FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 19th, 2017

DAY 8 – PIVOTAL MATCHUPS IN THE EAST, POTENTIAL SERIES-CLINCHERS IN THE WEST HEADLINE GAME 4 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF MATCHUPS ON NBCSN & USA NETWORK

NBCSN Doubleheader – (1) Capitals-(WC2) Maple Leafs at 7 p.m. ET – Maple Leafs Lead 2-1; (2) Wild-(3) Blues at 9:30 p.m. ET – Blues Lead 3-0

USA Network Doubleheader – (2) Senators-(3) Bruins at 7:30 p.m. ET – Senators Lead 2-1; (1) Ducks-(WC1) Flames at 10 p.m. ET – Ducks Lead 3-0

NBC Sports’ Stanley Cup Playoff Coverage on Cable Networks Off to Best Start Ever

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 19, 2017 – NBC Sports Group presents four Stanley Cup Playoff Game 4 matchups tonight across NBCSN and USA Network, beginning at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN, when Alex Ovechkin and the (1) Washington Capitals look to even their series against rookie phenom Auston Matthews and the (WC2) Toronto Maple Leafs north of the border.

USA Network’s coverage starts at 7:30 p.m. ET with Game 4 between (2) Ottawa and (3) Boston, as Brad Marchand and the Bruins look to bounce back from Game 3 overtime loss to Bobby Ryan and the Sens to even the series at two games.

The nightcaps of both doubleheaders on NBCSN and USA Network feature series-clinching scenarios. NBCSN presents Game 4 between Jake Allen’s (3) St. Louis Blues and Zach Parise’s (2) Minnesota Wild, as the Blues look to complete the four-game sweep at home. USA Network’s doubleheader continues at 10 p.m. ET, as Johnny Gaudreau and the (WC1) Calgary Flames attempt to avoid elimination against Corey Perry and the (1) Anaheim Ducks.

Through the first five days (18 telecasts) of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Total Audience Delivery (TAD) averaged 726,000 viewers across NBC, NBCSN, CNBC, USA Network, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app, up 9% compared to the same time period last season (669,000).

NBC Sports Group’s cable coverage of the playoffs on NBCSN, CNBC, and USA Network (and their live streams) is off to its best start ever through the first five days, with TAD averaging 581,000 viewers for 15 telecasts, up 14% vs. last year (509,000). Click here for more information.

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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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THE PASS – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19 (All times ET)

Time Coverage Network Commentators
6 p.m. NHL Live NBCSN Kathryn Tappen,
Mike Milbury
7 p.m. Game 4 – (1) Washington at (WC2) Toronto NBCSN Chris Cuthbert,
Joe Micheletti
7:30 p.m. Game 4 – (2) Ottawa at (3) Boston USA Network Kenny Albert,
Brian Boucher
NHL Live (Intermission Reports) USA Network Paul Burmeister, Jeremy
Roenick, Anson Carter
9:30 p.m. Game 4 – (2) Minnesota at (3) St. Louis NBCSN John Forslund,
Pierre McGuire
10 p.m. Game 4 – (1) Anaheim at (WC1) Calgary USA Network Rick Ball, John Garrett

 

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and Connected TVs – will live stream all games airing on NBC, NBCSN, USA Network and CNBC, all via “TV Everywhere.”

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

 

NBCSN, CNBC, USA NETWORK, NBCSPORTS.COM, AND THE NBC SPORTS APP TO PROVIDE SIDE-BY-SIDE COVERAGE OF FIRST-ROUND GAMES IN LOCAL MARKETS FOR FIRST TIME

For the first time since NBC Sports Group acquired NHL rights prior to the 2005-06 season, coverage of Stanley Cup Playoff first-round games on NBCUniversal cable networks (NBCSN, CNBC, USA Network) as well as NHL Network, will air side-by-side in local markets alongside regional sports network game telecasts. In addition, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will provide streaming coverage of every first-round game. Prior to this season, NBC Sports’ national first-round cable telecasts were blacked out in all local U.S. markets. (Local television and streaming blackouts will still apply in Boston and Pittsburgh in the first round).


TONIGHT – APRIL 19

NHL Live, hosted by Kathryn Tappen with analyst Mike Milbury begins at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Paul Burmeister, Jeremy Roenick and Anson Carter will anchor USA Network’s intermission coverage.

 

(1) WASHINGTON CAPITALS AT (WC2) TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS – GAME 4 AT 7 P.M. ET ON NBCSN – MAPLE LEAFS LEAD 2-1

Toronto stunned the Capitals in Game 3 by erasing a 3-1 deficit late in the second period and coming back to win in overtime, 4-3, and take a 2-1 series lead. Auston Matthews netted his first career playoff goal in the win for the Maple Leafs, while Alex Ovechkin scored his second goal of the series in the loss for the Caps. All three games in this series have required overtime. It’s just the sixth time in NHL history that the first three games of a series have gone to overtime.


