The 2012–13 NHL season was the
96th season of operation (95th season of play) of the
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
(NHL). The regular season began on January 19, 2013, and ended on April 28, 2013, with the
playoffs
The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...
to follow until June. The
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (N ...
defeated the
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...
in six games to win the Stanley Cup.
The season start was delayed from its original October 11, 2012, date due to a
lockout imposed by the NHL franchise owners after the expiration of the league's
collective bargaining agreement
A collective agreement, collective labour agreement (CLA) or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is a written contract negotiated through collective bargaining for employees by one or more trade unions with the management of a company (or with an ...
(CBA). After a new labour agreement was reached between the owners and the
National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA), training camps opened on January 13, 2013, and a 48-game season (reduced from 82 games) started on January 19. Similar to the
1994–95 season, the shortened regular season was limited to intra-conference competition.
League business
Entry draft
The
2012 NHL entry draft was held on June 22–23, 2012, at the
Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh.
Nail Yakupov was selected first overall by the
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
.
Lockout
On September 13, 2012, all 29 league ownership groups (with the
Phoenix Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes are an inactive professional ice hockey team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. They competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division (1996–1998, 2021–2024) and ...
collectively owned by the NHL) authorized commissioner
Gary Bettman to
lock out the
National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) upon the expiration of the
NHL collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on September 15. The action marked the fifth
labour dispute in twenty years for the league, following a
1992 strike, lockouts in
1994–95 and
2004–05, as well as a referees lockout in 1993; this is more than any of the other
during this period. In preparation for the lockout, NHL teams assigned all of their eligible players to their
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental league of the National Hockey League (NHL). The league comprises 32 teams, with 26 in the United States and 6 in Cana ...
farm clubs.
Although Bettman acknowledged the 2005–12 CBA was fair, he also stated that he was demanding concessions due to the
Great Recession
The Great Recession was a period of market decline in economies around the world that occurred from late 2007 to mid-2009. , even though the league experienced significant growth at that time. Sports media reported on July 14 on the NHL's first offer to the players. The offer reportedly included: a drop in players' share of "hockey-related revenues" from 57 per cent to 46 per cent; a requirement that players play ten years before becoming an unrestricted free agent (UFA); a limit on players' contracts to five years in length; elimination of salary arbitration; and an extension of entry-level contracts to five years from three.
The NHLPA made an attempt to strike down the lockout as illegal in Alberta and Quebec; the Quebec Labour Board ruled against the NHLPA on September 14.
The NHL season officially entered a
lockout after the expiration of the CBA on September 15, 2012, prior to the planned start of the pre-season. Locked-out players immediately began signing with the
Kontinental Hockey League (KHL),
Czech Extraliga (ELH), the
SM-liiga, and the
Elitserien (SEL), the last of which
largely resisted signing locked-out players.
The NHL canceled all regular-season games originally scheduled up to January 14, 2013, including the
2013 NHL Winter Classic. The
2013 NHL All-Star Game was also canceled.
On January 6, 2013, after a 16-hour negotiating session, the owners and players union reached a tentative agreement for a 10-year deal. NHL owners ratified the CBA on January 9, 2013,
followed three days later by the deal's ratification by NHLPA members,
and the signing of a
memorandum of understanding between the two parties, marking their official agreement on the labour pact.
The NHL announced a 48-game schedule, starting on January 19, 2013, and ending on April 28, 2013, consisting solely of intra-conference competition.
Proposed realignment
The relocation of the
Atlanta Thrashers from the American southeast to the Canadian prairies, where the franchise is now known as the
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The te ...
, in the summer of 2011 resulted in discussions within the league on how to realign the league's 30 teams. Following several months of speculation, the NHL's Board of Governors voted in favor of a radical realignment plan that would have reduced the six current divisions in two conferences into four conferences. The top four teams in each conference would then qualify for the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs, while for the regular season, each team would face its non-conference opponents twice: once each at home and on the road. Conference opponents would face each other five or six times each. The plan was designed to better balance each grouping of teams by time zone, as well as to cut the costs of travel western teams face.
However, on January 6, 2012, the league announced that the
National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) had rejected the proposed realignment, delaying any future changes until at least 2013–14. NHLPA officers expressed a desire to see a draft schedule for the realignment, which the league had not completed.
Salary cap
The NHL announced the revised salary cap on June 28, 2012. The salary cap figure is in effect until the end of the current
collective bargaining agreement
A collective agreement, collective labour agreement (CLA) or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is a written contract negotiated through collective bargaining for employees by one or more trade unions with the management of a company (or with an ...
