that it was now nationally syndicated via satellite rather than terrestrially. It was also the first cable channel to be supported by advertising revenues. By this time (as previously alluded to), the channel was officially called the “Madison Square Garden Network” or MSG Network.

In 1979–80, the National Hockey League replaced their syndicated coverage package The NHL Network with a package on USA.^[4] At the time, the USA Network was called UA-Columbia.^[5] As the immediate forerunner for the USA Network, UA-Columbia, served as the cable syndicated arm of not only MSG Network in New York, but also PRISM channel in Philadelphia, and whatever pay/cable outlets were around in 1979.

The formation of the USA Network

On April 9, 1980, the Madison Square Garden Network changed its name to the USA Network.^[6] This occurred when the ownership structure was reorganized under a joint operating agreement by the UA-Columbia Cablevision cable system (now known as Cablevision Systems Corporation) and MCA (then the parent of Universal Studios, now owned by NBC Universal). Things took a step further one year later when, Time Inc. (which eventually merged with Warner Communications to form Time Warner) and Paramount Pictures Corp. (then a division of Gulf+Western, now owned by Viacom) took minority ownership stakes in USA. G+W also owned the New York Rangers and the MSG regional sports television network (both later owned by Cablevision, but spun off in 2010).

Coverage overview (1979–1985)

As previously mentioned USA's (or UA-Columbia as it was known at the time) coverage^[7] begin in the 1979–80 season as a Monday night series^[8]^[9]^[10] with Dan Kelly^[11]^[12] doing play-by-play alongside a variety of commentators including Pete Stemkowski, Lou Nanne, and Brian McFarlane. Scott Wahle was the intermission host.

1980–81 season

For the 1980–81 season,^[13] some Sunday night games were added. Dan Kelly once again, did most of the play-by-play alongside Mike Eruzione.^[14]^[15]^[16] Dick Carlson and Jiggs McDonald also did play-by-play work on occasion. In addition, Don Cherry was a commentator for at least one game. Meanwhile, Jim West was the host for most games.

With USA's coverage of the 1981 Stanley Cup playoffs, it marked the first time that there was "blanket" American television coverage of the NHL playoffs. In other words, more often, whenever a game was played it was televised on a national outlet (whether it was broadcast or cable). USA however, did not Game 1 of the playoff series between Philadelphia Flyers and Calgary Flames (April 16) because they were instead broadcasting a baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies. Meanwhile, they also skipped Games 2–6 (on April 17, 22 and 24) of the Philadelphia–Calgary series because of their coverage of the NBA playoffs. USA also did not televise Games 2 and 5 of the playoff series between the Calgary Flames and Minnesota North Stars (April 30 and May 7 respectively) because of baseball games involving the Minnesota Twins vs. the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. the Philadelphia Phillies respectively.

1981–82 season

In the 1981–82 season,^[17] Al Trautwig^[18] took over as studio host. Dan Kelly did play-by-play with either Gary Green^[19]^[20] or Rod Gilbert on color commentary. For the playoffs, Dick Carlson and Al Albert^[21] were added as play-by-play voices of some games. Meanwhile, Jim Van Horne hosted Stanley Cup Finals games played in Vancouver.

In April 1982, USA outbid ESPN for the NHL's American national television cable package with $8 million (at least $2 million more than what ESPN was offering).^[22]

1982–83 and 1983–84 seasons

Things pretty much remained the same for USA during the 1982–83 season.^[23] Dan Kelly and Gary Green called most games, while Al Albert did play-by-play on several playoff^[24] games and hosted the Stanley Cup Finals from Nassau Coliseum.^[25]^[26] USA didn't cover any playoff games on April 7, 1983 because they were broadcasting second round highlights of The Masters. This was followed by a West Coast NBA telecast.

In the 1983–84 season,^[27] USA covered over 40 games^[28]^[29] including the playoffs.^[30] While Gary Green did all games, Dan Kelly and Al Albert did roughly 20 games each. Meanwhile, Jiggs McDonald helped broadcast one game.

Because USA was airing Masters highlights, Game 1 of the 1984 playoff series between the Minnesota North Stars and St. Louis Blues (April 12) and Game 2 of the playoff series between the New York Islanders and Washington Capitals (April 13) were aired on tape delay at 10 p.m. Eastern Time.

1984–85 season

For USA's final full season of NHL coverage in 1984–85,^[31]^[32] Dan Kelly^[33] and Gary Green^[34] once again, did most games, while Al Albert and Green called the rest. In all, USA covered about 55 games, including 33 in the regular season.^[35] Also, Hartford Whalers goaltender Mike Liut was added as a studio analyst for the Stanley Cup Finals.^[36]^[37]

Meanwhile, for increased publicity opportunities, the Stroh Brewing Company^[38] turned to such sports as hockey—which had been overlooked by Anheuser and Miller—and sponsored broadcasts of National Hockey League games on the USA cable network.^[39]

Seldom during the early rounds of the playoffs did USA carry an away game of one of the three New York-area teams (New York Rangers, New York Islanders, or New Jersey Devils) since WOR-TV New York, at the time available on most of the nation's cable television systems, often carried that away game of the New York-area team both locally in New York and on its "superstation" feed. One exception was a playoff game between two of the New York-area clubs, since WOR was usually barred from carrying it since the home team's cable-television contract superseded the visiting club's over-the-air television deal.

Between 1985 and 2015

After the 1984-85 season, the NHL Board of Governors chose to have USA and ESPN submit sealed bids. ESPN won by bidding nearly $25 million for three years, about twice as much as USA had been paying. The contract called for ESPN to air up to 33 regular season games each season as well as the NHL All-Star game and the Stanley Cup playoffs.^[40]^[41]

After the USA Network lost the rights to the NHL to ESPN, they largely abandoned sports after the early 1990s as the channel shifted almost exclusively to scripted entertainment. Beginning in 2006, USA began carrying some coverage of top level hockey by cooperating with NBC's coverage of ice hockey at the Winter Olympics in 2006, 2010 and 2014; these games were mostly daytime contests that would not preempt the network's increasingly popular prime time programs.

Selected early-round playoff games, 2015-

As part of a 2011 contract renewal, Comcast's properties earned exclusive national rights for all Stanley Cup playoffs through 2021. Because NBC and NBC Sports Network could not carry all of the games on those two outlets alone, other Comcast properties would need to be used; USA was initially not used, due to the risk of preempting its popular prime time lineup, and the company instead used CNBC and NHL Network as the overflow channels for the first four years of the contract. In 2015, Comcast announced that USA would carry some games in the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, mainly on Tuesday and Wednesday nights,^[1] returning the NHL to USA for the first time since 1985.^[42]

On January 22, 2021, an internal memo sent by NBC Sports president Pete Bevacqua announced that NBCSN would cease operations by the end of the year, and that USA Network would begin "carrying and/or simulcasting certain NBC Sports programming," including the Stanley Cup playoffs and NASCAR races, before NBCSN's shutdown. Peacock, NBCUniversal's new streaming service, will also carry some of the network's former programming starting in 2022.^[43]^[44] The move was cited by industry analysts as a response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sports and television industries, the acceleration of cord-cutting, as well as formidable competition from rival sports networks such as ESPN and Fox Sports 1.^[45]

List of commentators

Play-by-play

Dan Kelly^[46] (1979–85)
Al Albert^[47]^[48] (1981–85)
Dick Carlson^[49] (1980–82)
Jiggs McDonald^[50] (1980–84)
Mike Lange (1984 Stanley Cup playoffs)^[51]

Color commentary

Don Cherry (1980–81)
Mike Eruzione^[52] (1980–81)
Phil Esposito (1980–81)
Rod Gilbert (1981–85)
Gary Green^[53] (1981–85)
Brian McFarlane (1979–80)
Lou Nanne^[54] (1979–80)
Pete Stemkowski (1979–80)

Studio hosts

Al Albert (1982–83)
Al Trautwig (1981–85)
Jim Van Horne (1981–82)
Scott Wahle (1978–80)
Jim West (1980–81)

Studio analysts

Mike Liut (1984–85)

Stanley Cup playoffs commentating crews

Year	Round	Teams	Games	Play-by-play	Color commentator
1980	First round	Buffalo-Vancouver	Game 3 (CBC's feed)	Jim Robson	Howie Meeker
1981	First round	Los Angeles-New York Rangers	Game 1, 3–4^[55]	Dick Carlson	Mike Eruzione^[56]
		Boston-Minnesota	Game 2	Dick Carlson	Mike Eruzione
		St. Louis-Pittsburgh	Game 5^[57]	Jiggs McDonald	Mike Eruzione
	Quarterfinals	St. Louis-New York Rangers	Game 3	Jim West	Mike Eruzione
		Buffalo-Minnesota	Game 4	Dick Carlson	Mike Eruzione
		Philadelphia-Calgary	Game 7	Dan Kelly	Mike Eruzione
	Semifinals	New York Islanders-New York Rangers	Games 1, 3	Dan Kelly	Mike Eruzione
	Semifinals	Calgary-Minnesota	in Minnesota	Dan Kelly	Mike Eruzione
1982	Divisional semifinals	New York Islanders-Pittsburgh	Games 3, 5	Dick Carlson (Game 3) Dan Kelly (Game 5)	Gary Green
	Divisional semifinals	Minnesota-Chicago	Game 1	Al Albert	Gary Green
	Divisional finals	Boston-Québec	Games 5, 7	Dick Carlson (Game 5) Dan Kelly (Game 7)	Gary Green
		New York Islanders-New York Rangers	Game 2, 6^[58]	Dick Carlson	Gary Green
		St. Louis-Chicago	Game 4	Dick Carlson	Gary Green
		Vancouver-Los Angeles	Game 3	Dick Carlson	Gary Green
	Conference finals	New York Islanders-Québec	Games 2, 4	Dan Kelly	Gary Green
	Conference finals	Chicago-Vancouver	Games 1, 5	Dan Kelly	Gary Green
1983	Divisional semifinals	Philadelphia-New York Rangers	Game 3	Al Albert	Gary Green
		New York Islanders-Washington	Game 4	Al Albert	Gary Green
		Boston-Québec	Game 1	Al Albert	Gary Green
	Divisional finals	Boston-Buffalo	Games 5, 7^[59]	Dan Kelly	Gary Green
		New York Islanders-New York Rangers	Games 2, 4, 6	Dan Kelly	Gary Green
		Chicago-Minnesota	Game 3	Dan Kelly	Gary Green
		Edmonton-Calgary	Game 1 (taped delayed)	Dan Kelly	Gary Green
	Conference finals	Boston-New York Islanders	Games 1–3, 6	Dan Kelly	Gary Green
	Conference finals	Edmonton-Chicago	Games 1, 3–4	Dan Kelly	Gary Green
1984	Divisional semifinals	Buffalo-Québec	Game 2	Al Albert	Gary Green
		New York Islanders-New York Rangers	Games 1, 4–5^[60]^[51]^[61]	Al Albert (Game 1) Mike Lange (Game 4) Dan Kelly (Game 5)	Gary Green
		Washington-Philadelphia	Game 3	Al Albert	Gary Green
	Divisional finals	New York Islanders-Washington	Games 2 (taped delayed), 3, 5^[62]	Al Albert	Gary Green
		Québec-Montréal	Games 4, 6^[63]^[64]	Al Albert	Gary Green
		Minnesota-St. Louis	Games 1, 7^[65]	Al Albert	Gary Green
	Conference finals	Montréal-New York Islanders	Games 2–6^[66]^[67]^[68]^[69]	Dan Kelly	Gary Green
	Conference finals	Edmonton-Minnesota	Game 1	Dan Kelly	Gary Green
1985	Divisional semifinals	Washington-New York Islanders	Games 3–5^[70]	Al Albert (in Long Island) Dan Kelly (in Washington, D.C.)	Gary Green
	Divisional semifinals	St. Louis-Minnesota	Game 1	Dan Kelly	Gary Green
	Divisional finals	Philadelphia-New York Islanders	Game 3	Al Albert	Gary Green
		Montréal-Québec	Games 2, 5–7	Al Albert (Games 2, 6–7) Dan Kelly (Game 5)	Gary Green
		Chicago-Minnesota	Games 1, 4–5	Dan Kelly (Game 1) Al Albert (Games 4–5)	Gary Green
		Edmonton-Winnipeg	Game 2	Dan Kelly	Gary Green
	Conference finals	Québec-Philadelphia	in Québec	Al Albert	Gary Green
	Conference finals	Edmonton-Chicago	Games 1, 3–4, 6^[71]^[72]^[73]^[74]	Al Albert	Gary Green

Stanley Cup Finals commentating crews

Year	Teams	Games	Play-by-play	Color commentator(s)
1981	New York Islanders-Minnesota	Games 1–5 (CBC's feed)^[75]^[76]^[77]^[78]	Bob Cole	Mickey Redmond and Gary Dornhoefer
1982	New York Islanders-Vancouver	Games 1–4	Dan Kelly	Gary Green
1983	Edmonton-New York Islanders	Games 1–4^[79]^[80]^[81]^[82]	Dan Kelly^[83]	Gary Green
1984	New York Islanders-Edmonton	Games 1–5^[84]^[85]^[86]	Dan Kelly^[83]	Gary Green
1985^[87]	Philadelphia-Edmonton	Games 1–5^[88]^[89]^[90]	Dan Kelly^[91] (in Philadelphia) Al Albert^[92] (in Edmonton)	Gary Green and Mike Liut

USA's national coverage of the 1982 Stanley Cup Finals was blacked out in the New York area due to the local rights to Islanders games in that TV market, with SportsChannel New York airing Games 1 and 2, and WOR televising Games 3 and 4. This occurrence continued on through the Islanders next three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearances. This practice was reversed in 1983, with WOR televising Games 1 and 2, and SportsChannel New York airing Games 3 and 4. The next year, SportsChannel New York returned to airing the first two games, while WOR aired the next three games. For USA's final year of broadcasting the Stanley Cup Finals, Philadelphia's PRISM aired Games 1 and 2 while WTXF aired Games 3, 4, and 5.

