NBC News and NBC Sports "have produced a series of 10 educational segments called, 'Science of NHL Hockey,' that will debut during NBC Sports Network’s coverage of the All-Star festivities this weekend," according to Christopher Botta of the N.Y. TIMES. The videos, which feature Islanders LW Matt Moulson, Predators G Pekka Rinne, Stars LW Brenden Morrow, Avalanche D Erik Johnson and Blues G Jaroslav Halak, "were made as a learning tool for teachers and students to use in the classroom." Created in conjunction with NBC Learn, the NHL and the National Science Foundation, the segments, which "will be aligned to lesson plans and national and state education standards, are available to the public free of cost." NBC Sports and NBCSN Exec Producer Sam Flood during the broadcast of the All-Star Skills Competition on NBCSN Saturday "plans to show the segment on the science of the slap shot" before the players take part in the Hardest Shot event. Other videos "focus on passing the puck, making a save and stopping abruptly on the ice and analyze the science behind reflexes, reaction time and linear motion." The video featuring Moulson focuses on "Kinematics and the science of positioning, velocity and acceleration." The videos also include "game footage provided by the NHL." The lesson plans accompanying the videos "will be provided by the National Science Teachers Association." The segments "will be available on NBCLearn.com, NBCSports.com, Science360.com and NHL.com and will be broadcast on NHL Network and on arena scoreboards throughout the league" (NYTIMES.com, 1/25).