(CBA) with the Player's Association. The salary cap for players' salaries rose $5.9 million (USD) to $70.2 million per franchise. The salary floor, the minimum which franchises must spend, rose to $54.2 million.
As part of the newly agreed upon CBA, the salary cap for teams will be $64.3 million per franchise, with a floor of $44 million.
[Wyshinski, Greg (January 6, 2013)]
NHL lockout deal details: League moves on salary cap, limits player contracts
''Yahoo! Sports''. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
Arenas
The
Florida Panthers' home arena, BankAtlantic Center, was renamed
BB&T Center in recognition of
BB&T's purchase of
BankAtlantic.
On October 24, 2012, the
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...
announced that the team had signed a 25-year lease with the
Barclays Center in
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...
, starting in
2015
2015 was designated by the United Nations as:
* International Year of Light
* International Year of Soil __TOC__
Events
January
* January 1 – Lithuania officially adopts the euro as its currency, replacing the litas, and becomes ...
after the team's current lease for the
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum expires. The arena, originally constructed as the home for the
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...
's
Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets are an American professional basketball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Brooklyn. The Nets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), ...
, was intended to be expanded to meet NHL standards.
Rule changes
With the ratification of the new collective bargaining agreement, several rule changes took effect this season.
*Officials no longer had to be certain that contact had been made with the hands (as opposed to the stick) in deciding whether or not to assess a
slashing minor.
*Making contact with the opponent's facemask will result in a minor penalty.
*Both players facing-off are prohibited from batting the puck with their hand in an attempt to win the face-off. Any attempt by either center to win the face-off by batting the puck with their hand shall result in a minor penalty. This penalty shall be announced as a "Minor Penalty for Delay of Game - Face-off Violation."
*Rule 67 has been changed to prevent players from getting a faceoff by putting their glove on the puck anywhere on the ice and not allowing play to continue. A minor penalty will be assessed for "closing his hand on the puck."
Uniforms
*To celebrate 20 years in Dallas, the Stars wore special patches this season.
*The Tampa Bay Lightning wore special patches to commemorate their 20th season in the NHL. Their alternate uniform was also modified to include the simplified logo they introduced in the 2011–12 season.
*The San Jose Sharks wore patches in memory of original owner
George Gund III, who died January 15, 2013. Gund was instrumental in bringing, removing and returning NHL hockey to the Bay Area.
*To celebrate 100 years of hockey on the west coast, the Canucks honored Vancouver's first professional hockey team, the
Vancouver Millionaires, who played in the
Pacific Coast Hockey Association and the
Western Canada Hockey League from 1912 to 1926 by wearing a patch of a re-colored Millionaires logo on their alternate home jerseys. The Canucks also wore throwback uniforms based on the 1915
Vancouver Millionaires in a game against the Detroit Red Wings.
*The Buffalo Sabres, Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers retired their third jerseys.
Regular season
Originally planned for October 11, 2012, the lockout delay pushed the start of the 2012–13 season to January 19, 2013, with 12 games for the opening night. Each team played 18 games within its division (four or five games for each team) and 30 games against teams in the other division (three games for each team); no interconference games were played during the regular season. The regular season was shortened from 82 games down to 48, canceling 41.5 percent of the full regular season.
Postponed Winter Classic and All-Star Game
Both this season's
Winter Classic and
All-Star Game
An all-star game is an exhibition game that showcases the best players (the "stars") of a sports league. The exhibition is between two teams organized solely for the event, usually representing the league's teams based on region or division, bu ...
were postponed due to the lockout. The Winter Classic was scheduled to feature the
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...
hosting the
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...
at
Michigan Stadium (
the largest stadium in North America) in
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. The 2020 United States census, 2020 census recorded its population to be 123,851, making it the List of municipalities in Michigan, fifth-most populous cit ...
, but it was
postponed to 2014.
The game was played instead on January 1, 2014, at Michigan Stadium.
[
] The All-Star Game was originally scheduled to take place January 27, 2013, at
Nationwide Arena in
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus (, ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Ohio, most populous city of the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 United States census, 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the List of United States ...
; the city would later be awarded the
2015 All-Star Game.
European Premiere games
In past seasons, selected NHL teams began their season with exhibition games and the first two regular season games in European cities. In March 2012, the NHL announced that it had decided not to start the season with games in Europe, because of the upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations and the surrounding uncertainty.
