FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 4th, 2014
2014 STANLEY CUP FINAL NOTES & QUOTES – GAME 1 – NEW YORK RANGERS VS. LOS ANGELES KINGS
STAMFORD, Conn. – June 4, 2014 – NBC Sports Group began its exclusive coverage of the Stanley Cup Final tonight with Game 1 featuring the New York Rangers at the Los Angeles Kings on NBC.
Kenny Albert (play-by-play), Eddie Olczyk (analyst) and Emmy Award-winner Pierre McGuire (Inside-the-Glass analyst) called the game from the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif. Emmy Award-winner Mike “Doc” Emrick missed Game 1 due to a death in his family, and will return for the remainder of the series beginning with Game 2 on Saturday.
Coverage began at 7 p.m. ET with NHL Live led by host Dave Briggs, alongside analysts Jeremy Roenick and Anson Carter, on-site outside of the STAPLES Center. Coverage shifted inside the arena at 7:30 p.m. ET with host Liam McHugh,who was joined by analysts Mike Milbury and Keith Jones.
Pre-game coverage also featured reporter Carolyn Manno on-site at Bryant Park in New York City, where the New York Rangers hosted a viewing party for Game 1 for more than 10,000 fans. Manno interviewed former Rangers Adam Graves and Stephane Matteau, who were members of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champions. NBC’s coverage featured shots of Rangers fans at Bryant Park following Rangers goals throughout the game.
Game coverage began at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, and included excerpts from Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault’s pre-game speech inside the New York locker room.
NHL Live (7-8 p.m. ET)
Carter on Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards: “Their leadership has been instrumental to this team getting this far in the playoffs.”
Roenick on Henrik Lundqvist: “If he is not the Conn Smythe Trophy winner, the Rangers are not winning this series.”
Milbury on Drew Doughty: “All due respect to Ryan McDonagh, Shea Weber, Zdeno Chara, other great defensemen…Drew Doughty is the best defenseman in the National Hockey League.”
Jones on Kings: “A superstar center in Anze Kopitar, a superstar defenseman in Drew Doughty, a superstar goaltender in Jonathan Quick – that’s why they’re favored.”
Game (8 p.m. ET)
Pre-Game
Olczyk: “I think you’ve got the two best goaltenders in the National Hockey League in Henrik Lundqvist and Jonathan Quick…you need a big save, you look to Quick or Lundqvist.”
First Period
McGuire: “This is a part of the game that I’m not sure the L.A. Kings were prepared for. These guys are a lot quicker than the teams they played against out West…the New York Rangers are winning the track meet right now.”
First Intermission
Tonight’s first intermission featured an exclusive one-on-one interview with Pierre McGuire and Martin St. Louis. St. Louis discussed his mid-season trade from Tampa Bay to New York, and how the Rangers rallied around him and provided support following the passing of his mother midway through the playoffs.
Click here to watch McGuire’s sit-down with St. Louis: http://www.nbcsports.com/video/all?guid=IErm7J8naxngxaExSFP_ijftUfD0kjC9
McHugh: “Somebody forgot to tell the Rangers that the Kings were the favorite.”
Milbury on Carl Hagelin goal: “…a display of ludicrous speed.”
Second Period
McGuire: “The Rangers’ speed is very apparent here in Game 1.”
Olczyk on Kings’ ability to erase early deficits: “I don’t think that’s the plan that Darryl Sutter would like…but it’s working.”
Olczyk on Ryan McDonagh: “The confidence level of Ryan McDonagh has certainly gone to another level…asked to do a little bit more under this coaching regime and the philosophy in which the Rangers are playing.”
Second Intermission
Jones on Rangers: “I know they blew a 2-0 lead, but I’ve liked their physical play in this game…you’ve got to go after the stars.”
Milbury: “This is a game the Rangers need to win.”
Third Period
Olczyk on frantic finish to regulation: “Absolutely incredible last 30 seconds for the Rangers and Kings.”
Overtime Intermission
Milbury on Hagelin: “This guy should be running in the Belmont.”
Milbury on finish to regulation: “This is wild. Talk about two teams going for it. Nothing better than this. Nothing more fun than this. Nothing more exciting than this.”
Overtime
Albert on Justin Williams’ game-winning goal: “Mr. Game 7 becomes the hero in Game 1 in Los Angeles.”
Post-Game
Jones on Kings: “Some great adjustments by Darryl Sutter…early in this game, it was all New York…they looked faster than L.A…Sutter played his fourth line a little more, juggled his lines as well, and by the end of the game, the Kings have another win, and their coach is looking like a genius.”
Roenick on Williams game-winner: “Who’da thunk it? Well, maybe everybody that knows Justin Williams in a big-time situation.”
–NBC SPORTS GROUP–