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Fang, Ken (17 March 2015). "NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games to air on USA Network". http://awfulannouncing.com/2015/nhl-stanley-cup-playoff-games-to-air-on-usa-network.html.
↑ Vlessing, Etan (1 April 2015). "USA Network to Air NHL Playoff Games". http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/usa-network-air-nhl-playoff-785769.
↑ Fang, Ken (14 April 2015). "The 7 things you need to know about NBC's Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage". http://awfulannouncing.com/2015/the-7-things-you-need-to-know-about-nbcs-stanley-cup-playoffs-coverage.html.
↑ Cable television regulation: hearings before the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred First Congress, second session, Volume 2. 1990. p. 82. https://books.google.com/books?id=TGgjAAAAMAAJ&q=National+Hockey+League+on+USA+Network.
↑ Anderson, Dave (December 30, 1979). "'I'll set women's tennis back 20 years'; Champs Come and Go; TV's Forever". New York Times: p. DX8.
↑ Parsons, Patrick (5 April 2008). "Blue skies: a history of cable television". ISBN 9781592137060. https://books.google.com/books?id=NIFS_EqkOvYC&pg=PA387.
↑ "Vintage USA Network NHL ad, featuring the sweater of every team at the time.". November 14, 2014. http://modernlove20.tumblr.com/post/102650433592/hockey-time-machine-vintage-usa-network-nhl-ad.
↑ Baker, Kent (March 1, 1981). "2 Eastern-based firms corner growing sports cable TV market". Baltimore Sun. https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1878084092.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Mar+01%2C+1981&author=&pub=The+Sun+%281837-1985%29&desc=2+Eastern-based+firms+corner+growing+sports+cable+TV+market&pqatl=google.
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↑ "APRIL, 1984: Broadcaster Dan Kelly poses with his microphone before calling an NHL game for the USA Network circa April, 1984.". https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/broadcaster-dan-kelly-poses-with-his-microphone-before-news-photo/963072060.
↑ Quinn, Hal (January 19, 1981). "THE NHL COMES OF AGE". Maclean's. https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1981/1/19/the-nhl-comes-of-age.
↑ Edes, Gordon (October 9, 1980). "A Troubled NHL Begins Season". Los Angeles Times: p. OC_B2.
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↑ Green, Ted (February 22, 1981). "Reality Shattered the Golden Dream". Los Angeles Times: p. E1.
↑ "The Royal Half Gameday: New York Rangers Game 2". June 7, 2014. https://www.nhl.com/kings/news/the-royal-half-gameday-new-york-rangers-game-2/c-721992.
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↑ "Gary Green". NHL.com. http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=59765.
↑ Rosa, Francis (May 9, 1982). "STARS CHASING BELLOWS; NANNE SEEKS BRUIN DEAL". Boston Globe: p. 1.
↑ "Al Albert". pacers.com. http://www.nba.com/pacers/media/al_albert_bio.html.
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↑ Sarni, Jim (May 1, 1982). "USA Network gets exclusive rights to NHL 1982-83 and 1983-84 seasons". Fort Lauderdale News. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56344443/usa-network-gets-exclusive-rights-to/.
↑ Milbert, Neil (April 22, 1983). "Black Hawks have to heal fast". Chicago Tribune: p. D1.
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↑ "USA NETWORK MAKING SOME MAJOR-LEAGUE CUTS". Miami Herald: p. 7F. February 10, 1984.
↑ FCC Record: A Comprehensive Compilation of Decisions ..., Volume 8, Issue 5. p. 4900. https://books.google.com/books?id=DUqvJBWqgfsC&pg=PA4900&lpg=PA4900&dq=1982+Stanley+Cup+Finals+USA+Network&source=bl&ots=0LhZBa3iyb&sig=ACfU3U1F7fPGT3a0BeWSYrBwyVM5RRV75w&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjSn_Wt7d7uAhUKOs0KHY4nCLE4HhDoATABegQIBhAC#v=onepage&q&f=false.
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↑ Stewart, Larry (August 2, 1985). "Rams in the Dark as Channel 2 Drops Exhibition Games". Los Angeles Times: p. 3.
↑ Harasta, Cathy (May 24, 1985). "NETWORKS WOULD RACE TO TELEVISE INDY LIVE". Dallas Morning News.
↑ "Stockton, Walker Get a Break as Big Call Goes Their Way". Los Angeles Times: p. 3. September 20, 1985.
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↑ Craig, Jack (June 24, 1984). "OLYMPIC JITTERS SET IN AT ABC". Boston Globe: p. 1.
↑ Shope, Dan (May 21, 1985). "KERR WILL PLAY AS FLYERS TAKE ON OILERS TONIGHT STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS". Allentown Morning Call: p. C01.
↑ Baker, Chris (May 25, 1985). "Bob Clarke (Left) and Bobby Clarke (Right): 2 Sides of Success With the Flyers, Who Are at Home in Stanley Cup Final". Los Angeles Times: p. 4.
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↑ Simmons, Darrell (May 31, 1985). "Space appealing to Kathy Johnson". Atlanta Journal-Constitution: p. E2.
↑ Strachan, Al (July 30, 1985). "ESPN acquires NHL games Backroom bickering in TV deal". The Globe and Mail.
↑ Mulligan, Kevin (July 26, 1985). "NHL Finds a Home at ESPN". Philadelphia Daily News.
↑ Cohen, Rachel (17 April 2015). "Back on the USA Network: Sports Return With NHL Playoffs". https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/back-usa-network-sports-return-nhl-playoffs-30396144.
↑ Pallotta, Frank (January 22, 2021). "NBC Sports Network to shut down by the end of the year". CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/22/media/nbc-sports-network-shut-down/index.html.
↑ Flint, Joe; Rizzo, Lillian (January 22, 2021). "Comcast's NBCUniversal to Shut Down Sports Cable Channel NBCSN by Year-End". The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/comcast-s-nbcuniversal-to-shut-down-sports-cable-channel-nbcsn-by-year-end-11611344361.
↑ Hayes, Dade. "Cable Network NBCSN To Go Dark By Year-End, With Live Sports Telecasts Shifting To USA Network, Peacock". Penske Media Corporation. https://deadline.com/2021/01/cable-network-nbcsn-to-go-dark-by-end-of-2021-sports-streaming-peacock-1234678611/.
↑ "Dan Kelly". https://www.stlmediahistory.org/index.php/Radio/RadioHOFDetail/kelly-dan.
↑ "Kenny Albert named blow-by-blow announcer for PBC fights on NBCSN". Premier Boxing Champions. February 18, 2015. https://www.premierboxingchampions.com/news/kenny-albert-named-blow-blow-announcer-pbc-fights-nbcsn.
↑ Fischler, Stan. Behind the Net: 106 Incredible Hockey Stories. https://books.google.com/books?id=Qm6CDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA9&lpg=PA9&dq=Al+Albert+NHL+%22USA+Network%22&source=bl&ots=07eKw6RvLA&sig=ACfU3U0KdyDUTmlG38gGhc4MaQbbxH5xLw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjN0vuC8O3uAhWTKs0KHWevCds4FBDoATAQegQICRAC#v=onepage&q=Al%20Albert%20NHL%20%22USA%20Network%22&f=false.
↑ "WCCO’s Dick Carlson Dies". Radio World. October 14, 2004. https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/wcco39s-dick-carlson-dies.
↑ Sandomir, Richard (September 30, 1994). "HOCKEY: TV SPORTS; No Hockey? How About Hot Rods and Horses?". New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/30/sports/hockey-tv-sports-no-hockey-how-about-hot-rods-and-horses.html.
↑ ^51.0 ^51.1 Template:YouTube
↑ Healy, John (February 21, 2020). "Remembering the 1980 ‘Miracle on Ice’ U.S. Team: 5 Interesting Facts". https://www.radio.com/sports/nhl/gallery/the-1980-miracle-on-ice-u-s-team-5-interesting-facts#mike-eruzione-never-played-in-nhl-ck6v95pea000t3h62l63invuw.
↑ Gregory, John (November 14, 2008). "Where Are They Now?: Gary Green". https://www.nhl.com/capitals/news/where-are-they-now-gary-green/c-463271.
↑ Swift, E.M. (October 12, 1981). "SWEET LOU FROM THE SOO". Sports Illustrated. https://vault.si.com/vault/1981/10/12/sweet-lou-from-the-soo-lou-nanne-minnesotas-general-manager-is-a-lousy-poet-but-his-savvy-and-salesmanship-have-made-the-club-a-contender-many-think-he-should-be-running-the-nhl.
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↑ "The Royal Half Gameday: New York Rangers Game 2". June 7, 2014. https://www.nhl.com/kings/news/the-royal-half-gameday-new-york-rangers-game-2/c-721992.
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↑ McIndoe, Sean. The Down Goes Brown History of the NHL: The World's Most Beautiful Sport. p. 92. https://books.google.com/books?id=xljDDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA92&lpg=PA92&dq=1982+Stanley+Cup+Finals+USA+Network&source=bl&ots=s09BPSReSX&sig=ACfU3U148YNd0hseRT-xEvqTncJrVo4-kA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjSn_Wt7d7uAhUKOs0KHY4nCLE4HhDoATAJegQICRAC#v=onepage&q=1982%20Stanley%20Cup%20Finals%20USA%20Network&f=false.
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↑ ^83.0 ^83.1 Nugent-Bowman, Daniel (June 4, 2019). "How a third-line grinder launched the star-filled Oilers to their first Stanley Cup and a hockey dynasty". The Athletic. https://theathletic.co.uk/981006/2019/06/04/how-a-third-line-grinder-launched-the-star-filled-oilers-to-their-first-stanley-cup-and-a-hockey-dynasty/.
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↑ "KERR WILL PLAY AS FLYERS TAKE ON OILERS TONIGHT STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS". Don Shope (The Morning Call). May 21, 1985. https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1985-05-21-2470904-story.html. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
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↑ "The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida · Page 74". Newspapers. May 18, 1985. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/130114521/.
↑ Best, Neil (April 15, 2015). "Kenny Albert, Pierre McGuire to call Stanley Cup playoffs of USA Network". Newsday. https://www.newsday.com/sports/media/kenny-albert-pierre-mcguire-to-call-stanley-cup-playoffs-of-usa-network-1.10270145.

External links

Template:Official website

[2015pr-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Fang, Ken (17 March 2015). "NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games to air on USA Network". http://awfulannouncing.com/2015/nhl-stanley-cup-playoff-games-to-air-on-usa-network.html.

[2] Vlessing, Etan (1 April 2015). "USA Network to Air NHL Playoff Games". http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/usa-network-air-nhl-playoff-785769.

[3] Fang, Ken (14 April 2015). "The 7 things you need to know about NBC's Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage". http://awfulannouncing.com/2015/the-7-things-you-need-to-know-about-nbcs-stanley-cup-playoffs-coverage.html.

[4] Cable television regulation: hearings before the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred First Congress, second session, Volume 2. 1990. p. 82. https://books.google.com/books?id=TGgjAAAAMAAJ&q=National+Hockey+League+on+USA+Network.

[5] Anderson, Dave (December 30, 1979). "'I'll set women's tennis back 20 years'; Champs Come and Go; TV's Forever". New York Times: p. DX8.

[6] Parsons, Patrick (5 April 2008). "Blue skies: a history of cable television". ISBN 9781592137060. https://books.google.com/books?id=NIFS_EqkOvYC&pg=PA387.

[7] "Vintage USA Network NHL ad, featuring the sweater of every team at the time.". November 14, 2014. http://modernlove20.tumblr.com/post/102650433592/hockey-time-machine-vintage-usa-network-nhl-ad.