With the NHL not playing games in Europe, Russia's
Kontinental Hockey League (against which the NHL has played
several interleague competitions) was instead to come to the United States, with the NHL's blessing; the KHL was to feature two games between
Dynamo Moscow and
SKA Saint Petersburg at the
Barclays Center in
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...
on January 19 and 20, 2013. However no agreement between the KHL and the Barclays Center had been signed, and the KHL announced the two games would be held in Russia; due to the NHL lockout, the signing of a 25-year lease with the New York Islanders, and pleas from the teams' fans to keep the games in Russia.
Postponement
* The February 9 game between the
Tampa Bay Lightning and
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...
at
TD Garden was postponed due to inclement weather in Boston the day of the game.
Two games were affected by the
Boston Marathon bombing:
* The April 15 game between the
Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins at TD Garden was postponed due to the bombing earlier that day. The game was rescheduled to April 28, the day after the previous final day of the regular season.
* The April 19 game between the
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...
and Boston Bruins at TD Garden was postponed to April 20 due to the citywide lockdown as a result of the manhunt for the suspects of the bombing. As a result of the rescheduled Penguins-Bruins game, the game between the Penguins and
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...
that was originally scheduled for April 20 was moved to April 23.
Standings
Due to the lockout, each team played 48 games this season, all within their conference.
Attendance
Playoffs
Because of the lockout and delayed start of the shortened regular season, the playoffs did not begin until April 30. The last possible date of Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals was then scheduled for June 28.
In each round, teams competed in a best-of-seven series following a 2–2–1–1–1 format (scores in the bracket indicate the number of games won in each best-of-seven series). The team with
home ice advantage played at home for games one and two (and games five and seven, if necessary), and the other team played at home for games three and four (and game six, if necessary). The top eight teams in each conference made the playoffs, with the three division winners
seeded 1–3 based on regular season record, and the five remaining teams seeded 4–8.
The NHL used "re-seeding" instead of a fixed bracket playoff system. During the first three rounds, the highest remaining seed in each conference was matched against the lowest remaining seed, the second-highest remaining seed played the second-lowest remaining seed, and so forth. The higher-seeded team was awarded home ice advantage. The two conference winners then advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals, where home ice advantage was awarded to the team that had the better regular season record.
NHL awards
Awards were presented during the NHL Awards television specials on June 14–15, 2013. Finalists for voted awards are announced during the playoffs and winners are presented at the awards specials. Voting concluded immediately after the end of the regular season. The President's Trophy, the Prince of Wales Trophy and Campbell Bowls are not presented at the awards specials.
NHL Network U.S. and
NHL Network Canada aired the first part of the awards presentation on June 14, while
NBC Sports Network and
CBC aired the second part on June 15 preceding Game 2 of the
2013 Stanley Cup Finals.
All-Star teams
Note: Alexander Ovechkin was listed as a Left Wing but played the majority of his games at Right Wing. Some members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association voted for him at Left Wing while others voted for him at Right Wing and consequently, Ovechkin placed twice on the NHL All-Star team.
Player statistics
Scoring leaders
The following players lead the league in points following the conclusion of the regular season.
''GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = P
Plus–minus; PIM = Penalty minutes''
Leading goaltenders
The following goaltenders lead the league in
goals against average following the conclusion of the regular season while playing at least 1200 minutes.
''GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% =
Save percentage
Save percentage (often known by such symbols as SV%, SVS%, SVP, PCT) is a statistic in various Goal (sports), goal-scoring sports that track Save (goaltender), saves as a statistic.
In ice hockey and lacrosse and association football, it is a sta ...
; GAA =
Goals against average''
Coaching changes
Offseason
*
Anaheim Ducks: This was
Bruce Boudreau's first season as head coach, who replaced
Randy Carlyle on November 30, 2011.
*
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The ...
: The Flames decided not to renew
Brent Sutter's contract and hired
Bob Hartley instead.
*
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Con ...
: This was
Kirk Muller's first full season as head coach after replacing
Paul Maurice, who was fired on November 28, 2011.
*
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets (often simply referred to as the Jackets) are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. The Blue Jackets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern C ...
: This was
Todd Richards's first full season as head coach after replacing
Scott Arniel, who was fired on January 9, 2012.
*
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
: The Oilers decided not to renew
Tom Renney's contract and hired
Ralph Krueger instead.
*
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...
: This was
Darryl Sutter's first full season after becoming the team's head coach on December 20, 2011. On December 12, 2011,
Terry Murray was fired and
John Stevens served as interim until Sutter was hired.
