LEAFS MAKE SPORTSNET ONTARIO DEBUT ON BROADWAY THIS FRIDAY

Leafs also on Sportsnet on Oct. 26 to play the Panthers, all games in high definition

TORONTO (October 14, 2010) – Rogers Sportsnet opens their 2010-2011 Toronto Maple Leafs season with the New York Rangers at Madison Square Gardens on Friday, October 15 at 6:30 p.m. (ET) on Sportsnet Ontario.

Hockeycentral analysts featuring former Stanley Cup winner Nick Kypreos and former Leafs executive Bill Watters with host Daren Millard will preview the match-up and provide analysis throughout the broadcast, including the intermissions and immediately following the game.

Joe Bowen has the play-by-play call while former NHL goaltender Greg Millen handles the analysis. Paul Hendrick rounds-out the broadcast crew as the in-game reporter for Molson Canadian Leafs Hockey on Sportsnet Ontario.

Molson Canadian Leafs Hockey broadcast schedule on Sportsnet Ontario in October includes the Buds hosting the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, October 26 at 6:30 p.m. (ET).

Toronto will look to start the season 4-0 when they face the Rangers on Friday. Leafs have not started a season with four straight wins since the 1993-1994 campaign when they set an NHL record with 10 straight wins to start a season. Leafs forward Clarke MacArthur is currently tied for the league lead in goals with Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals and Derek Roy of the Buffalo Sabres with four tallies.

New York will play their home opener against Toronto. Rangers rookie Derek Stepan made his NHL debut last week a memorable one, scoring a hat trick. Stepan, a second-round draft pick at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, became the first player to record a hat trick in his first NHL game since Dallas Stars forward Fabian Brunnstrom on October 15, 2008.

For all the scores, highlights, breaking news and inside stories from the Toronto Maple Leafs and the entire NHL tune in to Hockeycentral Tonight, Sportsnet Connected and log on to sportsnet.ca. “Your home team. First.”

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