[8] Baker, Kent (March 1, 1981). "2 Eastern-based firms corner growing sports cable TV market". Baltimore Sun. https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1878084092.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Mar+01%2C+1981&author=&pub=The+Sun+%281837-1985%29&desc=2+Eastern-based+firms+corner+growing+sports+cable+TV+market&pqatl=google.

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[11] "APRIL, 1984: Broadcaster Dan Kelly poses with his microphone before calling an NHL game for the USA Network circa April, 1984.". https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/broadcaster-dan-kelly-poses-with-his-microphone-before-news-photo/963072060.

[12] Quinn, Hal (January 19, 1981). "THE NHL COMES OF AGE". Maclean's. https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1981/1/19/the-nhl-comes-of-age.

[13] Edes, Gordon (October 9, 1980). "A Troubled NHL Begins Season". Los Angeles Times: p. OC_B2.

[14] Template:Cite journal

[15] Green, Ted (February 22, 1981). "Reality Shattered the Golden Dream". Los Angeles Times: p. E1.

[16] "The Royal Half Gameday: New York Rangers Game 2". June 7, 2014. https://www.nhl.com/kings/news/the-royal-half-gameday-new-york-rangers-game-2/c-721992.

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[19] "Gary Green". NHL.com. http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=59765.

[20] Rosa, Francis (May 9, 1982). "STARS CHASING BELLOWS; NANNE SEEKS BRUIN DEAL". Boston Globe: p. 1.

[21] "Al Albert". pacers.com. http://www.nba.com/pacers/media/al_albert_bio.html.

[22] Template:Cite journal

[23] Sarni, Jim (May 1, 1982). "USA Network gets exclusive rights to NHL 1982-83 and 1983-84 seasons". Fort Lauderdale News. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56344443/usa-network-gets-exclusive-rights-to/.

[24] Milbert, Neil (April 22, 1983). "Black Hawks have to heal fast". Chicago Tribune: p. D1.

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[28] "USA NETWORK MAKING SOME MAJOR-LEAGUE CUTS". Miami Herald: p. 7F. February 10, 1984.

[29] FCC Record: A Comprehensive Compilation of Decisions ..., Volume 8, Issue 5. p. 4900. https://books.google.com/books?id=DUqvJBWqgfsC&pg=PA4900&lpg=PA4900&dq=1982+Stanley+Cup+Finals+USA+Network&source=bl&ots=0LhZBa3iyb&sig=ACfU3U1F7fPGT3a0BeWSYrBwyVM5RRV75w&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjSn_Wt7d7uAhUKOs0KHY4nCLE4HhDoATABegQIBhAC#v=onepage&q&f=false.

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[31] Stewart, Larry (August 2, 1985). "Rams in the Dark as Channel 2 Drops Exhibition Games". Los Angeles Times: p. 3.

[32] Harasta, Cathy (May 24, 1985). "NETWORKS WOULD RACE TO TELEVISE INDY LIVE". Dallas Morning News.

[33] "Stockton, Walker Get a Break as Big Call Goes Their Way". Los Angeles Times: p. 3. September 20, 1985.

[34] Template:YouTube

[35] Craig, Jack (June 24, 1984). "OLYMPIC JITTERS SET IN AT ABC". Boston Globe: p. 1.

[36] Shope, Dan (May 21, 1985). "KERR WILL PLAY AS FLYERS TAKE ON OILERS TONIGHT STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS". Allentown Morning Call: p. C01.

[37] Baker, Chris (May 25, 1985). "Bob Clarke (Left) and Bobby Clarke (Right): 2 Sides of Success With the Flyers, Who Are at Home in Stanley Cup Final". Los Angeles Times: p. 4.

[38] Template:YouTube

[39] Simmons, Darrell (May 31, 1985). "Space appealing to Kathy Johnson". Atlanta Journal-Constitution: p. E2.

[Strachan-40] Strachan, Al (July 30, 1985). "ESPN acquires NHL games Backroom bickering in TV deal". The Globe and Mail.

[41] Mulligan, Kevin (July 26, 1985). "NHL Finds a Home at ESPN". Philadelphia Daily News.

[42] Cohen, Rachel (17 April 2015). "Back on the USA Network: Sports Return With NHL Playoffs". https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/back-usa-network-sports-return-nhl-playoffs-30396144.

[Closure-43] Pallotta, Frank (January 22, 2021). "NBC Sports Network to shut down by the end of the year". CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/22/media/nbc-sports-network-shut-down/index.html.

[44] Flint, Joe; Rizzo, Lillian (January 22, 2021). "Comcast's NBCUniversal to Shut Down Sports Cable Channel NBCSN by Year-End". The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/comcast-s-nbcuniversal-to-shut-down-sports-cable-channel-nbcsn-by-year-end-11611344361.

[45] Hayes, Dade. "Cable Network NBCSN To Go Dark By Year-End, With Live Sports Telecasts Shifting To USA Network, Peacock". Penske Media Corporation. https://deadline.com/2021/01/cable-network-nbcsn-to-go-dark-by-end-of-2021-sports-streaming-peacock-1234678611/.

[46] "Dan Kelly". https://www.stlmediahistory.org/index.php/Radio/RadioHOFDetail/kelly-dan.

[47] "Kenny Albert named blow-by-blow announcer for PBC fights on NBCSN". Premier Boxing Champions. February 18, 2015. https://www.premierboxingchampions.com/news/kenny-albert-named-blow-blow-announcer-pbc-fights-nbcsn.

[48] Fischler, Stan. Behind the Net: 106 Incredible Hockey Stories. https://books.google.com/books?id=Qm6CDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA9&lpg=PA9&dq=Al+Albert+NHL+%22USA+Network%22&source=bl&ots=07eKw6RvLA&sig=ACfU3U0KdyDUTmlG38gGhc4MaQbbxH5xLw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjN0vuC8O3uAhWTKs0KHWevCds4FBDoATAQegQICRAC#v=onepage&q=Al%20Albert%20NHL%20%22USA%20Network%22&f=false.

[49] "WCCO’s Dick Carlson Dies". Radio World. October 14, 2004. https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/wcco39s-dick-carlson-dies.

[50] Sandomir, Richard (September 30, 1994). "HOCKEY: TV SPORTS; No Hockey? How About Hot Rods and Horses?". New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/30/sports/hockey-tv-sports-no-hockey-how-about-hot-rods-and-horses.html.

[:1-51] 51.0 ^51.1 Template:YouTube

[52] Healy, John (February 21, 2020). "Remembering the 1980 ‘Miracle on Ice’ U.S. Team: 5 Interesting Facts". https://www.radio.com/sports/nhl/gallery/the-1980-miracle-on-ice-u-s-team-5-interesting-facts#mike-eruzione-never-played-in-nhl-ck6v95pea000t3h62l63invuw.

[53] Gregory, John (November 14, 2008). "Where Are They Now?: Gary Green". https://www.nhl.com/capitals/news/where-are-they-now-gary-green/c-463271.

[54] Swift, E.M. (October 12, 1981). "SWEET LOU FROM THE SOO". Sports Illustrated. https://vault.si.com/vault/1981/10/12/sweet-lou-from-the-soo-lou-nanne-minnesotas-general-manager-is-a-lousy-poet-but-his-savvy-and-salesmanship-have-made-the-club-a-contender-many-think-he-should-be-running-the-nhl.

[55] Template:YouTube

[56] "The Royal Half Gameday: New York Rangers Game 2". June 7, 2014. https://www.nhl.com/kings/news/the-royal-half-gameday-new-york-rangers-game-2/c-721992.

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[64] McIndoe, Sean. The Down Goes Brown History of the NHL: The World's Most Beautiful Sport. p. 92. https://books.google.com/books?id=xljDDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA92&lpg=PA92&dq=1982+Stanley+Cup+Finals+USA+Network&source=bl&ots=s09BPSReSX&sig=ACfU3U148YNd0hseRT-xEvqTncJrVo4-kA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjSn_Wt7d7uAhUKOs0KHY4nCLE4HhDoATAJegQICRAC#v=onepage&q=1982%20Stanley%20Cup%20Finals%20USA%20Network&f=false.

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[:0-83] 83.0 ^83.1 Nugent-Bowman, Daniel (June 4, 2019). "How a third-line grinder launched the star-filled Oilers to their first Stanley Cup and a hockey dynasty". The Athletic. https://theathletic.co.uk/981006/2019/06/04/how-a-third-line-grinder-launched-the-star-filled-oilers-to-their-first-stanley-cup-and-a-hockey-dynasty/.

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[87] "KERR WILL PLAY AS FLYERS TAKE ON OILERS TONIGHT STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS". Don Shope (The Morning Call). May 21, 1985. https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1985-05-21-2470904-story.html. Retrieved February 9, 2016.

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[91] "The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida · Page 74". Newspapers. May 18, 1985. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/130114521/.