*
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...
:
Michel Therrien started his second stint as the Canadiens head coach, after previously coaching the team from 2000 to 2003. The Habs fired
Jacques Martin on December 17, 2011, and assistant coach
Randy Cunneyworth served as interim head coach for the remainder of the 2011–12 season.
*
St. Louis Blues: This was
Ken Hitchcock's first season as head coach, who replaced
Davis Payne on November 6, 2011.
*
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...
: This was
Randy Carlyle's first full season as head coach after replacing
Ron Wilson, who was fired on March 2, 2012.
*
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...
: This was
Adam Oates's first season as head coach.
Bruce Boudreau was fired on November 28, 2011, and replaced by interim
Dale Hunter.
In-season
*
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...
:
Lindy Ruff was fired on February 20, 2013, and replaced by
Ron Rolston.
*
Tampa Bay Lightning:
Guy Boucher was fired on March 24, 2013, and replaced by
Jon Cooper.
Milestones
First games
The following is a list of notable players who played their first NHL game in 2013, listed with their first team:
Last games
The following is a list of players of note who played their last NHL game in 2012–13, listed with their team:
Major milestones reached
*On January 21, 2013,
Tampa Bay Lightning forward
Vincent Lecavalier participated in his 1,000th NHL game.
*On February 4, 2013,
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. The Avalanche compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Con ...
forward
Milan Hejduk participated in his 1,000th NHL game.
*On February 7, 2013,
St. Louis Blues defenceman
Wade Redden participated in his 1,000th NHL game.
*On February 22, 2013, the
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (N ...
set a record by earning at least one point in 17 consecutive games to start a season. The previous record of 16 consecutive games was held by the
2006–07 Anaheim Ducks. The Blackhawks went on to extend the record for consecutive games with a point to start a season to 24 games (21–0–3).
*On March 3, 2013,
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (N ...
forward
Marian Hossa participated in his 1,000th NHL game.
*On March 5, 2013,
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...
captain
Brian Gionta scored the team's 20,000th NHL goal.
*On March 6, 2013,
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (N ...
goaltender
Ray Emery becomes the first goaltender in league history to start a season with 10 straight wins. He extended it to 12 straight wins to start a season on March 26.
*On March 18, 2013,
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...
defenceman
Kimmo Timonen participated in his 1,000th NHL game.
*On March 28, 2013,
Phoenix Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes are an inactive professional ice hockey team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. They competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division (1996–1998, 2021–2024) and ...
forward
Steve Sullivan participated in his 1,000th NHL game.
*On March 29, 2013,
Dallas Stars forward
Jaromir Jagr recorded his 1,000th career assist, becoming the 12th player in league history and the first non-Canadian to do so.
*On March 30, 2013, the
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...
set a record by becoming the first NHL franchise to win every game during a calendar month. The Penguins defeated the
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...
2–0, winning 15 consecutive games from March 2 until March 30.
*On April 22, 2013,
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...
goaltender
Tomas Vokoun won his 300th NHL game. He became the 28th player in league history to reach this milestone.
Broadcasting rights
This was the fifth season of the league's Canadian national broadcast rights deals with
CBC and
TSN. During the regular season, CBC continued to air Saturday night ''Hockey Night in Canada'' games while TSN aired games on Wednesdays and other selected weeknights. CBC and TSN then split the first three rounds of the playoffs, selecting the rights to individual series using a draft-like setup. The Stanley Cup Finals aired exclusively on CBC.
This was the second season under the NHL's ten-year U.S. rights deal with
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is an American programming division for NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, that is responsible for sports broadcasts on their broadcast network NBC, the Cable television, cable channels NBC owns, and on Peacock (streaming service) ...
, with regular season games on the
NBC broadcast network and
NBCSN. Playoff games then aired across NBC, NBCSN, and
CNBC
CNBC is an American List of business news channels, business news channel owned by the NBCUniversal News Group, a unit of Comcast's NBCUniversal. The network broadcasts live business news and analysis programming during the morning, Day ...
.
Notes
1:
Michael Cammalleri had previously scored the 20,000th goal in Canadiens' franchise history on December 28, 2009. Cammalleri's mark included goals from the Canadiens time in the
National Hockey Association
The National Hockey Association (NHA), initially the National Hockey Association of Canada Limited, was a professional ice hockey organization with teams in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. It is the direct predecessor of today's National Hockey Leagu ...
.
References
External links
2012–13 NHL season Schedule
{{DEFAULTSORT:2012-13 NHL Season
1
1