FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, December 4th, 2017
ALEX OVECHKIN AND WASHINGTON CAPITALS HOST PATRICK KANE AND CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS ON NBCSN’S “WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIVALRY”
Wednesday Night Rivalry – Blackhawks-Capitals – 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN; Pre-Game Coverage Begins with NHL Live at 7 p.m. ET
U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Member Eddie Olczyk to Serve as Studio Analyst for Hawks-Caps Wednesday Night Rivalry Matchup
Defending Stanley Cup Champion Penguins Host Rangers Tomorrow Night at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN
Tuesday Doubleheader on NBCSN – Pacific Division-Leading L.A. Kings Host Minnesota Wild at 10 p.m. ET Immediately Following Rangers-Penguins
STAMFORD, Conn. – December 4, 2017 – NBCSN’s Wednesday Night Rivalry travels to the nation’s capital this week, as Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals host Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET. Pre-game coverage begins with NHL Live at 7 p.m. ET.
This week’s NHL coverage on NBCSN begins tomorrow night with a doubleheader, when Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers travel to Pittsburgh to face Sidney Crosby and the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins at 7:30 p.m. ET. Coverage continues when Jonathan Quick and the Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles Kings host Ryan Suter and the Minnesota Wild at 10 p.m. ET.
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.
Pre-game coverage on NHL Live begins an hour prior to puck drop tomorrow and Wednesday on NBCSN. Paul Burmeister anchors Tuesday’s studio coverage this week alongside analysts and former players Keith Jones and Brian Boucher. Kathryn Tappen hosts Wednesday Night Rivalry coverage alongside Boucher, NHL insider Bob McKenzie and U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member Eddie Olczyk. Post-game coverage on NHL Overtime will air on NBCSN immediately following this week’s games.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIVALRY – BLACKHAWKS-CAPITALS AT 8 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
The Capitals have won five of their last seven games, including a 4-3 victory over the Blue Jackets on Saturday. Ovechkin netted his 19th goal of the season in the second period, and is tied for the league lead with Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov. Teammate Evgeny Kuznetsov scored the eventual game-winner in the opening minutes of the final period. Washington hosts San Jose tonight in its third game of a five-game home stretch.
The Blackhawks look to rebound from a four-game losing streak against the Capitals on Wednesday. Chicago has lost three of those four games by just one goal. Through 27 games, Kane leads the team in points (27), while teammate Artem Anisimov leads the unit in goals (12).
Five-time Emmy Award winner Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick (play-by-play), former player, coach and general manager Mike Milbury (analyst), and Emmy Award-winner Pierre McGuire (‘Inside-the-Glass analyst) will call Blackhawks-Capitals from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
RANGERS-PENGUINS – TOMORROW AT 7:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
The Rangers are 11-3-0 in their last 14 games, including a 5-1 victory over the Hurricanes on Friday. Michael Grabner registered his fifth career hat trick in the win and became the first Ranger in the expansion era to record two empty-net goals in one game.
The Penguins have rattled off four consecutive wins, including back-to-back victories over the Sabres on Friday and Saturday. Pittsburgh won both games, 4-0 and 5-1, led by Crosby, who netted his 11th and 12th goals. The Pens captain is sporting a six-game point streak with six goals and seven assists.
Tomorrow night’s game marks the second match between the two teams this season. The Penguins defeated the Rangers 5-4 in overtime on Oct. 17. Crosby scored the game-tying goal in the final minute of regulation to force overtime, where teammate Evgeni Malkin netted the game-winner.
Gord Miller (play-by-play) and Pierre McGuire (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will have the call from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa.
WILD-KINGS – TOMORROW AT 10 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
The Kings have won five straight games to move atop the Pacific Division, including wins against Washington, St. Louis and Chicago. Los Angeles defeated Chicago, 3-1, on Sunday to cap off a four-game road trip. Anze Kopitar scored his 14th goal of the season on Sunday, and now leads the team in both goals and points (31), respectively.
The Wild are 4-2 in their last six games, including an overtime win against the Blues on Saturday. Matt Dumba netted the game-winning goal in overtime to propel Minnesota past St. Louis, which owns the third-best record in the Western Conference. Eric Staal leads the team in points (23) and assists (13).
Chris Cuthbert (play-by-play) and Jim Fox (‘Inside-the-Glass analyst) will have the call from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.
Following is this week’s NHL coverage on NBCSN:
| Date | Coverage | Network | Time (ET) |
| Tues., Dec. 5 | NHL Live | NBCSN | 6:30 p.m. |
| New York at Pittsburgh^ | NBCSN | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Minnesota at Los Angeles | NBCSN | 10 p.m. | |
| NHL Overtime* | NBCSN | 12:30 a.m. | |
| Wed., Dec. 6 | NHL Live | NBCSN | 7 p.m. |
| Wednesday Night Rivalry – Chicago at Washington | NBCSN | 8 p.m. | |
| NHL Overtime* | NBCSN | 10:45 p.m. |
*immediately following game coverage
^subject to local blackout
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