Fresh o­n the heels of the network's unprecedented 17-game pre-season broadcast package, NHL Network today announced it will broadcast 26 live NHL regular season games during the 2005/06 season, marking the most extensive NHL regular season package in the network's four-year history. NHL Network will be the o­nly Canadian network airing these games.

NHL Network's first game is sure to make headlines as rookie head coach Wayne Gretzky leads the Phoenix Coyotes against 'The Great o­ne's' former team, the Los Angeles Kings, o­n Thursday, Oct. 6 at 10:30 p.m. ET.

NHL Network's NHL regular season broadcast package offers a variety of exciting match-ups, including Canadian phenom Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins taking o­n the reigning Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning, three games featuring 2004 top draft pick Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals, and four games with the Phoenix Coyotes, led by Gretzky.

NHL Network's NHL regular season broadcast schedule features six games in October to coincide with the network's month-long digital freeview. The freeview is available to all digital cable and satellite subscribers, showcasing the network's around-the-clock hockey programming.

NHL Network's NHL regular season broadcast schedule also includes:

* six matinee match-ups, including Thanksgiving Monday (Oct. 10),

Remembrance Day (Nov. 11) and Grey Cup Sunday (Nov. 27)

* 17 Sunday games, including two doubleheaders

* back-to-back doubleheaders o­n January 8 and 9

* five games featuring the 2004 Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay

Lightning

* 12 match-ups featuring New York area teams (Devils, Islanders,Rangers)

* four games each featuring the Anaheim Mighty Ducks led by new GM

Brian Burke and brothers Rob and Scott Niedermayer, and the Minnesota Wild guided by veterans Marian Gaborik and Alexandre Daigle

NHL Network's NHL regular season broadcast schedule is as follows:

October

* Thursday, Oct. 6 - Phoenix @ Los Angeles at 10:30 p.m. ET

* Sunday, Oct. 9 - Minnesota @ Los Angeles at 8 p.m. ET

* Monday, Oct. 10 - NY Rangers @ Washington at 1 p.m. ET

* Sunday, Oct. 16 - Tampa Bay @ Washington at 6 p.m. ET

* Sunday, Oct. 23 - Phoenix @ Anaheim at 4 p.m. ET

* Sunday, Oct. 23 - Minnesota @ Chicago at 7 p.m. ET November

* Sunday, Nov. 6 - Minnesota @ Anaheim at 8 p.m. ET

* Friday, Nov. 11 - New Jersey @ Washington at 1 p.m. ET

* Sunday, Nov. 20 - Boston @ NY Rangers at 7:30 p.m. ET

* Sunday, Nov. 27 - Pittsburgh @ Tampa Bay at 5 p.m. ET

December

* Sunday, Dec. 4 - NY Islanders @ Detroit at 5 p.m. ET

* Friday Dec. 9 - Colorado @ New Jersey at 7:30 p.m. ET

* Sunday, Dec. 11 - Buffalo @ Minnesota at 7 p.m. ET

* Wednesday, Dec. 14 - Tampa @ Anaheim at 10:30 p.m. ET

* Sunday, Dec. 18 - Colorado @ NY Rangers at 5 p.m. ET

January

* Sunday, Jan. 8 - Dallas @ Detroit at 5 p.m. ET

* Sunday, Jan. 8 - Columbus @ Phoenix at 8 p.m. ET

* Monday, Jan. 9 - Philadelphia @ New Jersey at 7:30 p.m. ET

* Monday, Jan. 9 - Los Angeles @ Anaheim at 10:30 p.m. ET

* Sunday, Jan. 22 - New Jersey @ NY Rangers at 7 p.m. ET

* Friday, Jan. 27 - New Jersey @ Florida at 7:30 p.m. ET

March

* Sunday, March 19 - Phoenix @ Chicago at 3 p.m. ET

* Monday, March 27 - Tampa Bay @ Carolina at 7 p.m. ET

April

* Sunday, April 2 - Philadelphia @ NY Islanders at 1 p.m. ET

* Sunday, April 9 - Tampa Bay @ Florida at 5 p.m. ET

* Sunday, April 16 - Philadelphia @ New Jersey at 1 p.m. ET

Schedule subject to change

NHL Network has around-the-clock hockey programming, offering viewers the most complete and in-depth hockey coverage including news, information and extended highlights from the National Hockey League. The network's signature show, NHL o­n The Fly, features live look-ins to every NHL game, every night, all across the League. NHL o­n The Fly also includes interviews, highlights, features, pre- and post-game reports, team press conferences and expert analysis from a variety of hockey veterans.