By Chip Alexander

The NHL on Thursday released the national television schedule for the 2012-2013 season, and the Carolina Hurricanes are on it – barely.

The Canes’ Nov. 21 game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at PNC Arena will be televised on the NBC Sports Network at 7:30 p.m.

That’s it. It will be one and done for the Canes this season – provided there is a season. There are no scheduled NBC appearances for the Hurricanes.

Being overlooked by the league’s national broadcast partner is nothing new for Carolina. A year ago, the Canes had four appearances on NBCSN, as the network was renamed – from Versus – on Jan. 2.

The Florida Panthers, the defending Southeast Division winners, will be shown three times on NBCSN this season. The Washington Capitals will be shown 11 times on NBCSN and have four scheduled NBC games.

The Hurricanes are scheduled to open the season Oct. 13 at Winnipeg against the Jets – if, that is, the season begins on time and there is no NHL work stoppage.

The NHL and the NHL Players Association continue to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. The NHLPA spent Thursday analyzing a counterproposal from the NHL and other information provided by the league, and is expected to offer a response Friday when the two sides again meet in New York.

The CBA expires Sept. 15, and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has said there would be a lockout of the players if a new agreement is not in place.