FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 1st, 2015

DAYS 17-19 – SECOND ROUND OF NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS CONTINUES THIS WEEKEND ON NBC, NBCSN AND CNBC

Game 1 – (2) Lightning-(1) Canadiens – Tonight at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Game 1 – (4) Wild-(3) Blackhawks – Tonight at 9:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN

NBC Round 1 Coverage Produces Local-Market Records

IPC Paralympic Sled Hockey World Championship Gold Medal Final – Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN; Team USA v. Norway Tonight on NBCSN Following Wild-Blackhawks

IIHF World Hockey Championship Coverage Continues Tomorrow – Team USA vs. Norway at 11 p.m. ET

 

STAMFORD, Conn. – May 1, 2015 – NBC Sports Group’s exclusive second-round coverage of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs continues tonight with a Game 1 doubleheader on NBCSN, beginning at 7 p.m. ET when P.K. Subban and the Montreal Canadiens host Steven Stamkos and the (2) Tampa Bay Lightning. Coverage continues at 9:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, when Jonathan Toews and the (3) Chicago Blackhawks host Zach Parise and the (4) Minnesota Wild.

 

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“NHL Playoff Pass” on NBC Sports Group Press Box provides a quick daily overview of Stanley Cup Playoff coverage, plus information and highlights. The Pass will be published weekdays to preview that evening’s games. Friday editions will include weekend information.

 

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All Stanley Cup Playoff games will be presented on NBC, NBCSN, USA Network, CNBC and NHL Network. NBC Sports Live Extra – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets – will provide streaming coverage of games airing on NBC, NBCSN, USA Network and CNBC via “TV Everywhere.”

 

For more information on NBC Sports Group’s overall NHL Playoff coverage, please click here.

 

 

THE PASS –FRIDAY, MAY 1-SUNDAY, MAY 3 (All times ET)

FRIDAY, MAY 1
Time Coverage Network Commentators
6:15 p.m. NHL Live NBCSN Liam McHugh, Mike
Milbury, Keith Jones
7 p.m. Game 1 – (2) Tampa Bay at (1) Montreal NBCSN Kenny Albert,
Joe Micheletti
9:30 p.m. Game 1 – (4) Minnesota at (3) Chicago NBCSN Mike “Doc” Emrick,
Pierre McGuire

SATURDAY, MAY 2
12:30 p.m. Game 2 – (2) Washington at (1) N.Y. Rangers NBC Kenny Albert, Joe
Micheletti, Pierre McGuire

SUNDAY, MAY 3
6 p.m. Game 2 – (2) Tampa Bay at (1) Montreal NBCSN Kenny Albert,
Joe Micheletti
8:30 p.m. Game 2 – (4) Minnesota at (3) Chicago NBCSN Mike “Doc” Emrick, Eddie
Olczyk, Pierre McGuire
10 p.m. Game 2 – (3) Calgary at (1) Anaheim CNBC Dave Strader,
Brian Engblom

 

 

TONIGHT, MAY 1

Tonight’s Game 1 doubleheader coverage on NBCSN begins at 6:15 p.m. ET with NHL Live, following live coverage of the Kentucky Oaks. Liam McHugh hosts NHL Live tonight, alongside analysts and former players Mike Milbury and Keith Jones.

 


GAME 1 – (2) LIGHTNING-(1) CANADIENS – TONIGHT AT 7 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Lightning and Canadiens clash tonight in Game 1 of their second-round series, a rematch of last year’s opening-round series between the two teams. Last year, Montreal recorded a four-game sweep of Tampa Bay, which was without injured goaltender Ben Bishop. Bishop was in net for all seven games the Lightning’s first-round series win over Detroit, including a series-clinching Game 7 shutout on Wednesday. Montreal defeated Ottawa in six games in the first round, led by a shutout performance by Vezina and Hart Trophy candidate Carey Price.

Tampa Bay dominated the regular-season series against Montreal. The Lightning went 5-0-0 against the Canadiens and outscored the Habs 21-8, which included three wins at Bell Centre in Montreal.

Kenny Albert (play-by-play) and Inside-the-Glass analyst Joe Micheletti will have the call from Bell Centre in Montreal, Que.

 

GAME 1 – (4) WILD-(3) BLACKHAWKS – TONIGHT AT 9:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The second half of NBCSN’s doubleheader at 9:30 p.m. ET features a growing playoff rivalry, when the Wild face the Blackhawks in what will be their third consecutive playoff meeting in as many years. The Blackhawks have taken the past two series against the Wild, dispatching Minnesota in five games in 2013, and in six games last season.

This year, the Wild defeated the Central Division champion St. Louis in six games, led by Vezina Trophy finalist Devan Dubnyk, who has allowed just one goal against Chicago in two games this year. The Blackhawks defeated Nashville in six games to advance, led by Jonathan Toews, who was tied for tops in scoring through the first round (3g/5a).

Emmy Award-winning play-by-play commentator and Sports Illustrated 2014 Media Person of the Year Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick and Inside-the-Glass analyst Pierre McGuire will have the call from United Center in Chicago, Ill.

