NHL TV Schedule 2012-13: 15 Can't-Miss Games for the 2013 Season

The NHL released its national television schedule for the 2012-13 season on Thursday, which of course, is subject to change because there is a possibility of a lockout on September 15.

It would be really unfortunate if part or all of the season was lost because NBC, CBC, TSN and all the other networks have some great things planned for hockey fans this season.

Let's look at the 15 best national TV games on the 2012-13 national TV schedule and hope that we get to see them all.

October 12: Rangers vs. Kings

Kings fans will hope that a potential lockout won't cause their Stanley Cup banner raising ceremony to be postponed.

Los Angeles is scheduled to raise its banner against the New York Rangers on the second night of the regular season.

The pre-game festivities will make the game worth watching (except if you're a Devils fan, maybe), but the action between the Rangers and Kings should be just as exciting. This is a matchup of the two best goaltenders in the NHL.

Time (ET): 10:30 p.m.

TV: NBCSN, TSN2

October 18: Flyers vs. Penguins

After an great end to the regular season and a thrilling six-game first-round playoff series last year, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers will meet for the first time in the 2012-13 season on October 18.

Hopefully, a lockout doesn't impact the regular season, because all six games between the Flyers and Penguins are important to the league because they are so exciting and help draw casual fans to the sport.

Time (ET): 7:00 p.m.

TV: NHLN

November 1: Bruins vs. Leafs

This is a special year for Hockey Night in Canada:

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CBC's Hockey Night in Canada returns for is 60th season, marking a new milestone for one of the longest running and most iconic programs in Canadian television history. The 60th anniversary season is highlighted by 101 regular-season games, including a special Thursday, Nov. 1, match-up between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs, just as it did in 1952 when Hockey Night in Canada first took to the TV airwaves.

"

The Bruins and Leafs always give fans exciting hockey to watch, but the rivalry has been one-sided recently, with Boston winning all six meetings last season.

Not only will this matchup have a historic feel to it, Dougie Hamilton could play his first ever game as a Bruins player in Toronto after becoming the second major player Boston received as part of the infamous Phil Kessel trade with the Leafs.

Time (ET): 7:00 p.m.

TV: CBC, NHL Network

November 23: Boston Bruins vs. New York Rangers

The Bruins and Rangers will begin the "NHL on NBC" schedule at TD Garden in Boston.

The Bruins will try to protect their home ice a bit better this season because the Rangers won both games in Boston last year by a combined score of 6-2.

Time (ET): 1:00 p.m.

TV: NBC

December 29: Bruins at Canucks

One matchup hockey fans everywhere will hope doesn't get cancelled because of a possible lockout is the battle between the Boston Bruins versus the Vancouver Canucks.

Expect these two rivals to engage in plenty of fights and scrums. We should also expect lots of scoring. This could be Hockey Night in Canada's best game of the season.

Time (ET): 10:00 p.m.

TV: CBC

January 1: Winter Classic,Red Wings vs. Leafs

The 2013 Winter Classic is set for New Year's Day and will likely dominate an action-packed sports calendar once again.

The game has become a huge part of the NHL's brand, and this year's matchup features a Canadian team for the first time ever.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings will battle at Michigan Stadium, which is no stranger to outside hockey games.

The Winter Classic is guaranteed to be a phenomenal game, and with two historic franchises competing, it should be an afternoon to remember in Ann Arbor.

TV: NBC, CBC

February 9: Hockey Day in Canada

Hockey Day in Canada will be broadcast on CBC on February 9, 2013.

There are some great matchups, and the two that stand out to me are the Oilers versus Flyers and Leafs versus Canadians battles.

The young Oilers and the Flyers could be an exciting, high-scoring game, while the Leafs/Canadiens games are always fun to watch.

Here is the complete schedule with the times in parenthesis:

• Edmonton Oilers vs. Philadelphia Flyers (2:00 p.m. ET)
• Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens (7:00 p.m. ET)
• Calgary Flames vs. Ottawa Senators (7:00 p.m. ET)
• Vancouver Canucks vs. Winnipeg Jets (10:00 p.m. ET)

February 17: Hockey Day in America

Hockey Day in America will feature three amazing matchups between six of the best teams in the league. Depending on where you live, at 12:30 p.m., ET fans will see either the Pittsburgh Penguins versus the Buffalo Sabres or the Minnesota Wild versus the Detroit Red Wings.

The whole nation will see the Boston Bruins travel to the United Center to take on the Chicago Blackhawks. Last year's meeting in Chicago ended with a Boston victory after Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas stopped Blackhawks stars Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp in a shootout.

All three games feature some of the best American players, such as Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, Jimmy Howard, Brooks Orpik, Patrick Kane and others.

Time (ET): 12:30 and 3:30 p.m.

TV: NBC

March 3: Blackhawks at Red Wings

This late-season battle between the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings could be important since the Central Division figures to be a tightly-contested race.

In six meetings last season between Chicago and Detroit, five games were decided by one goal (other in shootout), and three went into overtime. That's exciting stuff.

Note: The other possible matchup for NBC on March 3 is Pittsburgh vs. St. Louis.

Time (ET): 12:30 p.m.

TV: NBC

April 7: Capitals vs. Penguins

The Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins will face off in what promises to be an intense late-season battle that could affect playoff spots, seeding and division title races.

This matchup is full of star power and should be high-scoring as well. Hopefully, it becomes another chapter in the exciting rivalry between Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin.

Note: The other possible game for NBC on April 7 is Red Wings vs. Blues.

Time (ET): 12:30 p.m.

TV: NBC

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Nicholas Goss is an NHL lead blogger at Bleacher Report. He was also the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Final in Boston. Follow him on Twitter.