[92] Best, Neil (April 15, 2015). "Kenny Albert, Pierre McGuire to call Stanley Cup playoffs of USA Network". Newsday. https://www.newsday.com/sports/media/kenny-albert-pierre-mcguire-to-call-stanley-cup-playoffs-of-usa-network-1.10270145.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|Television series}}
-'''NHL on USA''' is the de facto title of a television show that broadcasts National Hockey League games on the '''USA Network'''.
+{{Infobox television
+| name                 = NHL on USA
+| image                = USANetworkMondayNightNHL.png
+| caption              = The logo for [[USA Network]]'s regular season telecasts on Monday nights in [[1982–83 NHL season|1983]].
+| alt_name             = ''USA Network Monday Night NHL''<br/>''USA Network Stanley Cup Playoffs''<br/>''USA Network Special Edition NHL''
+| genre                = [[Sports]]
+| creator              = [[USA Sports|USA Network Sports]]
+| writer               =
+| creative_director    =
+| developer            =
+| presenter            =
+| starring             = [[#List of commentators|See ''list of commentators'' section]]
+| voices               =
+| narrated             =
+| theme_music_composer =
+| opentheme            =
+| endtheme             =
+| composer             =
+| country              = {{USA}}
+| language             = [[English language|English]]
+| num_seasons          = 6
+| num_episodes         =
+| list_episodes        =
+| executive_producer   = Jim Zrake
+| producer             = Mark D. Stulberger<br>Tim Rappleye <small>(associate producer)</small>
+| director             = Henry Irizawa
+| editor               =
+| location             =
+| cinematography       =
+| camera               = [[Multi-camera setup|Multi-camera]]
+| runtime              = 180 minutes
+| network              = [[USA Network]]
+| picture_format       = {{Plainlist|
+* [[480i]] ([[Standard-definition television|SDTV]])
+* [[1080i]] ([[high-definition television|HDTV]])
+}}
+| audio_format         =
+| first_run            =
+| first_aired          = {{Start date|1979||}}
+| last_aired           = {{End date|1985|5|30}}
+| preceded_by          =
+| followed_by          = ''[[NHL on NBC]]'' (Select first two rounds of Stanley Cup)
+| related              = ''[[NHL on NBC]]''<br />''[[NHL on Versus]]''
+| website              = https://web.archive.org/web/20160721000533/http://www.usanetwork.com/stanleycupplayoff/cast
+| production_website   =
+}}
-The network last broadcast regular-season games in 1985, but as part of current parent company NBCUniversal's contract to cover the NHL, the network resumed broadcasting a handful of games in the first two rounds of the [[Stanley Cup playoffs]]  by serving as an overflow channel for NHL playoff games that cannot air on sister networks '''NBC''' or '''NBCSN''' through 2021.
+'''''NHL on USA''''' is the [[de facto]] title of a [[television show]] that broadcasts [[National Hockey League]] games on the [[USA Network]]. The network last broadcast regular-season games in [[1984-85 NHL season|1985]], but as part of current parent company [[NBCUniversal]]'s contract to cover the NHL, the network resumed broadcasting a handful of games in the first two rounds of the [[Stanley Cup Playoffs]],<ref name=2015pr>{{cite web |url=http://awfulannouncing.com/2015/nhl-stanley-cup-playoff-games-to-air-on-usa-network.html|title=NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games to air on USA Network|last1=Fang|first1=Ken|date=17 March 2015|website=Awful Announcing}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/usa-network-air-nhl-playoff-785769|title=USA Network to Air NHL Playoff Games|last1=Vlessing|first1=Etan|date=1 April 2015|website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> by serving as an overflow channel for [[Stanley Cup playoffs|NHL playoff]] games<ref>{{cite web |url=http://awfulannouncing.com/2015/the-7-things-you-need-to-know-about-nbcs-stanley-cup-playoffs-coverage.html|title=The 7 things you need to know about NBC's Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage|last1=Fang|first1=Ken|date=14 April 2015|website=Awful Announcing}}</ref> that cannot air on sister networks [[NHL on NBC|NBC]] or [[NBCSN]] through the end of 2021, when the latter network will cease operations.
-==Before the USA Network==
-===Manhattan Cable & HBO Network (1969-1977)===
-Manhattan Cable (also referred to as the MSG Network) debuted in the spring of 1969 and did all home events from the Madison Square Garden: New York Knicks basketball, New York Rangers hockey, college basketball, horse shows, Golden Gloves boxing, tennis, the Westminster Dog Show, ice capades, professional wrestling, etc.
+==History==
-The first reference to the channel as “MSG Network” was sometime around 1971–72 although the name did not become official until 1977.
+===Before the USA Network came to be (1969-1980)===
-The first televised events were NHL and NBA playoffs in the spring of 1969; in those playoffs Marty Glickman did play-by-play for the Knicks broadcasts while Win Elliott did play-by-play for the Rangers.
+====Manhattan Cable and HBO (1969–1977)====
-Meanwhile, HBO began simulcasting some MSG games in 1972 beginning with the [[New York Rangers]]/[[Vancouver Canucks]] game on November 8, 1972 (the first ever program televised on HBO, to a few subscribers in Wilkes-Barre, PA).
+'''Manhattan Cable''' (subsequently referred to as the [[MSG (TV network)|MSG Network]]) debuted in the spring of 1969 and did all home events from the [[Madison Square Garden]]: [[New York Knicks]] basketball, [[New York Rangers]] hockey, college basketball, horse shows, [[Golden Gloves]] boxing, tennis, the [[Westminster Dog Show]], ice capades, professional wrestling, etc.  The first reference to the channel as “MSG Network” was sometime around 1971–72, although the name did not become official until 1977.
+The first televised events were [[1969 NHL Playoffs|NHL]] and [[1969 NBA Playoffs|NBA playoffs]] in the spring of 1969; in those playoffs [[Marty Glickman]] did play-by-play for the [[1968–69 New York Knicks season|Knicks]] broadcasts while [[Win Elliott]] did play-by-play for the [[1968–69 New York Rangers season|Rangers]].
+Meanwhile, [[HBO]] began simulcasting some MSG games in 1972 beginning with the [[1972–73 New York Rangers season|Rangers]]/[[1972–73 Vancouver Canucks season|Vancouver Canucks]] game on November 8, [[1972–73 NHL season|1972]] (the first ever program televised on HBO, to a few subscribers in [[Wilkes-Barre, PA]]).  1974–75 marked the only year in which HBO used MSG announcers for their feed.  Because HBO is a premium cable service, this created a burden on announcers to fill in dead airtime on HBO while commercials aired on MSG Network.  HBO did not broadcast Knicks or Rangers games after the 1976–77 season.
-The 1974–1975 season marked the only year in which HBO used MSG announcers for their feed.
+{{see also|List of New York Rangers broadcasters}}
-Because HBO is a premium cable service, it created a burden on announcers to fill in dead airtime on HBO while commercials aired on MSG Network. After the 1976-1977 season, HBO didn't broadcast Knicks or Rangers games.
-===UA Columbia (1977-1980)===
-When the MSG/HBO channel ended in 1977, the Madison Square Garden proceeded to seek a new partner to launch a national network to show off its events.
+====UA-Columbia (1977–1980)====
-For several years, beginning with the 1977–78 season, all MSG home events (such as those involving the Knicks, Rangers, etc.) were then televised on a fledgling network that would eventually become known as the USA Network.
+When the MSG/HBO marriage ended in 1977, Madison Square Garden proceeded to seek a new partner to launch a national network to show off its events.  So for several years, beginning with the 1977–78 season, all MSG home events (such as those involving the [[1977–78 New York Knicks season|Knicks]], [[1977–78 New York Rangers season|Rangers]], etc.) were then televised on a fledgling network that would eventually become known as the USA Network.  This channel, which debuted on September 22, [[1977 in American television|1977]], was basically a continuation of the existing MSG Network.  The key difference however, was that it was now nationally syndicated via satellite rather than terrestrially.  It was also the first cable channel to be supported by advertising revenues.  By this time (as previously alluded to), the channel was officially called the “Madison Square Garden Network” or MSG Network.
+In {{NHL Year|1979}}, the [[National Hockey League]] replaced their [[Broadcast syndication|syndicated]] coverage package '''[[The NHL Network (1975–79)|The NHL Network]]''' with a package on USA.<ref>{{cite book |title=Cable television regulation: hearings before the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred First Congress, second session, Volume 2 |year=1990 |page=82 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TGgjAAAAMAAJ&q=National+Hockey+League+on+USA+Network }}</ref>  At the time, the USA Network was called '''[[UA-Columbia Cablevision|UA-Columbia]]'''.<ref>{{cite news|title='I'll set women's tennis back 20 years'; Champs Come and Go; TV's Forever|date=December 30, 1979|first=Dave|last=Anderson|newspaper=New York Times|page=DX8|author-link=Dave Anderson (sportswriter)}}</ref>  As the immediate forerunner for the USA Network, UA-Columbia, served as the cable syndicated arm of not only [[MSG (TV network)|MSG Network]] in [[New York City|New York]], but also [[PRISM (TV channel)|PRISM]] channel in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]], and whatever pay/cable outlets were around in [[1979 in television|1979]].
-This channel (which debuted on September 22, 1977) was basically a continuation of the existing MSG Network.
+====The formation of the USA Network====
-The key difference however, was that it was now nationally syndicated via satellite rather than terrestrially. It was also the first cable channel to be supported by advertising revenues.
+On April 9, [[1980 in television|1980]], the Madison Square Garden Network changed its name to the '''USA Network'''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NIFS_EqkOvYC&pg=PA387|date=5 April 2008|title=Blue skies: a history of cable television|first=Patrick|last=Parsons|isbn=9781592137060}}</ref>  This occurred when the ownership structure was reorganized under a [[joint operating agreement]] by the [[United Artists Television|UA]]-[[Columbia Pictures Television|Columbia]] Cablevision cable system (now known as [[Cablevision]] Systems Corporation) and [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] (then the parent of [[Universal Studios]], now owned by [[NBC Universal]]).  Things took a step further one year later when, [[Time Inc.|Time Inc]]. (which eventually merged with Warner Communications to form [[Time Warner]]) and [[Paramount Pictures]] Corp. (then a division of [[Gulf+Western]], now owned by [[Viacom (2005–present)|Viacom]]) took minority ownership stakes in USA. G+W also owned the New York Rangers and the [[MSG (TV network)|MSG regional sports television network]] (both later owned by Cablevision, but spun off in 2010).
+===Coverage overview (1979–1985)===
-By this time, the channel was officially called the “Madison Square Garden Network” or MSG Network.
+As previously mentioned USA's (or UA-Columbia as it was known at the time) coverage<ref>{{cite web |url=http://modernlove20.tumblr.com/post/102650433592/hockey-time-machine-vintage-usa-network-nhl-ad|title=Vintage USA Network NHL ad, featuring the sweater of every team at the time.|date=November 14, 2014|website=ROAN BARRION DESIGN}}</ref> begin in the [[1979–80 NHL season|1979–80 season]] as a Monday night series<ref>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1878084092.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Mar+01%2C+1981&author=&pub=The+Sun+%281837-1985%29&desc=2+Eastern-based+firms+corner+growing+sports+cable+TV+market&pqatl=google|date=March 1, 1981|title=2 Eastern-based firms corner growing sports cable TV market|first=Kent|last=Baker|newspaper=Baltimore Sun}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|title=Gretzky' Opening (USA Network) - Mar.15,1982|id=PUaF-unjfDA}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|title=Oilers-Canadiens 1983 - USA Network NHL Opening|id=gq4XQT0nSVY}}</ref> with [[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/broadcaster-dan-kelly-poses-with-his-microphone-before-news-photo/963072060|title=APRIL, 1984: Broadcaster Dan Kelly poses with his microphone before calling an NHL game for the USA Network circa April, 1984.|website=Getty Images}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Quinn|first=Hal|date=January 19, 1981|title=THE NHL COMES OF AGE|url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1981/1/19/the-nhl-comes-of-age|work=Maclean's|location= |access-date=}}</ref> doing play-by-play alongside a variety of commentators including [[Pete Stemkowski]], [[Lou Nanne]], and [[Brian McFarlane]]. Scott Wahle was the intermission host.
+====1980–81 season====
-In 1979–80, the NHL replaced their syndicated coverage package "The NHL Network" with a package on USA. At the time, the USA Network was called UA-Columbia.
+For the {{NHL Year|1980}} season,<ref>{{cite news|title=A Troubled NHL Begins Season|date=October 9, 1980|first=Gordon|last=Edes|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|page=OC_B2|author-link=Gordon Edes}}</ref> some Sunday night games were added. Dan Kelly once again, did most of
