FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 1st, 2013

NOTES AND QUOTES – “NHL LIVE” AND CAPITALS VS. BLACKHAWKS ON NBCSN

“The ceremony was strong. The Capitals were gallant. The Blackhawks won the game.” – Doc Emrick after Chicago’s 6-4 win

“They want to be a dynasty, and I think they have the potential to do that.” – Keith Jones on Chicago Blackhawks

 “It’s always about Alex Ovechkin, and it will always be about Ovechkin until he can get this team deep into the playoffs and compete for a Stanley Cup title.” – Mike Milbury

“There is nothing like having Doc Emrick set the stage for a sporting event. You know hockey is officially back when Doc tells you it’s officially back.” – NHL Live host Liam McHugh

STAMFORD, Conn. – October 1, 2013 – NBC Sports Group began its coverage of the 2013-14 NHL regular season tonight with NHL Live on NBCSN from 6:30-8 p.m. ET, followed by Capitals-Blackhawks at 8 p.m. ET.

Liam McHugh, Mike Milbury and Keith Jones anchored NHL Live from Studio 2 at NBC Sports Group’s International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., from 6:30-8 p.m. ET.

Emmy Award-winner Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick (play-by-play), Eddie Olczyk (analyst) and Emmy Award-winner Pierre McGuire (Inside-the-Glass analyst) called the game from the United Center in Chicago, Ill.

Emrick, Olczyk and McGuire also provided commentary during NBCSN’s live coverage of the banner raising ceremony honoring the Chicago Blackhawks 2013 Stanley Cup title.

Following are highlights from NHL Live and NBCSN’s coverage of Capitals-Blackhawks.

NHL Live (6:30-8 p.m. ET)

Milbury on Blackhawks’ chances of repeating as Stanley Cup Champions: “They’re great. Joel Quennville is a terrific coach, and he’s got one of the best defenses in the National Hockey League…I think their defense is the best, most mobile, six-man unit in the National Hockey League.”

Jones on the Blackhawks: “They realize that they have bigger and better things that they want to accomplish. They want to be a dynasty, and they have the potential to do that…they have the right leadership core to make that happen.”

Milbury on Alex Ovechkin’s impact on Capitals: “It’s always about Alex Ovechkin, and it will always be about Ovechkin until he can get this team deep into the playoffs and compete for a Stanley Cup title.”

Jones on Ovechkin last season: “He really turned is game upside-down – he was outstanding. He led by example, he was a physical force…he really had that passion back for the game that might have been missing for a couple of weeks to start the season. I think he’s going to have even more this year, and that’s dangerous for the rest of the National Hockey League…I think he’s going on all cylinders, so watch out.”

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Jones on Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy rejoining Avalanche: “I’m excited that they’re back with the Avalanche. I had the great privilege to play with both players; outstanding leadership from Sakic who was the captain when I was there…(head coach) Patrick Roy will give his team a chance to win hockey games…an extremely hard working player and coach…he’s an outstanding guy when it comes to X’s and O’s.”

Milbury on Jones: “We have to temper what he says about Colorado because he has a serious man-crush on those two guys.”

Jones: “I do…I like them.”

McHugh: “I thought you described it as a bromance?”

Jones: “I’d call it more of a bromance than a man-crush.”

Milbury: “Let’s see how it goes. They didn’t do anything differently than bring in Patrick Roy. Coaches don’t score goals, they don’t stop pucks – it’s going to take more than that.”

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Milbury on Kings of Leon playing before Toronto-Montreal game: “Kings of Leon have a new album out, you know, Jonesy – it’s called Mechanical Bull. If it’s anything like Sex on Fire, Cull will be a happy guy.

McHugh: “Mike – who are you?”

Jones: “He does know his music. All summer long that’s what he does.”

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Jones on the Boston Bruins: “No holes in that Bruins lineup – they’ll be a difficult beat every night.”

Milbury on the Detroit Red Wings: “They’re always good. You know they’re going to be good, they’re one of those teams that never goes away.”

Jones on the San Jose Sharks: “I like the improvement of Logan Couture’s game…I do believe he is the number one guy for the Sharks now…Antti Niemi is an underrated goaltender that finds a way to win games. He won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks; I believe he can do the same thing with the San Jose Sharks.”

Jones on New York Islanders’ chances of returning to the postseason: “I’m buying that they can get back. I think they continue to move forward because they have one of the top superstars in the National Hockey League in John Tavares.”

Milbury on pressure on Pittsburgh Penguins: “There’s enough to go around. (Head Coach) Dan Bylsma has had two teams that have gotten bumped out in the first round…Dan Bylsma feels the heat as much as Marc-Andre Fleury.”

Milbury on Montreal Canadiens: “Has (head coach Michel) Therrien figured it out? Near the end of the season (last year) you saw some frayed edges among players on his squad. He’s done this before – he gets a little too intense, a little too single-minded. If he can’t get that sorted out, it won’t get better.”

Milbury on Phil Kessel’s new eight-year contract with Toronto: “I don’t like it. I don’t think you can trust Phil Kessel, and it’s why the Boston Bruins were able to let him go…if you think you’re paying him like you’re paying Jonathan Toews, Dustin Brown, Sidney Crosby…he’s not in that category, because I don’t think you can count on him when it counts.”

 

Game (8 p.m. ET)

First Period

McGuire on Kane’s goal to give Blackhawks 2-1 lead: “People around the league better get used to seeing that. Patrick Kane is going to have an electrifying season for the Chicago Blackhawks because he’s shooting the puck as well as he ever has. He’s probably in the best shape he’s ever been in, and he’s a focused guy.”

First Intermission

Milbury on Blackhawks: “Chicago’s depth and speed is terrific…they’ve got balance, they’ve got speed, and they’ve certainly got talent.”

Jones on Ovechkin: “All of those things that Mike (Milbury) talked about with the Blackhawks; balance, talent, scoring goals…that’s an individual for the Washington Capitals that has all of those assets. A very important player for the Caps, and a very important player for the league.”

Milbury on Leafs’ defenseman Dion Phaneuf: “Phil Kessel gets $64 million from the Leafs, Dion Phaneuf up for contract; he looks like he wants to stop the Brinks truck from leaving town before he gets his share.”

Milbury on new helmet-removal penalty prior to fights: “The league is trying to prevent concussions. They’re worried not about the hit to the head from the fist, but the fall to the ice, and maybe a head hitting the ice…that’s why the penalty’s in place.”

Second Period

McGuire on active Chicago defensemen: “Duncan Keith and the Blackhawks’ defensemen have turned this into a shooting gallery.”

Second Intermission

Jones: “The stars for Chicago have come to play, and the star for Washington…has been Braden Holtby in this game.”

Milbury on Capitals’ depth: “I think they have some adequate depth here, it can’t always be about Backstrom and Ovechkin…good pressure, good presence, and good veteran minds on the third line of the Washington Capitals, and that’s a good sign to start the season.”

Third Period

Emrick on Chicago’s 6-4 win: “The ceremony was strong. The Capitals were gallant. The Blackhawks won the game.”

Post-Game

Jones on high-octane opening night: “We learned the tempo is up from last year. Coming out of the lockout, things were a little slow last year when things got started; these guys are flying.

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–