CROSBY VS. OVECHKIN BEGINS NBC SPORTS’ COVERAGE OF SECOND ROUND OF STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Game 1 Doubleheader on NBCSN – Penguins-Capitals at 7 p.m. ET, Followed by Sharks-Golden Knights at 10 p.m. ET

Pre-Game Coverage Begins at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN with NHL Live

Maple Leafs-Bruins Game 7 on NBCSN Delivers Network’s Best Overnight Delivery for Round 1 Game On Record

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 26, 2018 – NBC Sports begins its exclusive coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs tonight with a Game 1 doubleheader on NBCSN, beginning at 7 p.m. ET with the highly-anticipated battle between Sidney Crosby and the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals, as the rivals meet for the third consecutive postseason. The action on NBCSN shifts to the desert at 10 p.m. ET, as Marc-Andre Fleury and the expansion Vegas Golden Knights host Joe Pavelski and the San Jose Sharks.

Game 1 coverage continues tomorrow night on NBCSN at 8 p.m. ET with Jets-Predators, followed by Bruins-Lightning on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. Saturday’s coverage also features the Vegas Golden Knights in primetime on NBC at 8 p.m. ET in Game 2 of their series against San Jose.

NBC Sports.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 all remaining Stanley Cup Playoff games.
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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 – THURSDAY, APRIL 26 (All times ET)

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, CNBC, and Golf Channel, all via “TV Everywhere” throughout the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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

(2) PITTSBURGH PENGUINS AT (1) WASHINGTON CAPITALS – GAME 1 AT 7 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

For the third consecutive season, the Penguins and Capitals will square off in the Second Round. Pittsburgh has ended Washington’s Stanley Cup hopes each of the last two years en route to hoisting the Stanley Cup. The Penguins are facing the Caps for the 11^th time in the postseason, are 9-1 in those series, and have won seven consecutive playoff series vs. Washington. The two clubs split the four-game regular-season series.

This is the fourth time that Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin will clash in the playoffs (2009, 2016, and 2017), with Crosby and the Pens winning all three series. Crosby has 22 points (10g/12a) in 19 career postseason games against Washington, while Ovechkin has 26 points (12g/14a) in 20 career postseason games vs. Pittsburgh.

Ovechkin and Crosby have been the two most dominant players in the NHL since entering the league in 2004 and 2005, respectively. Drafted No. 1 overall in 2005, Crosby has won three Stanley Cups with the Pens and has totaled 411 goals, 705 assists and 1,116 points in his career. Ovechkin was drafted No. 1 overall in 2004, and has totaled 607 goals, 515 assists, and 1,122 points in his career. In nine of the past 11 seasons, and in each of the last six, either Crosby or Ovechkin has won the Rocket Richard Trophy, awarded to the league’s leading goal scorer.

(3) SAN JOSE SHARKS AT (1) VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS – GAME 1 AT 10 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Sharks and Golden Knights meet in the Second Round after both teams swept their respective opponents in the First Round. This is the eighth time in NHL history, and just the second time in 22 seasons, that two teams will meet after sweeping their preceding best-of-seven series. Both teams were led by stellar goaltending, as Vegas’ Fleury allowed just three goals in four games against Los Angeles, while San Jose’s Martin Jones allowed just four goals in four games against Anaheim.

Vegas scored just seven goals in their first-round series, an all-time record for the fewest goals scored to win a best-of-seven series. San Jose scored eight goals alone in its Game 3 win vs. Anaheim, and three different skaters – Evander Kane, Tomas Hertl, and Marcus Sorensen – scored three goals in the series. Vegas won three of four meetings against San Jose in the regular season.

MAPLE LEAFS-BRUINS GAME 7 ON NBCSN DELIVERS NETWORK’S BEST OVERNIGHT DELIVERY FOR ROUND 1 GAME ON RECORD

Last night’s Maple Leafs-Bruins Game 7 on NBCSN posted a 1.12 overnight rating to rank as the network’s best for a Round 1 game on record. Last night’s Game 7, in which Boston defeated Toronto, 7-4, to advance to the Second Round, was up 11% vs. the most recent Round 1 Game 7 on NBCSN in 2016 (CHI-STL, 1.01).

Digitally, Maple Leafs-Bruins delivered a total of 206,000 uniques and 12.8 million minutes, which are the most-ever for a Round 1 Game, and produced an Average Minute Audience of 68,700 viewers.

Following is NBC Sports Group’s Stanley Cup Playoffs second-round schedule through Friday, May 4.

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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 35 million U.S. households. NBC Sports Regional Networks serve the hometown fans of the Philadelphia Flyers, 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 NBC Sports’ 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.

ABOUT NBC SPORTS RADIO

NBC Sports Radio is a joint venture between NBC Sports Group and Westwood One and will broadcast select games throughout the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It provides sports talk programming to radio stations nationwide and is distributed by Westwood One. Content includes hourly sports news updates, daily features, and long-form shows. On social media, join the NBC Sports Radio community on Twitter at twitter.com/nbcsportsradio. To listen live or on demand, or to find a station, visit www.nbcsportsradio.com.

STREAMING COVERAGE 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 Stanley Cup Playoffs 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.

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app are powered by Playmaker Media and available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox, and Chromecast.
--NBC SPORTS GROUP--