Devils, Panthers Game 7 gets coveted 8:30 p.m., split-network timeslot from NBC

The Florida Panthers vs. New Jersey Devils first-round playoff series hasn't exactly been given the spotlight by the NHL's U.S. television partners. Two of their six games have appeared on NBC Sports Network; the rest have appeared on NHL Network, while none have appeared on CNBC.

So rather than place Game 7 of their series on CNBC for Thursday night, allowing for the widest audience to see it, the game will begin on NHL Network and then be joined-in-progress by NBC Sports Network at the conclusion of the Rangers-Senators game.

The Rangers game begins at 7 p.m. ET. The Devils game begins at 8:30 p.m. ET.

In other words, a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs might not air on an NBC network if the Rangers game goes multiple overtimes.

The Panthers/Devils game will also be televised on MSG Plus in the New York City market; FS-Florida in the Miami market; and TSN and RDS in Canada. The Rangers/Senators game will be featured on MSG in the New York City market; and CBC and RDS in Canada.

On CNBC: "The Facebook Obsession", followed by "Big Mac: Inside the McDonald's Empire."

So bad news for a relatively neglected series (and players in that series, who are no doubt creatures of habit and now have their routines change before Game 7); really great news for hockey fans that get to watch two Game 7s staggered on the same night.