(2) OTTAWA SENATORS AT (3) BOSTON BRUINS – GAME 4 AT 7:30 P.M. ET ON USA NETWORK – SENATORS LEAD 2-1

Ottawa took a 2-1 series lead with a 4-3 overtime win on Monday in Boston, after blowing a 3-0 lead in the second period. The Sens took advantage of a controversial penalty in overtime to win the game. Bobby Ryan scored on the power play in overtime, after Boston’s Riley Nash was called for roughing on Ryan for responding to a high hit from Ryan, which was not penalized. Boston has received a balanced offensive output in the series, with eight different skaters scoring its eight goals.


(2) MINNESOTA WILD AT (3) ST. LOUIS BLUES – GAME 4 AT 9:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN – BLUES LEAD 3-0

St. Louis can complete the series sweep of Minnesota tonight with a win in Game 4 at home. Jake Allen continued his strong play in net in the series with 40 saves in Game 3 to propel the Blues to a 2-1 victory. Allen has stopped 114 of 117 shots through three games, allowing just one goal in each contest. Minnesota has lost 11 of its last 13 playoff games, and has been limited to one goal or fewer in 7 of those 13 games.

 

(1) ANAHEIM DUCKS AT (WC2) CALGARY FLAMES – GAME 4 AT 10 P.M. ET ON USA NETWORK – DUCKS LEAD 3-0

The Ducks stunned the Flames in Game 3 to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. Calgary led the game 4-1 late in the second period before Anaheim rallied, capped by Corey Perry’s game-winner 1:30 into overtime. Perry added an assist and recorded a plus-5 rating in the game. Anaheim goalie Jonathan Bernier earned the win in relief of John Gibson, who was pulled after allowing four goals on 16 shots.

 

GAME SCHEDULE AND BROADCASTER ASSIGNMENTS THROUGH FRIDAY, APRIL 21

THURSDAY, APRIL 20

7 p.m. Game 5 – (WC1) N.Y. Rangers at (1) Montreal USA Network Chris Cuthbert,
Pierre McGuire
7 p.m. Game 5 – (3) Columbus at (2) Pittsburgh* NHL Network Paul Steigerwald,
Bob Errey
8 p.m. Game 4 – (1) Chicago at (WC2) Nashville NBCSN Gord Miller,
Ray Ferraro
10:30 p.m. Game 5 – (3) San Jose at (2) Edmonton NBCSN Brendan Burke,
Mike Johnson

FRIDAY, APRIL 21

7 p.m. Game 5 – (WC2) Toronto at (1) Washington NBCSN Dave Strader,
Pierre McGuire
7:30 p.m. Game 5 – (3) Boston at (2) Ottawa USA Network Kenny Albert,
Brian Boucher
10 p.m. Game 5 – (WC1) Calgary at (1) Anaheim* NBCSN Rick Ball,
John Garrett

*if necessary

 

“WHERE IN THE WORLD IS PIERRE MCGUIRE?” EMMY-AWARD WINNING ‘INSIDE-THE-GLASS’ ANALYST BEGINS MARATHON SCHEDULE

NBC Sports Group’s Emmy-Award winning ‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst Pierre McGuire began his marathon first-round broadcast schedule on Wednesday in Pittsburgh with Game 1 of the Blue Jackets-Penguins series. McGuire is slated to serve as an analyst for 10 games in 10 days to begin the postseason, with more games likely added to that run as series continue. His schedule will be comprised of six different cities and four different series. *Note – schedule is subject to change

Date Coverage Travel
Wed., April 12 Game 1 – (3) Columbus at (2) Pittsburgh Pittsburgh > Chicago
Thurs., April 13 Game 1 – (WC2) Nashville at (1) Chicago Chicago > St. Paul
Fri., April 14 Game 2 – (3) St. Louis at (2) Minnesota St. Paul > Chicago
Sat., April 15 Game 2 – (WC2) Nashville at (1) Chicago Chicago > St. Louis
Sun., April 16 Game 3 – (2) Minnesota at (3) St. Louis St. Louis > Boston
Mon., April 17 Game 3 – (2) Ottawa at (3) Boston Boston > Columbus
Tues., April 18 Game 4 – (2) Pittsburgh at (3) Columbus Columbus > St. Louis
Wed., April 19 Game 4 – (2) Minnesota at (3) St. Louis St. Louis > Montreal
Thurs., April 20 Game 5 – (WC1) N.Y. Rangers at (1) Montreal Montreal > Washington
Fri., April 21 Game 5 – (WC2) Toronto at (1) Washington TBA

 

COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL COVERAGE

Through the NBC Sports Regional Networks, 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. NBC Sports Regional Networks serve the hometown fans of the Chicago Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins and the Washington Capitals, with first-round game coverage, pre- and post-game shows, and extensive on-line coverage via CSN’s team of NHL Insiders.

For teams that advance past the first round, NBC Sports Regional Networks will deliver extensive pre- and post-game coverage as well as breaking news and analysis throughout each team’s playoff run.


NBCSPORTS.COM & NBC SPORTS APP

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will stream all Stanley Cup Playoff games to desktops, tablets, and connected TVs. The NBC Sports app will stream coverage via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value to their subscription service, and making high-quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. Powered by Playmaker Media, the NBC Sports app is available on Apple iOS, Android and select Samsung devices, as well as on Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Win10, and Xbox.

 

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–