FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, December 12th, 2016
SIDNEY CROSBY AND PITTSBURGH PENGUINS HOST DAVID PASTRNAK AND BOSTON BRUINS THIS WEEK ON NBCSN’S “WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIVALRY”
Wednesday Night Rivalry – Bruins-Penguins – Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN
Wednesday Nightcap – Flyers-Avalanche – Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET on NBCSN
NBCSN’s Coverage Begins Tomorrow with Blackhawks-Rangers at 7 p.m. ET; Penguins Host Kings Friday at 7 p.m. ET
STAMFORD, Conn. – Dec. 12, 2016 – The NHL’s top two goal-scorers clash this week on Wednesday Night Rivalry, when Sidney Crosby and the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins host David Pastrnak and the Boston Bruins on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Bruins-Penguins will be followed by a Wednesday Nightcap that features Claude Giroux and the Philadelphia Flyers against Matt Duchene and the Colorado Avalanche at 10 p.m. ET.
This week’s NHL coverage on NBCSN begins tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET with two of the best teams in the league, when Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers host Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks in an Original Six showdown. NBCSN will present an interconference clash on Friday night at 7 p.m. ET, when the Penguins host Drew Doughty and the Los Angeles Kings.
NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app — NBC Sports Group’s live streaming platforms for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs — will provide live streaming coverage of this week’s NHL action.
Four-time Emmy Award-winner Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick (play-by-play), U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member Eddie Olczyk (analyst), and Emmy Award-winner Pierre McGuire (‘Inside-the-Glass analyst) will call Penguins-Bruins from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Jim Jackson (play-by-play) and Bill Clement (analyst) will call Flyers-Avalanche from Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo.
Chris Cuthbert (play-by-play) and McGuire will provide commentary of Blackhawks-Rangers from Madison Square Garden tomorrow night, while Gord Miller (play-by-play) and Brian Boucher (‘Inside-the-Glass’) will call Kings-Penguins in Pittsburgh.
Pre-game coverage on NHL Live begins one hour prior to this week’s games. Kathryn Tappen anchors Wednesday Night Rivalry studio coverage with analysts Mike Milbury and Keith Jones, as well as NHL insider Darren Dreger. Tappen will also host tomorrow’s coverage with Jeremy Roenick and Jones. Liam McHugh anchors Friday’s studio coverage with Roenick and Jones. Post-game coverage on NHL Overtime will air on NBCSN immediately following this week’s games.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIVALRY – BRUINS-PENGUINS – 7:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
Pittsburgh (18-7-3, 39 pts) enters the week with a four-game winning streak, following a 4-3 win against the Lightning in Tampa on Saturday night. Sidney Crosby scored twice in the Penguins’ 4-3 win on Saturday, and currently leads the league in goals (20) in just 22 games played this season. Crosby boasts 31 total points in 22 games, and has been held off the scoresheet just four times this season. Pittsburgh hosts Arizona tonight prior to Wednesday’s game against Boston.
Boston (15-12-2, 32 pts) makes its second consecutive appearance on Wednesday Night Rivalry. Last week, the Bruins erased a 3-0 deficit against Washington last Wednesday before eventually falling to the Capitals in overtime by a score of 4-3. David Pastrnak has broken out with 18 goals this season, which already eclipses his previous career-high (15 goals in 51 games last season), and ranks second behind Crosby. The Bruins travel to Montreal tonight to face the rival Canadiens.
WEDNESDAY NIGHTCAP – FLYERS-AVALANCHE – 10 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
The Flyers (18-10-3, 39 pts) enter Wednesday’s matchup with the Avalanche as the hottest team in the NHL, looking for a 10th consecutive victory. Philadelphia’s high-octane offense has led the way, averaging better than three goals per game during the streak. The Flyers rank second in the league in goals scored (98), and both Claude Giroux (29 pts) and Wayne Simmonds (28 pts) are in the Top 10 in points.
Colorado (11-15-1, 23 pts) is coming off a 3-1 win over the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Sunday. Nathan MacKinnon netted the eventual game-winner for the Avalanche, while goaltender Semyon Varlamov stopped 51 shots to earn the victory.
BLACKHAWKS-RANGERS – TOMORROW AT 7 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
The Blackhawks (18-8-4, 40 pts) currently lead the Western Conference, while the Rangers (20-9-1, 41 pts) are tied with Montreal for the top record in the Eastern Conference. Chicago is coming off a 3-1 win against the Stars on Sunday, led by 23 saves by goaltender Scott Darling. Marian Hossa (15), Artem Anisimov (12), and Artemi Panarin (11) are the team’s top-three goal-scorers, and each scored in the win.
The Rangers (20-9-1, 41 pts) have won three straight games, including a 5-0 shutout of the rival New Jersey Devils on Sunday. Former Blackhawks goaltender Antti Raanta made 19 saves in the shutout victory, earning his third win in four days. Raanta also shut out the Blackhawks in the Rangers’ 1-0 overtime victory in Chicago last Friday.
KINGS-PENGUINS – FRIDAY AT 7 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
Los Angeles (14-11-2, 30 pts) is 7-2-1 in its last 10 games, and is coming off a 4-1 win at home over the Ottawa Senators. The Kings have been led by Peter Budaj in net, who has started 22 of the Kings’ 26 games since Jonathan Quick was injured, and has posted a 13-7-2 record in that span. Jeff Carter leads the club with 12 goals this season, while defensemen Drew Doughty and Alec Martinez are tied for second on the team in points (15).
Following is this week’s NHL coverage on NBCSN:
| Date | Coverage | Network | Time (ET) |
| Wed., December 7 | NHL Live | NBCSN | 6 p.m. |
| Chicago at N.Y. Rangers** | NBCSN | 7 p.m. | |
| NHL Overtime | NBCSN | 9:30 p.m. | |
| Wed., December 14 | NHL Live | NBCSN | 6:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday Night Rivalry – Boston at Pittsburgh | NBCSN | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Wednesday Nightcap – Philadelphia at Colorado** | NBCSN | 10 p.m. | |
| NHL Overtime* | NBCSN | 12:30 a.m. | |
| Fri., December 16 | NHL Live | NBCSN | 6 p.m. |
| Los Angeles at Pittsburgh** | NBCSN | 7 p.m. | |
| NHL Overtime* | NBCSN | 9:30 p.m. |
*immediately following game coverage
**subject to local blackout
NHL ON NBCSPORTS.COM AND THE NBC SPORTS APP: NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app — NBC Sports Group’s live streaming platforms for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs — will provide live streaming coverage of the 2016-17 NHL regular season 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.
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2016-17 REGULAR SEASON COVERAGE ON NBC & NBCSN
NBC Sports Group will deliver coverage of 106 NHL regular-season games during the 2016-17 season, featuring 14 games on NBC and 92 games on NBCSN. All games will be streamed live via NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. Click here for more information on NBC Sports Group’s comprehensive NHL coverage this season.
NBC SPORTS REGIONAL NETWORKS
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