+the play-by-play alongside [[Mike Eruzione]].<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://cnnsi.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=After-dinner+Speakers+And+Designated+Mop-ups+-+12.22.80+-+SI+Vault&expire=&urlID=412192242&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2Fvault%2Farticle%2Fmagazine%2FMAG1124072%2Findex.htm&partnerID=289881|title=After-dinner Speakers And Designated Mop-ups|date=December 22, 1980|first=E.M.|last=Swift|journal=Sports Illustrated}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Reality Shattered the Golden Dream|date=February 22, 1981|first=Ted|last=Green|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|page=E1}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/kings/news/the-royal-half-gameday-new-york-rangers-game-2/c-721992|title=The Royal Half Gameday: New York Rangers Game 2|date=June 7, 2014|website=NHL.com}}</ref> Dick Carlson and [[Jiggs McDonald]] also did play-by-play work on occasion. In addition, [[Don Cherry]] was a commentator for at least one game. Meanwhile, Jim West was the host for most games.
+With USA's coverage of the [[1981 Stanley Cup playoffs]], it marked the first time that there was "blanket" American television coverage of the NHL playoffs. In other words, more often, whenever a game was played it was televised on a national outlet (whether it was broadcast or cable). USA however, did not Game 1 of the playoff series between [[1980–81 Philadelphia Flyers season|Philadelphia Flyers]] and [[1980–81 Calgary Flames season|Calgary Flames]] (April 16) because they were instead broadcasting a [[The USA Thursday Game of the Week|baseball game]] between the [[Phillies–Pirates rivalry|Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies]]. Meanwhile, they also skipped Games 2–6 (on April 17, 22 and 24) of the Philadelphia–Calgary series because of their [[NBA on USA|coverage]] of the [[1981 NBA Playoffs|NBA playoffs]]. USA also did not televise Games 2 and 5 of the playoff series between the [[1980–81 Calgary Flames season|Calgary Flames]] and [[1980–81 Minnesota North Stars season|Minnesota North Stars]] (April 30 and May 7 respectively) because of baseball games involving the [[1981 Minnesota Twins season|Minnesota Twins]] vs. the [[1981 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] and the [[1981 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] vs. the [[1981 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia Phillies]] respectively.
-As the immediate forerunner for the USA Network, UA-Columbia, served as the cable syndicated arm of not only MSG Network in New York, but also the PRISM channel in Philadelphia and whatever pay/cable outlets were around in 1979.
+====1981–82 season====
-==USA Network is Formed==
+In the {{NHL Year|1981}} season,<ref>{{YouTube|title=John Tonelli Recaps His Playoff OT Goal (Apr. 13, 1982)|id=B-b6TwAHhSY}}</ref> [[Al Trautwig]]<ref>{{YouTube|title=1984 USA promo NHL coverage|id=tIMONRTibNI}}</ref> took over as studio host. Dan Kelly did play-by-play with either [[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=59765|title=Gary Green|work=NHL.com|access-date=2010-07-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=STARS CHASING BELLOWS; NANNE SEEKS BRUIN DEAL|date=May 9, 1982|first=Francis|last=Rosa|newspaper=Boston Globe|page=1}}</ref> or [[Rod Gilbert]] on color commentary. For the [[1981–82 NHL season|playoffs]], Dick Carlson and [[Al Albert (sportscaster)|Al Albert]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/pacers/media/al_albert_bio.html|title=Al Albert|work=pacers.com}}</ref> were added as play-by-play voices of some games. Meanwhile, [[Jim Van Horne]] hosted [[1982 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]] games played in Vancouver.
-On April 9, 1980, the Madison Square Garden Network changed its name to the '''USA Network''' which occurred when the ownership structure was reorganized under a joint operating agreement by the UA-Columbia Cable vision cable system (now known as Cablevision Systems Corporation) and MCA (which was the then parent of Universal Studios, now owned by NBC Universal).
+In April 1982, USA outbid [[ESPN National Hockey Night|ESPN]] for the NHL's American national television cable package with [[United States dollar|$]]8 million (at least $2 million more than what ESPN was offering).<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1983/01/24/625121/getting-down-to-business|title=Getting Down To Business|date=January 24, 1983|first=William|last=Taaffe|journal=Sports Illustrated}}</ref>
-Things took a step further a year later when, Time Inc. (which eventually merged with Warner Communications to form Time Warner) and Paramount Pictures Corp. (then a division of Gulf+Western, now owned by Viacom) took minority ownership stakes in USA.
+====1982–83 and 1983–84 seasons====
-G+W also owned the New York Rangers and the MSG regional sports television network (both later owned by Cable vision, but spun off in 2010).
+Things pretty much remained the same for USA during the {{NHL Year|1982}} season.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sarni|first=Jim|date=May 1, 1982|title=USA Network gets exclusive rights to NHL 1982-83 and 1983-84 seasons|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56344443/usa-network-gets-exclusive-rights-to/|work=Fort Lauderdale News|location= |access-date=}}</ref> Dan Kelly and Gary Green called most games, while Al Albert did play-by-play on several [[1983 Stanley Cup Finals|playoff]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Black Hawks have to heal fast|date=April 22, 1983|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|page=D1|first=Neil|last=Milbert}}</ref> games and hosted the [[1983 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]] from [[Nassau Coliseum]].<ref>{{YouTube|title=1983 Stanley Cup Celebration All 3 TV Feeds Islanders Sweep Oilers|id=WArldHhQGZw}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|title=Gordie Howe Interview at Nassau Coliseum 1983|id=xZfH2vHbzPI}}</ref> USA didn't cover any playoff games on April 7, 1983 because they were [[PGA Tour on USA|broadcasting]] second round highlights of [[1983 Masters Tournament|The Masters]]. This was followed by a [[Western Conference (NBA)|West Coast]] [[NBA on USA|NBA telecast]].
-===Coverage Overview (1979-1985)===
-As previously mentioned USA's (or UA-Columbia as it was known at the time), NHL coverage begin in the 1979–80 season as a Monday night series with '''Dan Kelly''' doing play-by-play alongside a variety of commentators including Pete Stemkowski, Lou Nanne, and '''Gary Green'''. The intermission host was Scott Wahle.
+In the {{NHL Year|1983}} season,<ref>{{YouTube|title=NHL Overtime in Regular Season games started in 1983-84 (Feature)|id=AZzWPAJBEGA}}</ref> USA covered over 40 games<ref>{{cite news|title=USA NETWORK MAKING SOME MAJOR-LEAGUE CUTS|date=February 10, 1984|newspaper=Miami Herald|page=7F}}</ref><ref>
+{{cite book |last= |first= |author-link= |date= |title=FCC Record: A Comprehensive Compilation of Decisions ..., Volume 8, Issue 5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DUqvJBWqgfsC&pg=PA4900&lpg=PA4900&dq=1982+Stanley+Cup+Finals+USA+Network&source=bl&ots=0LhZBa3iyb&sig=ACfU3U1F7fPGT3a0BeWSYrBwyVM5RRV75w&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjSn_Wt7d7uAhUKOs0KHY4nCLE4HhDoATABegQIBhAC#v=onepage&q&f=false|location= |publisher= |page=4900|isbn=}}</ref> including the [[1983–84 NHL season|playoffs]].<ref>{{YouTube|title=Al Arbour Interview USA Network Post Game Game 5 1984 Stanley Cup Final|id=eoIIKoAzvyk}}</ref> While Gary Green did all games, Dan Kelly and Al Albert did roughly 20 games each. Meanwhile, Jiggs McDonald helped broadcast one game.
+Because USA was airing [[1984 Masters Tournament|Masters]] highlights, Game 1 of the 1984 playoff series between the [[1983–84 Minnesota North Stars season|Minnesota North Stars]] and [[1983–84 St. Louis Blues season|St. Louis Blues]] (April 12) and Game 2 of the playoff series between the [[Capitals–Islanders rivalry|New York Islanders and Washington Capitals]] (April 13) were aired on [[Broadcast delay|tape delay]] at 10 p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern Time]].
-===1980-81 Season===
-For the 1980–81 season, some of the Sunday night games were added. Once again, '''Dan Kelly''' did most of the play-by-play alongside with '''Mike Eruzione'''.
+====1984–85 season====
-'''Dick Carlson''' and '''Jiggs McDonald''' also did play-by-play work on occasion. In addition, Don Cherry was a commentator for at least one game. Meanwhile, '''Jim West''' was the host for most games.
+For USA's final full season of NHL coverage in {{NHL Year|1984}},<ref>{{cite news|title=Rams in the Dark as Channel 2 Drops Exhibition Games|date=August 2, 1985|first=Larry|last=Stewart|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|page=3}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=NETWORKS WOULD RACE TO TELEVISE INDY LIVE|date=May 24, 1985|first=Cathy|last=Harasta|newspaper=Dallas Morning News}}</ref> Dan Kelly<ref>{{cite news|title=Stockton, Walker Get a Break as Big Call Goes Their Way|date=September 20, 1985|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|page=3}}</ref> and Gary Green<ref>{{YouTube|title=1985 NHL All-Star Game Opening (Calgary)|id=Xvg32jAb2LQ}}</ref> once again, did most games, while Al Albert and Green called the rest. In all, USA covered about 55 games, including 33 in the regular season.<ref>{{cite news|title=OLYMPIC JITTERS SET IN AT ABC|date=June 24, 1984|first=Jack|last=Craig|newspaper=Boston Globe|page=1}}</ref> Also, [[Hartford Whalers]] goaltender [[Mike Liut]] was added as a studio analyst for the [[1985 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]].<ref>{{cite news|title=KERR WILL PLAY AS FLYERS TAKE ON OILERS TONIGHT STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS|date=May 21, 1985|first=Dan|last=Shope|newspaper=Allentown Morning Call|page=C01}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Bob Clarke (Left) and Bobby Clarke (Right): 2 Sides of Success With the Flyers, Who Are at Home in Stanley Cup Final|date=May 25, 1985|first=Chris|last=Baker|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|page=4}}</ref>
+Meanwhile, for increased publicity opportunities, the [[Stroh Brewing Company]]<ref>{{YouTube|title=1985 NHL All-Star Game|id=AePhDE4FK8k}}</ref> turned to such sports as hockey—which had been overlooked by [[Anheuser-Busch|Anheuser]] and [[Miller Brewing Company|Miller]]—and sponsored broadcasts of National Hockey League games on the USA cable network.<ref>{{cite news|date=May 31, 1985|title=Space appealing to Kathy Johnson|first=Darrell|last=Simmons|newspaper=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|page=E2}}</ref>
-With USA's coverage of the 1981 Stanley Cup Playoffs, it marked the first time that there was "blanket" American television coverage of the NHL playoffs.
+Seldom during the early rounds of the playoffs did USA carry an away game of one of the three New York-area teams ([[New York Rangers]], [[New York Islanders]], or [[New Jersey Devils]]) since [[WWOR-TV|WOR-TV New York]], at the time available on most of the nation's cable television systems, often carried that away game of the New York-area team both locally in New York and on its "superstation" feed. One exception was a playoff game between two of the New York-area clubs, since WOR was usually barred from carrying it since the home team's cable-television contract superseded the visiting club's over-the-air television deal.
-In other words (more often than not that) whenever a game was played it was televised on a national outlet (whether it was broadcast or cable).
-However, '''USA Network''' didn't televise Game 1 of the playoff series between [[Philadelphia Flyers]] and [[Calgary Flames]] (April 16th) because of they were instead, broadcasting a baseball game between Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies.
-Meanwhile, they also skipped Games 2–6 (on April 17, 22, and 24) of the Philadelphia–Calgary series because of their coverage of the NBA playoffs.
-The network also didn't televise Games 2 and 5 of the playoff series between Calgary Flames and Minnesota North Stars (April 30th and May 7th respectively) because of baseball games involving Minnesota Twins vs. Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies respectively.
-===1981-82 Season===
-In the 1981–82 season, Al Trautwig took over as studio host. '''Dan Kelly''' did play-by-play with '''Gary Green''' on color commentary.
-For the playoffs, '''Dick Carlson''' and '''Al Albert''' were added as play-by-play voices of some games. Meanwhile, Jim Van Horne hosted the Stanley Cup Finals games played in Vancouver.
-In April of 1982, '''USA Network''' outbid the '''ESPN''' network for the NHL's American national television cable package with $8 million (at least $2 million more than what ESPN was offering).
-===1982-83 and 1983-84 Seasons===
-Things pretty much the remained the same for USA during the 1982–83 season. '''Dan Kelly''' and '''Gary Green''' called most games while '''Al Albert''' did play-by-play on several playoff games and '''Rod Gilbert''' did color commentary.
-The USA Network didn't cover any playoff game on April 7, 1983 because they were broadcasting second round highlights of The Masters. This was followed by a West Coast NBA telecast.
-In the 1983–84 season, '''USA''' covered over 40 games including the playoffs. While '''Gary Green''' did all the games, '''Dan Kelly''' did all games.
-Because '''USA''' was airing Masters highlights, Game 1 of the 1984 playoff series between [[Minnesota North Stars|'''Minnesota North Stars''']] and [[St. Louis Blues|'''St. Louis Blues''']] (April 12th) and Game 2 of the playoff series between [[New York Islanders|'''New York Islanders''']] and [[Washington Capitals|'''Washington Capitals''']] (April 13th) were aired on tape delay at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
-===1984-1985===
-For '''USA'''<nowiki/>'s final full season of NHL coverage in 1984–85, [[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]''' '''and '''[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|Gary Green]]''' once again, did called the all games.
