The NHL is back on NBC.

A dozen years since the network last aired an National Hockey League game, NBC is currently airing three games Saturday.

Most of the nation will see league scoring leader Jaromir Jagr and the New York Rangers play at Western Conference leader Detroit. Others will can view Peter Forsberg's first game for host Philadelphia against his former team Colorado, which is led by Joe Sakic. Mike Modano and the Dallas Stars are at the Boston Bruins in the other game on NBC's schedule.

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Coverage will start with ‘The Rink at 30 Rock.’ Former NHL All-Stars Bill Clement and Ray Ferraro lead the studio team, which will originate from ice level at ‘The Rink at 30 Rock,’ allowing the studio team to use the ice for demonstration purposes.

Future Hall of Famer Mark Messier, whose jersey was retired by the New York Rangers on Thursday, is the first of several guests expected to visit the studio during the season.

Among the features NBC is using to bring fans closer to the action are microphones on players, ‘Goalie Cam,’ a small camera imbedded in the goalie's mask, and ‘Inside the Glass,’ reporters consisting of ex-players and coaches who will update viewers with the latest information from between the teams' benches as opposed to the normal corner runway position.

Mike Emrick (play-by-play), John Davidson (analyst) and Pierre McGuire (reporter) will provide commentary on the Rangers-Red Wings game, which can be seen in high-definition TV.

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"'Doc' and J.D. are the best broadcast team in hockey and have the unique ability to enhance the viewing experience for both the hardcore fan as well as the casual fan," NBC Sports President Ken Schanzer said. "They, along with Bill Clement and Ray Ferraro in the studio, and our top-notch regional broadcast teams, will offer viewers unparalleled commentary and analysis of the new and improved NHL."

The other NHL on NBC broadcast teams are: play-by-play commentator Dave Strader, who will work with analyst Brian Hayward and reporter Joe Micheletti for the Colorado-Philadelphia game; Chris Cuthbert (play-by-play), Peter McNab (analyst) and Cammi Granato (reporter) will be at the Dallas-Boston game.

NBC will present five additional weeks of regular-season action: Jan. 21, Jan. 28, Feb. 4, April 8 and April 15. The network and its cable outlets will have extensive coverage of Olympic hockey featuring NHL players during next month's Turin Games.

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Schedule highlights for the NHL games include rookie star Sidney Crosby and Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins hosting the Flyers on Jan. 21 and the Red Wings visiting the rival Avalanche on Jan. 28. The Avalanche, Stars, Red Wings, Flyers and Rangers have the most appearances on NBC's NHL schedule with four each. The Penguins and Bruins both appear on the network three times during the season. The St. Louis Blues and the Los Angeles Kings each are on twice and the Anaheim Might Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, Minnesota Wild, New York Islanders, San Jose Sharks and defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning each appear once.

NBC will also provide playoff coverage leading up to Games 3-7 of the Stanley Cup finals in prime time.

Minnesota at Chicago on April 6, 1975 was the last regular-season game on NBC, which until then made Peter Puck, a cartoon that explained the game between periods, a part of NHL lore.

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