 


SATURDAY, MAY 2

 

GAME 2 – (2) CAPITALS-(1) RANGERS – 12:30 P.M. ET ON NBC – CAPITALS LEAD 1-0

Henrik Lundqvist and the (1) New York Rangers look to bounce back tomorrow afternoon at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC, when they host Alex Ovechkin and the (2) Washington Capitals in Game 2 of their series. The Caps stunned the Madison Square Garden crowd last night, as Joel Ward scored just before time expired to give Washington a 2-1 win in Game 1.

Kenny Albert (play-by-play), Joe Micheletti (analyst) and Pierre McGuire (Inside-the-Glass analyst) will call the action from Madison Square Garden in New York.

 

NBC SPORTS GROUP STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF TRIPLEHEADER ON SUNDAY, BEGINNING AT 6 P.M. ET

Sunday’s coverage begins on NBCSN at 6 p.m. ET, with Game 2 between the Lightning and Canadiens, followed by Game 2 between the Wild and Blackhawks at 8:30 p.m. ET. CNBC’s second-round coverage begins Sunday at 10 p.m. ET, when the Ducks host the Flames in Game 2 of their series.

 


NBC ROUND 1 COVERAGE PRODUCES LOCAL-MARKET RECORDS

NBC Sports Group’s first-round Stanley Cup Playoff coverage, totaling 46 games across NBC, NBCSN, USA Network and CNBC, averaged 709,000 viewers. NBC’s primetime presentation of Game 6 between the Predators and Blackhawks on Saturday, April 25, won the night among the four broadcast networks the Adults 18-49 demo, and all key adult-male demos, averaging 2.41 million viewers to mark the most-watched game of the first round. NBCSN’s Game 7 presentation of Red Wings-Lightning on Wednesday averaged 977,000 viewers, making it the most-watched first-round game on cable this year.

NBC’s coverage also produced numerous local market records:

 

  • The Wild’s 3-0 Game 6 win over St. Louis (4/26/15) produced a 25 rating in Minneapolis, the highest rating ever on NBC for a Wild game;

 

  • That same Game 6 also produced a 23 rating in St. Louis, which was the highest rating for a first-round game ever in the market;

 

  • Chicago’s Game 6 win in primetime on Saturday, April 25 delivered a 70 rating in Chicago, the market’s second-best Round 1 rating on NBC (Game 6 vs. St. Louis, 4/27/14; 17.19);

 

  • Predators-Blackhawks Game 6 also produced a 21 rating in Nashville, the highest rating ever in the market for a Predators game;

 

  • Penguins-Rangers Game 2 on NBC in primetime on Saturday, April 18 produced a 84 rating in New York, the highest first-round rating ever in the market for a Rangers game.

IPC PARALYMPIC SLED HOCKEY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GOLD MEDAL FINAL – SUNDAY AT 2:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN; TEAM USA V. NORWAY SEMIFINAL TONIGHT ON NBCSN FOLLOWING WILD-BLACKHAWKS

NBC Sports Group’s coverage of the IPC Paralympic Sled Hockey World Championship continues tonight with NBCSN’s presentation of the semifinal between Team USA and Norway, immediately following coverage of Wild-Blackhawks. NBC Sports Live Extra will provide live streaming coverage at 8 p.m. ET.

Team USA has outscored its opponents 20-1 through three preliminary-round matches against Russia, Germany, and Italy. With a win, Team USA would advance to the gold-medal final, which will air live on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, against the winner of Russia-Canada.

 


IIHF WORLD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP CONTINUES TOMORROW – TEAM USA VS. NORWAY AT 11 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

Coverage of the IIHF World Hockey Championship continues tomorrow night at 11 p.m. ET with NBCSN’s presentation of Team USA vs. Norway. NBC Sports Live Extra will provide exclusive, live streaming coverage tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET. Team USA looks to build off of today’s 5-1 victory over Finland.

NBCSN and NBC Sports Live Extra will combine to present more than 40 hours of coverage from the IIHF World Hockey Championship, including all Team USA games. This year’s Team USA roster features 2015 Hobey Baker Award-winner Jack Eichel, widely regarded as a top prospect in this year’s NHL Draft.

Click here for more information on NBC Sports Group’s IIHF World Hockey Championship coverage.

 

GAMES TELEVISED SO FAR

For the fourth consecutive year, NBC, NBCSN, USA Network, CNBC and NHL Network are combining to televise every Stanley Cup Playoff game nationally.

 

Network Games
NBC 8
NBCSN 25
USA Network 6
CNBC 9
NHL-N 1
Total 49

 

One-goal Games: 23

OT games: 10

 


COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL COVERAGE

Comprehensive coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs will be provided daily via NBC Sports Regional Networks, available in more than 50 million U.S. households. Comcast SportsNet Chicago and Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic will provide the hometown fans of the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals, respectively, with comprehensive coverage throughout their teams’ Stanley Cup Playoff runs, including pre- and post-game shows and extensive on-line coverage via Comcast SportsNet’s team of NHL Insiders.


NBC SPORTS LIVE EXTRA COVERAGE

NBC Sports Live Extra – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets – will stream comprehensive coverage of games airing on NBC, NBCSN, USA Network and CNBC via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value to for their subscription service, and making high quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. The NBC Sports Live Extra app is available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play and Windows Store.

For more information about NBC Sports Group shows and properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios and headshots, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com.

— NBC Sports Group —