-In all, '''USA''' covered about 55 games, including 33 in the regular season Also, Hartford Whalers goaltender [[Mike Liut|'''Mike Liut''']] was added as an intermission analyst for the [[Stanley Cup finals|Stanley Cup Finals]].
-Meanwhile, for increased publicity opportunities, the Stroh Brewing Company turned to such sports as hockey—which had been overlooked by Anheuser and Miller—and sponsored broadcasts of NHL games on the USA cable network.
-Seldom during the early rounds of the playoffs did '''USA''' carry an away game of one of the three New York-area teams ('''New York Rangers''', '''New York Islanders''', or '''New Jersey Devils''') since WOR-TV New York at the time available on most of the nation's cable television systems, often carried that away game of the New York-area team both locally in New York and on its "super station" feed.
-One exception was a playoff game between two of the New York-area clubs since WOR was usually barred from carrying it since the home team's cable-television contract superseded the visiting club's over-the-air television deal.
 ===Between 1985 and 2015===
+After the 1984-85 season, the [[National Hockey League#Board of Governors|NHL Board of Governors]] chose to have USA and [[ESPN National Hockey Night|ESPN]] submit sealed bids. ESPN won by bidding nearly $25 million for three years, about twice as much as USA had been paying. The contract called for ESPN to air up to 33 regular season games each season as well as the NHL All-Star game and the Stanley Cup playoffs.<ref name="Strachan">{{cite news|last1=Strachan|first1=Al|title=ESPN acquires NHL games Backroom bickering in TV deal|work=The Globe and Mail|date=July 30, 1985}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Mulligan|first1=Kevin|title=NHL Finds a Home at ESPN|work=Philadelphia Daily News|date=July 26, 1985}}</ref>
-USA Network lost the rights to the NHL to '''ESPN''' in 1985 and largely abandoned sports after the early 1990s as the channel shifted almost exclusively to scripted entertainment.
-Beginning in 2006, USA began carrying some coverage of top level hockey by cooperating with NBC's coverage of ice hockey at the Winter Olympics in 2006, 2010 and 2014; these games were mostly daytime contests that would not preempt the network's increasingly popular prime time programs.
+After the USA Network lost the rights to the NHL to ESPN, they largely abandoned sports after the early 1990s as the [[channel drift|channel shifted]] almost exclusively to scripted entertainment. Beginning in 2006, USA began carrying some coverage of top level hockey by cooperating with [[NBC Olympic broadcasts|NBC's]] coverage of [[ice hockey at the Winter Olympics]] in [[Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics|2006]], [[Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics|2010]] and [[Ice hockey at the 2014 Winter Olympics|2014]]; these games were mostly [[daytime television in the United States|daytime]] contests that would not preempt the network's increasingly popular prime time programs.
-===Selected early-round playoff games, 2015-current===
+===Selected early-round playoff games, 2015-===
+As part of a 2011 contract renewal, [[Comcast]]'s properties earned exclusive national rights for all [[Stanley Cup playoffs]] through 2021. Because NBC and [[NBCSN|NBC Sports Network]] could not carry all of the games on those two outlets alone, other Comcast properties would need to be used; USA was initially not used, due to the risk of preempting its popular prime time lineup, and the company instead used [[CNBC]] and [[NHL Network (United States)|NHL Network]] as the overflow channels for the first four years of the contract. In 2015, Comcast announced that USA would carry some games in the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, mainly on Tuesday and Wednesday nights,<ref name=2015pr/> returning the NHL to USA for the first time since 1985.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/back-usa-network-sports-return-nhl-playoffs-30396144|title=Back on the USA Network: Sports Return With NHL Playoffs|last1=Cohen|first1=Rachel|date=17 April 2015|website=ABC News}}</ref>
-As part of a 2011 contract renewal, Comcast's properties earned exclusive national rights for all Stanley Cup playoffs through 2021.
+On January 22, 2021, an internal memo sent by NBC Sports president Pete Bevacqua announced that NBCSN would cease operations by the end of the year, and that [[USA Network]] would begin "carrying and/or simulcasting certain NBC Sports programming," including the Stanley Cup playoffs and [[NASCAR on NBC|NASCAR]] races, before NBCSN's shutdown. [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]], NBCUniversal's new streaming service, will also carry some of the network's former programming starting in 2022.<ref name = Closure>{{cite news|url = https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/22/media/nbc-sports-network-shut-down/index.html|title = NBC Sports Network to shut down by the end of the year|work = [[CNN]]|date = January 22, 2021|access-date = January 22, 2021|last = Pallotta|first = Frank}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/comcast-s-nbcuniversal-to-shut-down-sports-cable-channel-nbcsn-by-year-end-11611344361|title = Comcast's NBCUniversal to Shut Down Sports Cable Channel NBCSN by Year-End|work = [[The Wall Street Journal]]|date = January 22, 2021|access-date = January 22, 2021|last1 = Flint|first1 = Joe|last2 = Rizzo|first2 = Lillian}}</ref> The move was cited by industry analysts as a response to the impact of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]] on the [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports|sports]] and [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television in the United States|television]] industries, the acceleration of [[cord-cutting]], as well as formidable competition from rival sports networks such as [[ESPN]] and [[Fox Sports 1]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hayes |first1=Dade |title=Cable Network NBCSN To Go Dark By Year-End, With Live Sports Telecasts Shifting To USA Network, Peacock |url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/cable-network-nbcsn-to-go-dark-by-end-of-2021-sports-streaming-peacock-1234678611/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |access-date=23 January 2021}}</ref>
-Because NBC and NBC Sports Network could not carry all of the games on those two outlets alone, other Comcast properties would need to be used; '''USA''' was initially not used due to the risk of preempting its popular prime time lineup and the company instead used '''CNBC''' and NHL Network as the overflow channels for the first four years of the contract.
-In 2015, for the first time since 1985, Comcast announced that '''USA''' would carry some games in the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, mainly on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
 ==List of commentators==
-===Broadcast teams===
-*[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]-[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''Gary Green''']]
-*Al Albert-Mike Eruzione
-*Dick Carlson-[[Phil Esposito|'''Phil Esposito''']]
-*Jiggs McDonald-Ed Westfall
-=== Reporters ===
+===Play-by-play===
+*[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stlmediahistory.org/index.php/Radio/RadioHOFDetail/kelly-dan|title=Dan Kelly|last= |first= |date= |website=St. Louis Media History|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> (1979–85)
-* '''Al Albert'''
+*[[Al Albert (sportscaster)|Al Albert]]<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=February 18, 2015|title=Kenny Albert named blow-by-blow announcer for PBC fights on NBCSN|url=https://www.premierboxingchampions.com/news/kenny-albert-named-blow-blow-announcer-pbc-fights-nbcsn|work=Premier Boxing Champions|location= |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Fischler|first=Stan|author-link= |date= |title=Behind the Net: 106 Incredible Hockey Stories|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qm6CDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA9&lpg=PA9&dq=Al+Albert+NHL+%22USA+Network%22&source=bl&ots=07eKw6RvLA&sig=ACfU3U0KdyDUTmlG38gGhc4MaQbbxH5xLw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjN0vuC8O3uAhWTKs0KHWevCds4FBDoATAQegQICRAC#v=onepage&q=Al%20Albert%20NHL%20%22USA%20Network%22&f=false|location= |publisher= |page= |isbn=}}</ref> (1981–85)
-* '''Jim Van Horne'''
+*Dick Carlson<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=October 14, 2004|title=WCCO’s Dick Carlson Dies|url=https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/wcco39s-dick-carlson-dies|work=Radio World|location= |access-date=}}</ref> (1980–82)
-* '''Tony Esposito'''
+*[[Jiggs McDonald]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Sandomir|first=Richard|date=September 30, 1994|title=HOCKEY: TV SPORTS; No Hockey? How About Hot Rods and Horses?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/30/sports/hockey-tv-sports-no-hockey-how-about-hot-rods-and-horses.html|work=New York Times|location= |access-date=}}</ref> (1980–84)
-* '''Peter McNab'''
+*[[Mike Lange]] ([[1984 Stanley Cup playoffs]])<ref name=":1" />
+===Color commentary===
+*[[Don Cherry]] (1980–81)
+*[[Mike Eruzione]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.radio.com/sports/nhl/gallery/the-1980-miracle-on-ice-u-s-team-5-interesting-facts#mike-eruzione-never-played-in-nhl-ck6v95pea000t3h62l63invuw|title=Remembering the 1980 ‘Miracle on Ice’ U.S. Team: 5 Interesting Facts|last=Healy|first=John|date=February 21, 2020|website=Radio|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> (1980–81)
+*[[Phil Esposito]] (1980–81)
+*[[Rod Gilbert]] (1981–85)
+*[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/capitals/news/where-are-they-now-gary-green/c-463271|title=Where Are They Now?: Gary Green|last=Gregory|first=John|date=November 14, 2008|website=NHL|publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref> (1981–85)
+*[[Brian McFarlane]] (1979–80)
+*[[Lou Nanne]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Swift|first=E.M.|date=October 12, 1981|title=SWEET LOU FROM THE SOO|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1981/10/12/sweet-lou-from-the-soo-lou-nanne-minnesotas-general-manager-is-a-lousy-poet-but-his-savvy-and-salesmanship-have-made-the-club-a-contender-many-think-he-should-be-running-the-nhl|work=Sports Illustrated|location= |access-date=}}</ref> (1979–80)
+*[[Pete Stemkowski]] (1979–80)
 ===Studio hosts===
+*[[Al Albert (sportscaster)|Al Albert]] (1982–83)
-*'''Al Trautwig'''
+*[[Al Trautwig]] (1981–85)
+*[[Jim Van Horne]] (1981–82)
+*Scott Wahle (1978–80)
+*Jim West (1980–81)
 ===Studio analysts===
-*'''Mike Liut''' (1984–1985)
+*[[Mike Liut]] (1984–85)
+=== [[Stanley Cup playoffs]] commentating crews ===
-===Playoff Commentating Crews===
 {| class="wikitable"
 |'''Year'''
@@ Line 118: / Line 145: @@
 |'''Games'''
 |'''[[Play-by-play]]'''
-|'''[[Color commentator|Color commentators]]'''
+|'''[[Color commentator]]'''
 |-
+|[[1980 Stanley Cup playoffs|1980]]
-|1980
 |First round
+|[[1979–80 Buffalo Sabres season|Buffalo]]-[[1979–80 Vancouver Canucks season|Vancouver]]
-|Buffalo-Vancouver
-|Game 3 (CBC's feed)
+|Game 3 ([[Hockey Night in Canada|CBC's feed]])
-|Jim Robson
+|[[Jim Robson]]
-|Howie Meeker
+|[[Howie Meeker]]
 |-
-| rowspan="5" |1981
+| rowspan="8" |[[1981 Stanley Cup playoffs|1981]]
-|First round
+| rowspan="3" |First round
-|Los Angeles-New York Rangers
+|[[1980–81 Los Angeles Kings season|Los Angeles]]-[[1980–81 New York Rangers season|New York Rangers]]
+|Game 1, 3–4<ref>{{YouTube|title=1981 First Round - New York Rangers vs. Los Angeles, Game 1|id=xLs1e9kI0EA}}</ref>
+|Dick Carlson
+|[[Mike Eruzione]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/kings/news/the-royal-half-gameday-new-york-rangers-game-2/c-721992|title=The Royal Half Gameday: New York Rangers Game 2|date=June 7, 2014|website=THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE LA KINGS}}</ref>
+|-
+|[[1980–81 Boston Bruins season|Boston]]-[[1980–81 Minnesota North Stars season|Minnesota]]
 |Game 2
 |Dick Carlson
-|[[Mike Eruzione|'''Mike Eruzione''']]
+|[[Mike Eruzione]]
+|-
+|[[1980–81 St. Louis Blues season|St. Louis]]-[[1980–81 Pittsburgh Penguins season|Pittsburgh]]
+|Game 5<ref>{{YouTube|title=1981 First Round - Pittsburgh vs. St. Louis, Game 5|id=MEezqUvvPXg}}</ref>
+|[[Jiggs McDonald]]
+|[[Mike Eruzione]]
 |-
-| rowspan="2" |Quarterfinals
+|rowspan=3|Quarterfinals
 |St. Louis-New York Rangers
 |Game 3
+|Jim West
+|[[Mike Eruzione]]
+|-
+|[[1980–81 Buffalo Sabres season|Buffalo]]-Minnesota
+|Game 4
 |Dick Carlson
-|[[Mike Eruzione|'''Mike Eruzione''']]
+|[[Mike Eruzione]]
 |-
-|Philadelphia-Calgary
+|[[1980–81 Philadelphia Flyers season|Philadelphia]]-[[1980–81 Calgary Flames season|Calgary]]
 |Game 7
-|Dan Kelly
+|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]
-|[[Mike Eruzione|'''Mike Eruzione''']]
+|[[Mike Eruzione]]
 |-
-| rowspan="2" |Semifinals
+|rowspan=2|Semifinals
-|New York Islanders-New York Rangers
+|[[Islanders–Rangers rivalry|New York Islanders-New York Rangers]]
 |Games 1, 3
-|Dan Kelly
+|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]
-|[[Mike Eruzione|'''Mike Eruzione''']]
+|[[Mike Eruzione]]
 |-
 |Calgary-Minnesota
+|in Minnesota
-|Games 3–4, 6
-|Dan Kelly
+|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]
-|[[Mike Eruzione|'''Mike Eruzione''']]
+|[[Mike Eruzione]]
 |-
-| rowspan="8" |1982
+|rowspan="8"|[[1982 Stanley Cup playoffs|1982]]
-| rowspan="2" |Divisional semifinals
+|rowspan="2"|Divisional semifinals
-|New York Islanders-Pittsburgh
+|[[1981–82 New York Islanders season|New York Islanders]]-[[1981–82 Pittsburgh Penguins season|Pittsburgh]]
 |Games 3, 5
-|Dick Carlson (Game 3)
+|Dick Carlson (Game 3)<br>[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]] (Game 5)
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
-Dan Kelly (Game 5)
-|Gary Green
 |-
+|[[1981–82 Minnesota North Stars season|Minnesota]]-[[1981–82 Chicago Black Hawks season|Chicago]]
