NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwire) -- 10/26/09 -- The National Hockey League's® strong business momentum from last season's record-setting year continued through the first 100 games of the 2009-10 NHL® regular season. Fans are experiencing the NHL across League platforms in impressive numbers, with the League on-pace to set records in a number of areas.

Among the highlights:

--  Through Oct. 21, attendance increased or remained even for 18 NHL
    teams compared to the same number of home games last season.

--  Teams with the largest gains in attendance included the Boston Bruins,
    Atlanta Thrashers, Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils, Florida Panthers
    and Columbus Blue Jackets.

--  VERSUS' NHL ratings through Oct. 19 were up 33% and viewership was up
    10% from the same point last season.

--  In Canada, all NHL national and local rightsholders are reporting
    significant viewership increases under the new viewership-measurement
    system.

--  For the week of Oct. 5-11, NHL games were four of the top six most-
    watched sports programs on English-language television in Canada.  CBC's
    "Hockey Night In Canada" early regional coverage Saturday, Oct. 10, was the
    most-watched sports program with over 1.68 million viewers.

--  For the week of Oct. 5-11, NHL programming comprised the top six most-
    watched sports programs on French-language television in Canada.

--  Television ratings for 19 of the 24 U.S. NHL teams through Oct. 18
    were up or even compared to last season.

--  The Anaheim Ducks, Florida Panthers and New Jersey Devils reported
    triple-digit percentage increases in local ratings through the first two
    weeks of the season.  One-third of the U.S. teams had a 50% increase or
    more.

--  Comcast SportsNet Chicago delivered its highest Blackhawks regular-
    season rating ever on Wednesday, Oct. 14, for the Blackhawks' home game
    against the Edmonton Oilers.

--  Unique Visitors to NHL.com for the 2009-10 NHL regular season through
    Oct. 17 rose 25% compared to the same number of regular-season game days in
    2008-09.

--  Through the first 17 days of October, monthly Unique Visitors to
    NHL.com were up 36% compared to the same number of days of October in 2008.

--  Video starts for NHL.com rose an incredible 139% during the first 17
    days of October compared to the same number of the days of October 2008.

--  The NHL has been successful in securing new corporate partnerships for
    the 2009-10 season, including deals with Compuware and Enterprise.

--  Sales for Shop.NHL.com are up 32% in FY '10 compared to the same point
    in FY '09.

--  Sales at the NHL Powered By Reebok store in New York City are up over
    11% in FY '10 compared to the same point in FY '09.

--  Orders for NHL GameCenter LIVE(TM) are up 50% this season compared to
    the same the same point last season.

--  Seven of the top 10 most-trafficked days all-time for NHL Mobile(TM),
    including the top three, have occurred during the 2009-10 season.

--  Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009, is now the all-time top traffic day for NHL
    Mobile.

--  The Pittsburgh Penguins this season launched an exclusive HD radio
    channel and are attracting record local radio audiences.  The Penguins are
    one of the first major professional sports teams to launch such a channel.
    

About The NHL

The National Hockey League, founded in 1917, is the second-oldest of the four major professional team sports leagues in North America. Today, the NHL consists of 30 Member Clubs, each reflecting the League's international makeup, with players from more than 20 countries represented on team rosters. According to a Simmons Market Research study, NHL fans are younger, more educated, more affluent, and access content through digital means more than any other sport. The NHL entertains more than 100 million fans each season in-arena and through its partners in national television (VERSUS, NBC, TSN, CBC, RDS, RIS, ESPN America, ASN and NHL Network) and radio (NHL Radio(TM), Sirius XM Radio and XM Canada). Through the NHL Foundation, the League's charitable arm, the NHL raises money and awareness for Hockey Fights Cancer(TM) and NHL Youth Development, and supports the charitable efforts of NHL players. For more information on the NHL, log on to NHL.com.

NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks and NHL Network, NHL GameCenter Live and NHL Mobile are trademarks of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. All Rights Reserved.