FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 17th, 2015

NBC SPORTS GROUP’S PRESS PASS – WHAT TO WATCH APRIL 17, 2015 – APRIL 19, 2015

(All times ET)

The “Press Pass” on NBC Sports Group Press Box is a quick overview of upcoming program information and highlights from the NBC Sports Group Communications team.

For live streaming information on NBC Sports Live Extra, and Golf Channel Live Extraclick here.

 

Friday, April 17

5 p.m. on NBCSN – IndyCar Countdown

5:30 p.m. on NBCSN – Pro Football Talk

6 p.m. on NBCSN – NHL Live

7 p.m. on NBCSN – NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 2 – (3) N.Y. Islanders at (2) Washington

7 p.m. on CNBC – NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 2 – (4) Ottawa at (1) Montreal

7 p.m. on Golf Channel – LPGA Tour: Lotte Championship

9:30 p.m. on NBCSN – NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 2 – (3) Chicago at (2) Nashville

10 p.m. on CNBC – NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 2 – (3) Calgary at (2) Vancouver

 

Saturday, April 18

12:30 a.m. on NBCSN – NASCAR Whelan Modified Series Thompson

6 a.m. on Golf Channel – European Tour: Shenzhen International

8 a.m. on NBCSN – Barclays Premier League Preview

9 a.m. on NBCSN – Premier League Live

10 a.m. on NBCSN – Premier League: Everton v. Burnley

10 a.m. on Premier League Extra TimeStoke City v. Southampton

10 a.m. on Premier League Extra Time – Leicester City v. Swansea City

10 a.m. on Premier League Extra TimeCrystal Palace v. West Brom

11 a.m. on CNBC – F1 Bahrain Grand Prix Qualifying

12:30 p.m. on NBC – Premier League:  Chelsea v. Manchester United

12:30 p.m. on NBCSN – Notre Dame: Blue Gold Game

1 p.m. on Golf Channel – PGA Tour: RBC Heritage

2:30 p.m. on NBC – Premier League Goal Zone

2:30 p.m. on NBCSN – NHL Live

3 p.m. on NBC OR NBCSN (Regionalized) – NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 2 – (3) Detroit at (2) Tampa Bay OR Game 2 – (4) Minnesota at (1) St. Louis

3 p.m. on Golf Channel – Champions Tour: Greater Gwinnett Championship

6 p.m. on NBCSN – IndyCar Grand Prix of Long Beach Qualifying

7 p.m. on Golf Channel – LPGA Tour: Lotte Championship

7:30 p.m. on NBCSN – F1 Bahrain Grand Prix Qualifying

8 p.m. on NBC – NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 2 – (4) Pittsburgh at (1) N.Y. Rangers

9 p.m. on NBCSN – /DRIVE on NBC Sports: Middle East (Encore)

10:30 p.m. on NBCSN – NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 2 – (4) Winnipeg at (1) Anaheim

 

Sunday, April 19

6 a.m. on Golf Channel – European Tour: Shenzhen International

6:30 a.m. on NBCSN – Premier League Download

7:30 a.m. on NBCSN – Premier League Live

8:30 a.m. on NBCSN – Premier League: Manchester City v. West Ham

10:30 a.m. on CNBC – Premier League: Newcastle v. Tottenham

10:30 a.m. on NBCSN – F1 Bahrain Grand Prix

12 p.m. on NBC – NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 3 – (2) Washington at (3) N.Y. Islanders

1 p.m. on NBCSN – F1 Extra

1 p.m. on Golf Channel – PGA Tour: RBC Heritage

1:30 p.m. on NBCSN – Off the Grid: Melbourne

3 p.m. on NBC – NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 3 – (2) Nashville at (3) Chicago

3 p.m. on NBCSN – IndyCar Lights Long Beach

3 p.m. on Golf Channel – Champions Tour: Greater Gwinnett Championship

4 p.m. on NBCSN – IndyCar Grand Prix of Long Beach

7 p.m. on NBCSN – NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 3 – (1) Montreal at (4) Ottawa

10 p.m. on NBCSN – NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 3 – (2) Vancouver at (3) Calgary

 

NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

NBC Sports Group’s weekend coverage of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs begins tonight on NBCSN at 7 p.m. ET, when the Washington Capitals host the New York Islanders, followed by the Chicago Blackhawks taking on the Nashville Predators at 9:30 p.m. ET. Coverage of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on CNBC begins at 7 p.m. ET when the Ottawa Senators take on the Montreal Canadians, followed by the Vancouver Canucks hosting the Calgary Flames at 10 p.m. ET. Calling the action on NBCSN is Kenny Albert and Pierre McGuire from the Verizon Center for New York vs. Washington, and Gord Miller and Joe Micheletti on site at Bridgestone Arena for Chicago vs. Nashville. On CNBC, Chris Cuthbert and Bret Hedican call Ottawa vs. Montreal from the Bell Centre in Montreal, and Jim Hughson, Craig Simpson and Scott Oake cover Calgary vs. Vancouver from the Rogers Arena in Vancouver.