-|Minnesota-Chicago
 |Game 1
-|'''Al Albert'''
+|[[Al Albert (sportscaster)|Al Albert]]
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
-|'''Rod Gilbert'''
 |-
-| rowspan="4" |Divisional finals
+|rowspan=4|Divisional finals
+|[[1981–82 Boston Bruins season|Boston]]-[[1981–82 Quebec Nordiques season|Québec]]
-|New York Islanders-New York Rangers
-|Games 2, 6
-|'''Dick Carlson'''
-|[[Mike Eruzione|'''Mike Eruzione''']]
-|-
-|Boston-Quebec
 |Games 5, 7
-|Dick Carlson (Game 5)
+|Dick Carlson (Game 5)<br>[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]] (Game 7)
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
-Dan Kelly (Game 7)
-|Gary Green
 |-
+|[[Islanders–Rangers rivalry|New York Islanders-New York Rangers]]
-|Boston-Chicago
+|Game 2, 6<ref>{{YouTube|title=Game 6 1982 Patrick Division Final Islanders at Rangers NHL on USA broadcast partial- 1st & 2nd only|id=nouJQKCarj0}}</ref>
+|Dick Carlson
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
+|-
+|[[Blackhawks–Blues rivalry|St. Louis-Chicago]]
 |Game 4
-|'''Dick Carlson'''
+|Dick Carlson
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
-|[[Mike Eruzione|'''Mike Eruzione''']]
 |-
-|Vancouver-Los Angeles
+|[[1981–82 Vancouver Canucks season|Vancouver]]-[[1981–82 Los Angeles Kings season|Los Angeles]]
 |Game 3
-|'''Dick Carlson'''
+|Dick Carlson
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
-|[[Mike Eruzione|'''Mike Eruzione''']]
 |-
-| rowspan="2" |Conference finals
+|rowspan=2|Conference finals
-|New York Islanders-Quebec
+|New York Islanders-Québec
 |Games 2, 4
-|Dan Kelly
+|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]
-|Gary Green
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
 |-
 |Chicago-Vancouver
 |Games 1, 5
-|Dan Kelly
+|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]
-|Gary Green
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
 |-
-| rowspan="9" |1983
+|rowspan="9"|[[1983 Stanley Cup playoffs|1983]]
-| rowspan="3" |Divisional semifinals
+|rowspan="3"|Divisional semifinals
-|Philadelphia-New York Rangers
+|[[Flyers–Rangers rivalry|Philadelphia-New York Rangers]]
 |Game 3
-|'''Al Albert'''
+|[[Al Albert (sportscaster)|Al Albert]]
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
-|'''Rod Gilbert'''
 |-
-|New York Islanders-Washington
+|[[Capitals–Islanders rivalry|New York Islanders-Washington]]
-|Games 1, 4
+|Game 4
-|'''Al Albert'''
+|[[Al Albert (sportscaster)|Al Albert]]
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
-|'''Rod Gilbert'''
 |-
+|[[1982–83 Boston Bruins season|Boston]]-[[1982–83 Quebec Nordiques season|Québec]]
-|Boston-Quebec
 |Game 1
-|'''Al Albert'''
+|[[Al Albert (sportscaster)|Al Albert]]
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
-|'''Rod Gilbert'''
 |-
-| rowspan="4" |Divisional finals
+|rowspan=4|Divisional finals
+|Boston-[[1982–83 Buffalo Sabres season|Buffalo]]
-|New York Islanders-New York Rangers
+|Games 5, 7<ref>{{YouTube|title=1983 Adams Division SF Game 5 Boston Bruins vs Buffalo Sabres|id=V1lteNxYiUY}}</ref>
-|Games 2, 4, 6
-|Dan Kelly
+|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]
-|Gary Green
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
 |-
+|[[Islanders–Rangers rivalry|New York Islanders-New York Rangers]]
-|Boston-Buffalo
-|Games 5, 7
+|Games 2, 4, 6
-|Dan Kelly
+|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]
-|Gary Green
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
 |-
+|[[1982–83 Chicago Black Hawks season|Chicago]]-[[1982–83 Minnesota North Stars season|Minnesota]]
-|Chicago-Minnesota
 |Game 3
-|Dan Kelly
+|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]
-|Gary Green
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
 |-
-|Edmonton-Calgary
+|[[Battle of Alberta|Edmonton-Calgary]]
 |Game 1 (taped delayed)
-|Dan Kelly
+|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]
-|Gary Green
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
 |-
-| rowspan="2" |Conference finals
+|rowspan=2|Conference finals
-|New York Islanders-Boston
+|Boston-[[1982–83 New York Islanders season|New York Islanders]]
-|Games 1–3, 5–6
+|Games 1–3, 6
-|Dan Kelly
+|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]
-|Gary Green
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
 |-
-|Edmonton-Chicago
+|[[1982–83 Edmonton Oilers season|Edmonton]]-Chicago
 |Games 1, 3–4
-|Dan Kelly
+|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]
-|Gary Green
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
 |-
-| rowspan="8" |1984
+|rowspan="8"|[[1984 Stanley Cup playoffs|1984]]
-|Conference semifinals
+|rowspan="3"|Divisional semifinals
+|[[1983–84 Buffalo Sabres season|Buffalo]]-[[1983–84 Quebec Nordiques season|Québec]]
-|Buffalo-Quebec
 |Game 2
-|'''Al Albert'''
+|[[Al Albert (sportscaster)|Al Albert]]
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
-|'''Rod Gilbert'''
 |-
+|[[Islanders–Rangers rivalry|New York Islanders-New York Rangers]]
-| rowspan="2" |Conference semifinals
+|Games 1, 4–5<ref>{{YouTube|title=Game 1 1984 Patrick Division Semifinal Rangers at Islanders (USA Network)|id=tEOZ5fAeDLY}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{YouTube|title=Game 4 1984 Patrick Division Semi-Final Islanders @ Rangers highlights|id=lTqhmj3Ly2E}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|title=1984 NYI NYR OT GAME 5 USA BROADCAST|id=WgwQAmhXxfM}}</ref>
-|New York Islanders-New York Rangers
+|[[Al Albert (sportscaster)|Al Albert]] (Game 1)<br>[[Mike Lange]] (Game 4)<br>[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]] (Game 5)
-|Games 1, 4–5
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
-|Al Albert (Games 1, 4)
-Dan Kelly (Game 5)
-|Gary Green
 |-
-|Washington-Philadelphia
+|[[Capitals–Flyers rivalry|Washington-Philadelphia]]
 |Game 3
-|'''Al Albert'''
+|[[Al Albert (sportscaster)|Al Albert]]
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
-|'''Rod Gilbert'''
 |-
-| rowspan="3" |Divisional finals
+|rowspan=3|Divisional finals
+|[[Capitals–Islanders rivalry|New York Islanders-Washington]]
-|Quebec-Montreal
+|Games 2 (taped delayed), 3, 5<ref>{{YouTube|title=Game 5 1984 Patrick Division Final Capitals @ Islanders highlights|id=70LrklMPeHg}}</ref>
-|Games 4, 6
-|'''Al Albert'''
+|[[Al Albert (sportscaster)|Al Albert]]
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
-|'''Rod Gilbert'''
 |-
+|[[Battle of Quebec (ice hockey)|Québec-Montréal]]
-|New York Islanders-Washington
+|Games 4, [[Good Friday Massacre|6]]<ref>{{YouTube|title=NHL on USA Network Playoffs Opening 1984|id=GGjyyq2N97I}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=McIndoe|first=Sean|author-link= |date= |title=The Down Goes Brown History of the NHL: The World's Most Beautiful Sport|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xljDDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA92&lpg=PA92&dq=1982+Stanley+Cup+Finals+USA+Network&source=bl&ots=s09BPSReSX&sig=ACfU3U148YNd0hseRT-xEvqTncJrVo4-kA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjSn_Wt7d7uAhUKOs0KHY4nCLE4HhDoATAJegQICRAC#v=onepage&q=1982%20Stanley%20Cup%20Finals%20USA%20Network&f=false|location= |publisher= |page=92|isbn=}}</ref>
-|Games 2 (taped delay), 3, 5
-|'''Al Albert'''
+|[[Al Albert (sportscaster)|Al Albert]]
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
-|'''Rod Gilbert'''
 |-
+|[[1983–84 Minnesota North Stars season|Minnesota]]-[[1983–84 St. Louis Blues season|St. Louis]]
-|Minnesota-St. Louis
+|Games 1, 7<ref>{{YouTube|title=1984 Second Round - Minnesota vs. St. Louis, Game 7|id=KTRiB6eTS5k}}</ref>
-|Games 1 (taped delay), 7
-|Al Albert
+|[[Al Albert (sportscaster)|Al Albert]]
-|Gary Green
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
 |-
-| rowspan="2" |Conference finals
+|rowspan=2|Conference finals
-|Montreal-New York Islanders
+|[[1983–84 Montreal Canadiens season|Montréal]]-[[1983–84 New York Islanders season|New York Islanders]]
+|Games 2–6<ref>{{YouTube|title=Game 3 1984 Wales Conference Final Canadiens @ Islanders highlights|id=d-m5XKwRO54}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|title=New York Islanders 3 Montreal Canadiens 1 Game 4 Semi Finals May 1 1984 USA Network|id=K2rJX8HbvZ0}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|title=Game 5 1984 Wales Conference Final Islanders at Canadiens (USA Network)|id=c0PnVglJjA0}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|title=Game 6 1984 Wales Conference Final Canadiens @ Islanders highlights & interviews|id=9P0bjx8khmM}}</ref>
-|Games 2-3, 5-6
-|Dan Kelly
+|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]
-|Gary Green
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
 |-
-|Edmonton-Minnesota
+|[[1983–84 Edmonton Oilers season|Edmonton]]-Minnesota
-|Games 1, 4
+|Game 1
-|Dan Kelly
+|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]
-|Gary Green
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
 |-
-| rowspan="8" |1985
+|rowspan="9"|[[1985 Stanley Cup playoffs|1985]]
-| rowspan="2" |Divisional semifinals
+|rowspan="2"|Divisional semifinals
-|Washington-New York Islanders
+|[[Capitals–Islanders rivalry|Washington-New York Islanders]]
+|Games 3–5<ref>{{YouTube|title=Game 3 1985 Patrick Division Semifinal Capitals at Islanders (USA Network)|id=iOx38JP_v1k}}</ref>
-|Games 3–5
+|[[Al Albert (sportscaster)|Al Albert]] (in [[Nassau Coliseum|Long Island]])<br>[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]] (in [[Capital Centre|Washington, D.C.]])
-|Al Albert (Games 3–4)
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
-Dan Kelly (Game 5)
-|Gary Green
 |-
+|[[1984–85 St. Louis Blues season|St. Louis]]-[[1984–85 Minnesota North Stars season|Minnesota]]
-|St. Louis-Minnesota
 |Game 1
-|Dan Kelly
+|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]
-|Gary Green
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
 |-
-| rowspan="4" |Divisional finals
+|rowspan=4|Divisional finals
-|Philadelphia-New York Islanders
+|[[1984–85 Philadelphia Flyers season|Philadelphia]]-[[1984–85 New York Islanders season|New York Islanders]]
 |Game 3
-|'''Al Albert'''
+|[[Al Albert (sportscaster)|Al Albert]]
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
-|'''Rod Gilbert'''
 |-
+|[[Battle of Quebec (ice hockey)|Montréal-Québec]]
-|Montreal-Quebec
 |Games 2, 5–7
-|Al Albert (Games 2, 6)
+|[[Al Albert (sportscaster)|Al Albert]] (Games 2, 6–7)<br>[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]] (Game 5)
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
-Dan Kelly (Games 5, 7)
-|Gary Green
 |-
-|Chicago-Minnesota
+|[[1984–85 Chicago Black Hawks season|Chicago]]-Minnesota
 |Games 1, 4–5
+|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]] (Game 1)<br>[[Al Albert (sportscaster)|Al Albert]] (Games 4–5)
-|Dan Kelly (Game 1)
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
-Al Albert (Games 4–5)
-|Gary Green
 |-
+|[[1984–85 Edmonton Oilers season|Edmonton]]-[[1984–85 Winnipeg Jets season|Winnipeg]]
-|Oilers-Winnipeg
 |Game 2
-|Dan Kelly
+|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]
-|Gary Green
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
 |-
-| rowspan="2" |Conference finals
+|rowspan=2|Conference finals
+|[[1984–85 Quebec Nordiques season|Québec]]-[[1984–85 Philadelphia Flyers season|Philadelphia]]
-|Quebec-Philadelphia
+|in Québec
-|Games 1–2, 5
-|Al Albert
+|[[Al Albert (sportscaster)|Al Albert]]
-|Gary Green
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
 |-
-|Edmonton-Chicago
+|[[1984–85 Edmonton Oilers season|Edmonton]]-Chicago
+|Games 1, 3–4, 6<ref>{{YouTube|title=1985 Third Round - Edmonton vs. Chicago, Game 1|id=Dv4kaGUvFxU}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|title=1985 Third Round - Edmonton vs. Chicago, Game 4|id=dSBdI4TuHqc}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|title=Clarence Campbell Conference Finals 1985 - Game 4 - Edmonton Oilers @ Chicago Blackhawks|id=-G_cVi0G6-E}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|title=Oilers @ Blackhawks - 1985 Conf. Finals G # 6 (Full Game)|id=I2WwnobUv1Q}}</ref>
-|Games 1, 3–4, 6
-|'''Al Albert'''
+|[[Al Albert (sportscaster)|Al Albert]]
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
-|'''Rod Gilbert'''
 |}
+=== [[Stanley Cup Finals]] commentating crews ===
 {| class="wikitable"
 |'''Year'''
-|'''Round'''
 |'''Teams'''
 |'''Games'''
 |'''[[Play-by-play]]'''
-|'''[[Color commentator|Color commentators]]'''
+|'''[[Color commentator]](s)'''
 |-
+|[[1981 Stanley Cup Finals|1981]]
-|1980
+|[[1980–81 New York Islanders season|New York Islanders]]-[[1980–81 Minnesota North Stars season|Minnesota]]
-|First round
+|Games 1–5 ([[Hockey Night in Canada|CBC's feed]])<ref>{{YouTube|title=Classic: North Stars @ Islanders 05/12/81 {{!}} Game 1 Stanley Cup Finals 1981|id=iYSabVznVA4}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|title=Game 2 1981 Stanley Cup Final North Stars at Islanders (CBC)|id=NjEQPttH-L0}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|title=Game 3 1981 Stanley Cup Final Islanders at North Stars|id=QhyVbZFdXAs}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|title=Game 5 1981 Stanley Cup Final North Stars at Islanders (CBC)|id=dXVaqrbD_HI}}</ref>
-|Buffalo-Vancouver
+|[[Bob Cole (sportscaster)|Bob Cole]]
-|Game 3 ('''CBC'''<nowiki/>'s feed)
+|[[Mickey Redmond]] and [[Gary Dornhoefer]]
-|'''Jim Robson'''
-|'''Howie Meeker'''
 |-
+|[[1982 Stanley Cup Finals|1982]]
-| rowspan="5" |1981
+|[[1981–82 New York Islanders season|New York Islanders]]-[[1981–82 Vancouver Canucks season|Vancouver]]
-|First round
+|Games 1–4
-|Los Angeles-New York Rangers
+|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]
-|Game 2
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
-|'''Dick Carlson'''
-|[[Mike Eruzione|'''Mike Eruzione''']]
 |-
+|[[1983 Stanley Cup Finals|1983]]
-| rowspan="2" |Quarterfinals
+|[[1982–83 Edmonton Oilers season|Edmonton]]-[[1982–83 New York Islanders season|New York Islanders]]
-|St. Louis-New York Rangers
