Nationally, Kings appear to be a bit more appealing ... not so much for the Ducks

The 2010-11 NHL national TV schedule schedule came out today, with the Kings receiving much more favorable attention than in seasons past.

The team from the league's second-biggest TV market has two appearances on NBC and five more on Versus. The schedule for local cable channel Fox Sports West will come out later.

As it stands now:

Sept. 25 at Minnesota: Versus, 5 p.m.
Dec. 13 at Detroit: Versus, 5 p.m.
January 3 at Chicago: Versus, 6 p.m.
January 17 at Dallas: Versus, 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 13 at Philadelphia: 4 p.m., NBC
March 13 at Dallas: Noon, NBC
April 4 at San Jose, Versus, 7 p.m.

On Canada's CBC, TSN2, RDS he NHL Network, the Kings will appear Oct. 9 at Calgary, Nov. 12 vs. Atlanta, Oct. 25 at Minnesota, Nov. 11 vs. Dallas, Nov. 15 at San Jose, Nov. 24 at Montreal, Dec. 2 vs. Florida, Dec. 13 at Detroit, Jan. 15 vs. Edmonton, Jan. 17 at Dallas, Feb. 2 at Calgary, Feb. 28 vs. Detroit andch 29 at Edmonton.

Versus will carry 78 games this season (13 more than 2009-10) in year six of its contract with the NHL, starting with nine games in the first seven days. It starts with a triple-header on Thursday, Oct. 7 -- Carolina-Minnesota from Finland at 9 a.m., Philadelphia-Pittsburgh at 4 p.m. and Colorado-Chicago at 7 p.m. Versus will also do the NHL Hertiage Classic between Montreal and Calgary from McMahon Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 3 p.m. -- the first outdoor hockey game in Canada since 2003.

Mike "Doc" Emrick will return as the lead play-by-play man.

Defending-champion Chicago, Detroit, Washington, Boston, Pittsburgh and the N.Y. Rangers made the most appearances on Versus -- 11. Buffalo, Minnesota and Philadelphia are on nine times.

The Anaheim Ducks are on just once -- Dec. 20 (at Boston, 4:30 p.m.).