Coverage continues Saturday at 3 p.m. ET with regional coverage on NBC and NBCSN, when the Detroit Red Wings face the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the St. Louis Blues face the Minnesota Wild (check local listings). At 8 p.m. ET, NBC features Game 2 of the Pittsburgh Penguins-New York Rangers series. Coverage continues on NBCSN at 10:30 p.m. ET when the Anaheim Ducks host the Winnipeg Jets. John Forslund and Andy Brickley call Detroit-Tampa Bay from the Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay, while Dave Strader and Brian Engblom handle coverage of St. Louis-Minnesota from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick, Pierre McGuire and Eddie Olczyk will be on-site at Madison Square Garden for NBC’s primetime coverage of Pittsburgh-New York, and Dave Randorf, Garry Galley and Cassie Campbell-Pascall call Winnipeg vs. Anaheim from the Honda Center.

On Sunday, coverage begins on NBC at Noon ET, with Game 3 of the Washington Capitals-New York Islanders series, followed by Nashville vs. Chicago at 3 p.m. ET. NBCSN’s coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET, with Game 3 of the Montreal-Ottawa series, and concludes with the Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames at 10 p.m. ET. Calling Washington-New York on NBC is Emrick, McGuire and Olczyk from the Nassau Coliseum, while Albert, Engblom and Micheletti will handle coverage of Nashville-Chicago from United Center. On NBCSN, Cuthbert and Hedican call Montreal-Ottawa from the Canadian Tire Centre, and Hughson, Simpson and Oake call Vancouver-Calgary from the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Liam McHugh hosts NHL Live and NHL Overtime, along with by former player Keith Jones on Friday. Russ Thaler and Anson Carter will anchor studio coverage on CNBC.  Mike Milbury and Jeremy Roenick will join McHugh for Saturday’s coverage on NBCSN. McHugh, Jones and Milbury host Sunday’s NHL Live and NHL Overtime on NBC, and Kathryn Tappen, Carter and Roenick host coverage on NBCSN.

 

PREMIER LEAGUE

NBC Sports Group’s weekend Premier League coverage begins Saturday at 8 a.m. ET on NBCSN with Barclays Premier League Preview, followed by Premier League Live at 9 a.m. ET. Live match coverage begins at 10 a.m. ET on NBCSN with Everton v. Burnley, and coverage of Stoke City v. Southampton, Leicester City v. Swansea City and Crystal Palace v. West Brom will air on Premier League Extra Time at 10 a.m. ET. Saturday’s live match coverage wraps up with Chelsea v. Manchester United at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC, immediately followed by NBC’s Premier League post-game show, Premier League Goal Zone.

NBC Sports Group’s lead Premier League play-by-play announcer Arlo White calls Chelsea v. Manchester United, joined by Graeme Le Saux at Stamford Bridge.

Sunday’s Premier League coverage begins at 7:30 a.m. ET with Premier League Live, followed by Manchester City v. West Ham at 8:30 a.m. ET, and Newcastle v. Tottenham at 11 a.m. ET.

U.S. Men’s National Team and Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard joins White in the booth to call Manchester City-West Ham one day after suiting up for his club’s match against Burnley.

Below is a full list of match commentators for this weekend’s Premier League coverage:

 

Saturday, April 18

10 a.m. on NBCSN – Everton v. Burnley, commentated by Gary Weaver and Barry Horne

10 a.m. on Premier League Extra Time – Stoke City v. Southampton, commentated by Phil Blacker and Trevor Francis

10 a.m. on Premier League Extra Time – Leicester City v. Swansea City, commentated by Joe Speight and Dean Sturridge

10 a.m. on Premier League Extra Time – Crystal Palace v. Manchester United, commentated by Gary Taphouse and Tony Gale

12:30 p.m. on NBC – Chelsea v. Manchester United, commentated by Arlo White and Graeme Le Saux

 

Sunday, April 19

8:30 a.m. on NBCSN – Manchester City v. West Ham, commentated by Arlo White and Tim Howard

11 a.m. on CNBC – Newcastle v. Tottenham, commentated by Peter Drury and Danny Mills

 

All matches will be preceded and followed by Premier League Live pre- and post-match shows. Rebecca Lowe hosts Premier League Live, alongside Kyle Martino and Robbie Earle from NBC Sports Group’s International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn.