+|Games 1–4<ref>{{YouTube|title=Game 1 1983 Stanley Cup Final Islanders at Oilers (USA Network)|id=OW4W3hQKUjQ}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|title=Game 2 1983 Stanley Cup Final Islanders at Oilers (USA Network)|id=8PK_rT4m5Os}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|title=Game 3 - 1983 Stanley Cup Finals - Edmonton Oilers @ New York Islanders - USA Network w/ Dan Kelly|id=Zth93Am6RdA}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|title=Game 4 1983 Stanley Cup Final Oilers at Islanders USA Network|id=_6iBseH9u7Q}}</ref>
-|Game 3
+|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last=Nugent-Bowman|first=Daniel|date=June 4, 2019|title=How a third-line grinder launched the star-filled Oilers to their first Stanley Cup and a hockey dynasty|url=https://theathletic.co.uk/981006/2019/06/04/how-a-third-line-grinder-launched-the-star-filled-oilers-to-their-first-stanley-cup-and-a-hockey-dynasty/|work=The Athletic|location= |access-date=}}</ref>
-|'''Dick Carlson'''
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
-|[[Mike Eruzione|'''Mike Eruzione''']]
 |-
+|[[1984 Stanley Cup Finals|1984]]
-|Philadelphia-Calgary
+|[[1983–84 New York Islanders season|New York Islanders]]-[[1983–84 Edmonton Oilers season|Edmonton]]
-|Game 7
+|Games 1–5<ref>{{YouTube|title=Game 1 1984 Stanley Cup Final Oilers at Islanders USA Network|id=TE5ZvGtIXTg}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|title=Game 2 1984 Stanley Cup Final Oilers at Islanders USA Network|id=TPhz5G9PoGU}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|title=Game 3 1984 Stanley Cup Final Islanders at Oilers USA Network|id=j_Zs9MWg9HU}}</ref>
-|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
+|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]<ref name=":0" />
-|[[Mike Eruzione|'''Mike Eruzione''']]
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]
 |-
+|[[1985 Stanley Cup Finals|1985]]<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1985-05-21-2470904-story.html| title= KERR WILL PLAY AS FLYERS TAKE ON OILERS TONIGHT STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS | work=Don Shope ([[The Morning Call]]) | date= May 21, 1985 | accessdate= February 9, 2016}}</ref>
-| rowspan="2" |Semifinals
+|[[1984–85 Philadelphia Flyers season|Philadelphia]]-[[1984–85 Edmonton Oilers season|Edmonton]]
-|New York Islanders-New York Rangers
+|Games 1–5<ref>{{YouTube|title=1985 Stanley Cup Final - Edmonton vs. Philadelphia, Game 1|id=tU75EjdO-E8}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|title=Oilers @ Flyers - 1985 Stanley Cup G # 2 (Full Game)|id=phVXItziNcM}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|title=Classic: Flyers @ Oilers 05/30/85 {{!}} Game 5 Stanley Cup Finals 1985|id=8S94a4wFqS0}}</ref>
-|Games 1, 3
+|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=May 18, 1985|title=The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida · Page 74|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/130114521/|work=Newspapers|location= |access-date=}}</ref> (in Philadelphia)<br>[[Al Albert (sportscaster)|Al Albert]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Best|first=Neil|date=April 15, 2015|title=Kenny Albert, Pierre McGuire to call Stanley Cup playoffs of USA Network|url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/media/kenny-albert-pierre-mcguire-to-call-stanley-cup-playoffs-of-usa-network-1.10270145|work=Newsday|location= |access-date=}}</ref> (in Edmonton)
-|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
+|[[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]] and [[Mike Liut]]
-|[[Mike Eruzione|'''Mike Eruzione''']]
-|-
+|}
-|Calgary-Minnesota
+USA's national coverage of the [[1982 Stanley Cup Finals]] was [[Blackout (broadcasting)|blacked out]] in the New York area due to the local rights to Islanders games in that TV market, with [[MSG Plus|SportsChannel New York]] airing Games 1 and 2, and [[WWOR-TV|WOR]] televising Games 3 and 4. This occurrence continued on through the Islanders next three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearances. This practice was reversed in [[1983 Stanley Cup Finals|1983]], with WOR televising Games 1 and 2, and SportsChannel New York airing Games 3 and 4. The [[1984 Stanley Cup Finals|next year]], SportsChannel New York returned to airing the first two games, while WOR aired the next three games. For USA's [[1985 Stanley Cup Finals|final year]] of broadcasting the Stanley Cup Finals, Philadelphia's [[PRISM (TV network)|PRISM]] aired Games 1 and 2 while [[WTXF]] aired Games 3, 4, and 5.
-|Games 3–4, 6
-|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
+==References==
-|[[Mike Eruzione|'''Mike Eruzione''']]
+{{reflist|30em}}
-|-
-| rowspan="8" |1982
+==External links==
-| rowspan="2" |Divisional semifinals
+*{{official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20160721000533/http://www.usanetwork.com/stanleycupplayoff/cast}}
-|New York Islanders-Pittsburgh
-|Games 3, 5
+{{Navboxes|list1=
-|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
+{{s-start}}
-|[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''Gary Green''']]
+{{succession box|before=None| title=NHL pay television carrier in the United States| years=[[1979–80 NHL season|1979]] – [[1984–85 NHL season|1985]]| after=[[NHL on ESPN|ESPN]]}}
-|-
+{{s-end}}
-|Minnesota-Chicago
+{{National Hockey League on national television}}
-|Game 1
+{{NHL on USA}}
-|'''Al Albert'''
+{{NHL on NBC}}
-|'''Rod Gilbert'''
+{{USANetwork Shows}}
-|-
+}}
-| rowspan="4" |Divisional finals
-|New York Islanders-New York Rangers
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Nhl On Usa, The}}
-|Games 2, 6
+[[Category:USA Network original programming]]
-|'''Dick Carlson'''
+[[Category:1979 American television series debuts]]
-|[[Mike Eruzione|'''Mike Eruzione''']]
+[[Category:1985 American television series endings]]
-|-
+[[Category:2015 American television series debuts]]
-|Boston-Quebec
+[[Category:1970s American television series]]
-|Games 5, 7
+[[Category:1980s American television series]]
-|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
+[[Category:2010s American television series]]
-|[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''Gary Green''']]
+[[Category:2020s American television series]]
-|-
+[[Category:National Hockey League on television|USA]]
-|Boston-Chicago
+[[Category:American television series revived after cancellation]]
-|Game 4
+[[Category:USA Network Sports]]
-|'''Dick Carlson'''
-|[[Mike Eruzione|'''Mike Eruzione''']]
-|-
-|Vancouver-Los Angeles
-|Game 3
-|'''Dick Carlson'''
-|[[Mike Eruzione|'''Mike Eruzione''']]
-|-
-| rowspan="2" |Conference finals
-|New York Islanders-Quebec
-|Games 2, 4
-|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
-|[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''Gary Green''']]
-|-
-|Chicago-Vancouver
-|Games 1, 5
-|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
-|[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''Gary Green''']]
-|-
-| rowspan="9" |1983
-| rowspan="3" |Divisional semifinals
-|Philadelphia-New York Rangers
-|Game 3
-|'''Al Albert'''
-|'''Rod Gilbert'''
-|-
-|New York Islanders-Washington
-|Games 1, 4
-|'''Al Albert'''
-|'''Rod Gilbert'''
-|-
-|Boston-Quebec
-|Game 1
-|'''Al Albert'''
-|'''Rod Gilbert'''
-|-
-| rowspan="4" |Divisional finals
-|New York Islanders-New York Rangers
-|Games 2, 4, 6
-|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
-|[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''Gary Green''']]
-|-
-|Boston-Buffalo
-|Games 5, 7
-|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
-|[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''Gary Green''']]
-|-
-|Chicago-Minnesota
-|Game 3
-|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
-|[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''Gary Green''']]
-|-
-|Edmonton-Calgary
-|Game 1 (taped delayed)
-|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
-|[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''Gary Green''']]
-|-
-| rowspan="2" |Conference finals
-|New York Islanders-Boston
-|Games 1–3, 5–6
-|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
-|[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''Gary Green''']]
-|-
-|Edmonton-Chicago
-|Games 1, 3–4
-|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
-|[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''Gary Green''']]
-|-
-| rowspan="8" |1984
-|Conference semifinals
-|Buffalo-Quebec
-|Game 2
-|'''Al Albert'''
-|'''Rod Gilbert'''
-|-
-| rowspan="2" |Conference semifinals
-|New York Islanders-New York Rangers
-|Games 1, 4–5
-|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
-|[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''Gary Green''']]
-|-
-|Washington-Philadelphia
-|Game 3
-|'''Al Albert'''
-|'''Rod Gilbert'''
-|-
-| rowspan="3" |Divisional finals
-|Quebec-Montreal
-|Games 4, 6<sup>[29]</sup>
-|'''Al Albert'''
-|'''Rod Gilbert'''
-|-
-|New York Islanders-Washington
-|Games 2 (taped delay), 3, 5
-|'''Al Albert'''
-|'''Rod Gilbert'''
-|-
-|Minnesota-St. Louis
-|Games 1 (taped delay), 7
-|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
-|[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''Gary Green''']]
-|-
-| rowspan="2" |Conference finals
-|Montreal-New York Islanders
-|Games 2-3, 5-6
-|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
-|[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''Gary Green''']]
-|-
-|Edmonton-Minnesota
-|Games 1, 4
-|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
-|[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''Gary Green''']]
-|-
-| rowspan="8" |1985
-| rowspan="2" |Divisional semifinals
-|Washington-New York Islanders
-|Games 3–5
-|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
-|[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''Gary Green''']]
-|-
-|St. Louis-Minnesota
-|Game 1
-|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
-|[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''Gary Green''']]
-|-
-| rowspan="4" |Divisional finals
-|Philadelphia-New York Islanders
-|Game 3
-|'''Al Albert'''
-|'''Rod Gilbert'''
-|-
-|Montreal-Quebec
-|Games 2, 5–7
-|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
-|[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''Gary Green''']]
-|-
-|Chicago-Minnesota
-|Games 1, 4–5
-|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
-|[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''Gary Green''']]
-|-
-|Oilers-Winnipeg
-|Game 2
-|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
-|[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''Gary Green''']]
-|-
-| rowspan="2" |Conference finals
-|Quebec-Philadelphia
-|Games 1–2, 5
-|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
-|[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''Gary Green''']]
-|-
-|Edmonton-Chicago
-|Games 1, 3–4, 6
-|'''Al Albert'''
-|'''Rod Gilbert'''
-|}<nowiki/>[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''''<nowiki/>''''']][[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''<nowiki/>''']][[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''<nowiki/>''']][[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''<nowiki/>''']][[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''<nowiki/>''']][[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''<nowiki/>''']][[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''<nowiki/>''']][[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''<nowiki/>''']][[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''<nowiki/>''']]''[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''<nowiki/>''']]''[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''<nowiki/>''']][[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''<nowiki/>''']][[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''<nowiki/>''']]''[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''<nowiki/>''']]''[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''<nowiki/>''']][[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''<nowiki/>''']][[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''<nowiki/>''']]'''[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''''<nowiki/>''''']]<nowiki/>[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''''<nowiki/>''''']]<nowiki/>[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''''<nowiki/>''''']]<nowiki/>[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''''<nowiki/>''''']]<nowiki/>'''<nowiki/>[[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''<nowiki/>''']][[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''<nowiki/>''']][[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''<nowiki/>''']][[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''<nowiki/>''']][[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''<nowiki/>''']][[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''<nowiki/>''']][[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''<nowiki/>''']][[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''<nowiki/>''']][[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''<nowiki/>''']][[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''<nowiki/>''']][[Gary Green (hockey coach)|'''<nowiki/>''']]<nowiki/>[[Category:Television]]

NHL on USA
USANetworkMondayNightNHL.png The logo for USA Network's regular season telecasts on Monday nights in 1983.
Genre	Sports
Created by	USA Network Sports
Directed by	Henry Irizawa
Starring	See list of commentators section
Country of origin	United States
Language(s)	English
No. of seasons	6
Production
Executive producer(s)	Jim Zrake
Producer(s)	Mark D. Stulberger Tim Rappleye (associate producer)
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	180 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	USA Network
Picture format	Template:Plainlist
Original run	Template:Start date – Template:End date
Chronology
Followed by	NHL on NBC (Select first two rounds of Stanley Cup)
Related shows	NHL on NBC NHL on Versus
External links
NHL website