FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, December 26th, 2017

NBC SPORTS PRESENTS 2018 NHL WINTER CLASSIC ON NEW YEAR’S DAY FEATURING N.Y. RANGERS & BUFFALO SABRES, HEADLINING NHL ACTION ON NBC & NBCSN THIS WEEK

2018 NHL Bridgestone Winter Classic – N.Y. Rangers vs. Buffalo Sabres – Monday, Jan. 1, at 1 p.m. ET on NBC

Rangers Host Alex Ovechkin and Washington Capitals in Metropolitan Division Clash on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN

NBCSN to Air Episode 3 of “Road to the NHL Winter Classic Presented by Honda” Immediately Following Capitals-Rangers; Encores of Episodes 2 and 3 on NBC on New Year’s Eve

Thursday Doubleheader on NBCSN – Bruins-Capitals at 7:30 p.m. ET, Followed by Golden Knights-Kings at 10 p.m. ET

Reigning Western Conference Champion Nashville Predators Face Minnesota Wild Friday at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN

STAMFORD, Conn. – December 26, 2017 – NBC Sports presents the 10th anniversary of the NHL’s signature regular-season game on New Year’s Day, as Jack Eichel and the Buffalo Sabres face off against Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers in the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Citi Field in New York City on Jan. 1, 2018, at 1 p.m. ET on NBC.

This week’s NHL coverage begins tomorrow night on NBCSN, as Lundqvist and the Rangers host Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals at 8 p.m. ET. Pre-game coverage begins with NHL Live at 7 p.m. ET. In addition, NBCSN will air Episode 3 of the critically-acclaimed “Road to the NHL Winter Classic Presented by Honda” docuseries, which takes viewers behind the scenes as the Rangers and Sabres prepare for the Winter Classic, immediately following the Capitals-Rangers matchup on Wednesday. NBC will air encore presentations of Episodes 2 and 3 of “Road to the NHL Winter Classic” on Sunday, Dec. 31, at 5 p.m. ET.

Coverage continues on Thursday with a doubleheader, as Patrice Bergeron and the Boston Bruins visit Washington at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, followed by a Pacific Division-clash between Marc-Andre Fleury and the Vegas Golden Knights and Jonathan Quick and the Los Angeles Kings at 10 p.m. ET. Friday night’s NHL action features P.K. Subban and the Nashville Predators against Ryan Suter and the Minnesota Wild at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

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.

NHL WINTER CLASSIC – RANGERS-SABRES – MONDAY, JANUARY 1, AT 1 P.M. ET ON NBC

The Rangers (19-13-4) have won three of their last five games and sit five points behind the first-place New Jersey Devils (21-9-5) in the Metropolitan Division. Through 36 games, Mats Zuccarello leads the team in points (29). New York plays Washington on Wednesday, followed by Detroit on Friday.

New York will make its second appearance in the NHL Winter Classic on Monday. The Rangers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers by a score of 3-2 in the 2012 edition of the Winter Classic.

The Sabres (9-20-7) split their last two games and visit the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils before facing the Rangers in the 10th annual NHL Winter Classic. Buffalo hosted the inaugural NHL Winter Classic in 2008 at Ralph Wilson Stadium, a 2-1 shootout loss to Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Five-time Emmy Award-winning play-by-play commentator Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick, former player, coach, general manager and analyst Mike Milbury, and Emmy Award-winning ‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst Pierre McGuire will have the call of the Rangers-Sabres Winter Classic showdown from Citi Field, home of Major League Baseball’s New York Mets.

NHL Live host Liam McHugh will be on-site at Citi Field alongside former players and analysts Jeremy Roenick, Keith Jones and Milbury to provide pre-game and post-game analysis, as well as commentary during intermissions.

Last week, Emrick, Milbury, McGuire, and executive producer Sam Flood, previewed the upcoming NHL Winter Classic on a media conference call. Click here for a full transcript.

CAPITALS-RANGERS – WEDNESDAY AT 8 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Capitals (22-13-2) are 8-2-1 in December and sit one point behind the Metropolitan Division-leading Devils. Washington has totaled 38 goals this month, led by Alex Ovechkin, who has tallied five goals and 12 points during that span.

Kenny Albert (play-by-play), Milbury (analyst) and McGuire (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will call Capitals-Rangers from Madison Square Garden in New York City.

BRUINS-CAPITALS – THURSDAY AT 7:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Bruins (19-10-5) have won four straight games, with victories coming against the Red Wings, Jets, Sabres and Blue Jackets, respectively. Patrice Bergeron netted two goals to lead Boston past Detroit, 3-1, on Saturday. The Bruins have won 13 of their last 17 games since losing four straight games in November.

John Forslund (play-by-play) and McGuire (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will have the call from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS-KINGS – THURSDAY AT 10 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Golden Knights (23-9-2) have won four consecutive games and eight of their last 10 games overall. Vegas shutout Washington, 3-0, on Saturday, giving Marc-Andre Fleury his first shutout with Vegas. The Golden Knights have totaled the fifth-most goals (117) this season. James Neal leads the team in goals (17), while teammate Jonathan Marchessault ranks first in points (32). Vegas visits the Anaheim on Wednesday.

The Kings (22-11-4) have won two of their last three games and are currently tied with the Golden Knights atop the Pacific Division. Los Angeles was shutout by San Jose, 2-0, on Saturday. Anze Kopitar leads the team in points (40) and goals (17).

Dave Goucher (play-by-play) and Jim Fox (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will have the call from Staples Center in Los Angeles.

PREDATORS-WILD – FRIDAY AT 8 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The defending Western Conference-champion Predators (21-9-5) fell to the Stars on Saturday, 4-3, in a shootout. Nashville currently sits a point behind St. Louis for the Central Division lead, and is 16-4-3 in its last 23 games. Filip Forsberg leads the team in points (33) and goals (15).

The Wild (18-15-3) look to snap a two-game skid following losses to Tampa Bay and Florida over the weekend. Eric Staal leads the team in points (31) and is tied for the team-lead in goals (14).

Dave Goucher (play-by-play) and Brian Boucher (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will call the action from Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.

Following is this week’s NHL coverage on NBCSN:

Date Coverage Network Time (ET)
Weds., Dec. 27 NHL Live NBCSN 7 p.m.
Washington at New York NBCSN 8 p.m.
NHL Overtime* NBCSN 10:45 p.m.
Road to the NHL Winter Classic – Episode 3 NBCSN 11:30 p.m.
Thurs., Dec. 28 NHL Live NBCSN 6:30 p.m.
Boston at Washington^ NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Vegas at Los Angeles NBCSN 10 p.m.
NHL Overtime* NBCSN 12:30 a.m.
Fri., Dec. 29 NHL Live NBCSN 7 p.m.
Nashville at Minnesota NBCSN 8 p.m.
NHL Overtime* NBCSN 10:45 p.m.
 Sun., Dec. 31 Road to the NHL Winter Classic – Episode 2 (Encore) NBC 5 p.m.
Road to the NHL Winter Classic – Episode 3 (Encore) NBC 5:30 p.m.
Mon., Jan. 1 2018 Bridgestone Winter Classic – N.Y. Rangers vs. Buffalo NBC 1 p.m.

*immediately following game coverage
^subject to local blackout


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