Washington Capitals: Breaking down their 12 nationally televised games

Washington Capitals fans throughout the country will be able to gather to their TVs at least 12 times in the 2019-20 regular season.

On Tuesday, NBC released their nationally televised broadcast schedule with games airing on both NBC and the NBC Sports Network. The Washington Capitals will be featured on NBC 12 times beginning on opening night in St. Louis on October 2nd at 8 p.m. when the Blues raise their Stanley Cup banner in a matchup between the last two champions.

In all, NBC will present 109 NHL games during the 2019-20 regular season including the return of “Wednesday Night Hockey” showcasing the stars across the league. Games can once again be viewed across TV as well as web and mobile streaming via the NBC Sports app.

Seven of the 12 Capitals nationally televised games will be Metropolitan Division rivalry matchups. Only the St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators are the Western Conference opponents that will be featured against the Capitals nationally while fans will also get to see the Capitals renew their rivalry with the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Bruins.

Here are the 12 games where the hockey world will be fixated upon Washington.

Wed. Oct. 2 at St. Louis Blues 8 p.m. NBC Sports Network

ST. LOUIS, MO. – JANUARY 03: St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko (55) reaches in to get the puck from Washington Capitals defenseman Dimitry Orlov (9) during an NHL game between the Washington Capitals and the St. Louis Blues on January 03, 2019, at Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The first game of the NHL season will feature the last two Stanley Cup champions with the Blues raising their championship banner. The Blues turned their season around after beginning the turn of the new year in dead last in the NHL. That turnaround began with two huge wins over the Capitals. The first was a 5-3 win on January 3 before a dominating 4-1 win in D.C. 11 days later. The Capitals look to get the 2019-20 season off on the right foot and no better stage than in front of the hockey world against the team that’s next you on the Stanley Cup.

Wed. Nov. 13 at Philadelphia Flyers 7:30 p.m. NBCSN

washington capitals — PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 06: Washington Capitals Right Wing Tom Wilson (43) and Philadelphia Flyers Defenceman Andrew MacDonald (47) scuffle during the game between the Washington Capitals and the Philadelphia Flyers on March 6, 2019 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA.(Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

After a grueling first month of the season, the Capitals will head up to Philadelphia to take on the new-look Flyers. It’ll be the first matchup of Radko Gudas and Matt Niskanen on opposite sides as well as Gudas’ return to Philadelphia. The Capitals swept the season series last year, winning all four games, but the Flyers are determined to take that next step in their rebuild.

Wed. Nov. 20 at New York Rangers 8 p.m. NBCSN

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 03: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals argues for an automatic goal after Alexandar Georgiev #40 of the New York Rangers let go of his goaltender’s stick during the shoot-out at Madison Square Garden on March 03, 2019 in New York City. The Capitals were awarded a goal on the play and defeated the Rangers 3-2.(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Another Metropolitan Division foe awaits the Capitals a week later as they head to the Garden to take on Artemi Panarin and the Rangers. After an 87-point (28 goals, 59 assists) season in his final year with the Blue Jackets, how will Panarin fare under the bright Manhattan lights. The Capitals swept the season series last year in four games but this rivalry should once again be competitive among both sides now that the Rangers are finishing up their rebuild.

Wed. Dec. 11 vs. Boston Bruins 7 p.m. NBCSN

The Capitals will host the defending Eastern Conference champions just two weeks before Christmas. One early present Capitals fans won’t quite welcome is the presence of Brad Marchand, who’s had quite the history with the Capitals and just plain being a pest toward other opponents. The Capitals had a 14-game winning streak against the Bruins before they snapped it on Super Bowl Sunday in a 1-0 shutout behind a 24-save effort from Tuukka Rask. The Capitals won two of the three meetings last season.

Wed. Jan. 8 at Philadelphia Flyers 7:30 p.m. NBCSN

The second and final meeting in Philadelphia between the Capitals and Flyers will come right after the turn of the new year. It’ll be interesting to see where the Capitals and Flyers each stand after the holidays.

Wed. Jan. 29 vs. Nashville Predators 7:30 p.m. NBCSN

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – JUNE 21: (L-R) Connor Mcmichael, twenty-fifth overall by the Washington Capitals and Philip Tomasino, twenty-fourth overall by the Nashville Predators talk during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)

The Capitals and Predators meet for the second and final time in Washington. Both teams met in Nashville for the fifth game of the season. This game is the second contest following the all star break. The Capitals dropped both contests against the Predators and haven’t defeated them since 2016.

Sun. Feb. 2 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins 12:30 p.m. NBC

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 7: Washington Capitals right wing T.J. Oshie (77) celebrates with defenseman Dmitry Orlov (9) after scoring the game winning goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during third period action at Capital One Arena. (Photo by Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Where the Capitals and Penguins stand at this point of the season will be something to keep an eye on. Super Bowl Sunday is the first meeting between the storied rivals. The Capitals were 1-2-1 against Pittsburgh last season.

Sun. Feb. 23 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins 12 p.m. NBC

Three of the Capitals four games against the Penguins will be nationally televised. All four meetings will also fall on weekend matinees. The Capitals lone win against the Penguins last season featured a power play goal from Alex Ovechkin and a game-winning goal from T.J. Oshie with just over a minute left.

Wed. March 4 vs. Philadelphia Flyers 7 p.m. NBCSN

The final contest between the Capitals and Flyers comes in early March in the homestretch of the regular season. Where will both teams be and what positions in the standings could they be fighting for?

Sun. March 22 at Pittsburgh Penguins 12 p.m. NBC

PITTSBURGH, PA – MAY 7: Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) congratulates Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) after the Capitals won game six in overtime to advance. (Photo by Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

The fourth and final meeting between the Capitals and Penguins always creates fireworks. It could be the final meeting before a potential playoff matchup. Plus Alex Ovechkin could be approaching his 700th career goal around this time.

Tue. March 24 vs. St. Louis Blues 7 p.m. NBCSN

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 14: Pheonix Copley #1 of the Washington Capitals makes a save in the second period against the St. Louis Blues at Capital One Arena on January 14, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Capitals national broadcast schedule rounds out with a home game against the defending champs. The St. Louis Blues will be fighting in a competitive central division and depending on where each team is in the standings, this late-season interconference matchup between Ovechkin and Vladimir Tarasenko will surely be a fun game to watch.

Those are the 12 games the Capitals will get the widest exposure to the hockey world. With the NBC schedule now out, it’s another sign that the season is getting closer!