In addition to live match coverage, NBCSN presents an encore presentation of Premier League Download: The Goalkeeper’s Union this Sunday at 6:30 a.m. ET. Hosted by Men in Blazers’ Roger Bennett, who traveled to England to interview U.S. Men’s National Team and Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard, Stoke City’s Asmir Begovic, USMNT and Aston Villa’s Brad Guzan, and Leicester City’s Kasper Schmeichel, Premier League Download: The Goalkeeper’s Union  looks at the art, tactical ability and psychology of a goalkeeper.

 

GOLF

Golf Channel presents coverage of the first PGA Tour event after the Masters this weekend, with coverage of the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage. Golf Channel’s coverage on Saturday and Sunday begins at 1 p.m. ET.

Brian Hammons (play-by-play) and Curt Byrum (analyst) host coverage from Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, S.C, joined by Matt Gogel and Craig Perks (towers), Billy Ray Brown (on-course) and Todd Lewis (interviews).

Golf Channel’s weekend live tournament coverage also includes the LPGA Tour’s LOTTE Championship. Coverage begins tonight at 7 p.m. ET, and continues Saturday at 7 p.m. ET.

Tom Abbott leads Golf Channel’s team from the Ko Olina Golf Club in Oahu, Hawaii. Joining Abbott will be Kay Cockerill (analyst), Mark Rolfing (tower), and Jerry Foltz and Karen Stupples (on course).

Golf Channel’s live tournament coverage continues with the Champions Tour’s Greater Gwinnett Championship, beginning Saturday at 3 p.m. ET, and continuing Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.

Calling the action from TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth, Ga. will be Bob Papa (play-by-play), Lanny Wadkins (analyst), John Mahaffey and David Marr (tower), and Jim Gallagher Jr. (on course).

In addition to the PGA Tour, LPGA and Champions Tour events, Golf Channel presents coverage of the European Tour’s Shenzhen International. Saturday and Sunday’s coverage begins at 6 a.m. ET.

Mike Ritz hosts coverage from Golf Channel’s studio in Orlando, Fla., joined by Dougie Donnelly (play by play), Dom Boulet (analyst), and Julian Tutt  (on course).

 

NOTRE DAME BLUE-GOLD GAME

NBC Sports Group presents Notre Dame’s 86th annual Blue-Gold Game Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. The annual spring football scrimmage provides fans with their first look at head coach Brian Kelly’s top 2015 recruits, as well as a preview of the 2015 Fighting Irish roster.

Dan Hicks will handle play-by-play duties of Saturday’s Blue-Gold Game, alongside analyst Doug Flutie and sideline reporter Carolyn Manno. Due to the renovation of Notre Dame Stadium, the 2015 Blue-Gold game will take place at LaBar Practice Complex in South Bend, Ind.

 

INDYCAR GRAND PRIX OF LONG BEACH

NBCSN’s presentation of the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series continues this weekend with live coverage of the Grand Prix of Long Beach, beginning tonight at 5 p.m. ET with a live edition of IndyCar Countdown. Coverage continues Saturday at 6 p.m. ET with coverage of qualifying races, and culminates with Sunday’s IndyCar Grand Prix of Long Beach at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Four-time Grand Prix of Long Beach winner

Paul Tracy and IndyCar driver Townsend Bell provide analysis of this week’s race, alongside play-by-play voice Brian Till. Robin Miller, Marty Snider, Kevin Lee and Kelli Stavast will handle pit reporting duties.

In addition, NBCSN provides coverage of the Indy Lights race from Long Beach on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET, immediately preceding live GP of Long Beach coverage. Kevin Lee (play-by-play), Anders Krohn (analyst) and Katie Hargitt (reporter) provide commentary.

 

F1 BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX

The Formula One season continues this weekend with live coverage of the Bahrain Grand Prix beginning Saturday at 11 a.m. ET with coverage of qualifying on CNBC. NBCSN’s live coverage of the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix begins Sunday at 10:30 a.m. ET, followed by F1 Extra at 1 p.m. ET.

Lead F1 announcer Leigh Diffey calls this weekend’s action, joined by analysts David Hobbs and Steve Matchett. F1 insider Will Buxton will serve as the team’s on-site reporter from Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain.

 

NASCAR WHELEN MODIFIED SERIES

NBCSN presents coverage of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Series from Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in Thompson, Conn., on Saturday at 12:30 a.m. ET. Ralph Sheheen and Ray Evernham call the NASCAR Whelen Modified Series race.