FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 12th, 2019

NBC SPORTS GROUP PRESENTS 12 NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF GAMES THIS WEEKEND, INCLUDING THREE MATCHUPS ON NBC

Game 2 Doubleheader Tonight on NBCSN – (3) Penguins-(2) Islanders at 7:30 p.m. ET, Followed by (3) Golden Knights-(2) Sharks at 10:30 p.m. ET

Game 2 CNBC Doubleheader Tonight – (WC2) Blue Jackets-(1) Lightning at 7 p.m. ET, and (3) Blues-(2) Jets at 9:30 p.m. ET

Three Games on NBC, Highlighted by Game 2 of (3) Maple Leafs-(2) Bruins Saturday at 8 p.m. ET & Game 3 of Penguins-Islanders Sunday at 12 p.m. ET

Florida Panthers Defenseman Keith Yandle to Serve as Guest Studio Analyst on April 15-16

NBC Sports Sees Viewership Increases and Milestones During First Two Nights of Stanley Cup Playoffs

STAMFORD, Conn. – April 12, 2019 – NBC Sports Group will present 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games this weekend featuring all 16 playoff teams across the networks of NBCUniversal, and the first three matchups of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on NBC.

NBCSN continues its coverage tonight with a doubleheader beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET, when the (2) New York Islanders host the (3) Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 2 of their First Round series. At 10:30 p.m. on NBCSN, the (2) San Jose Sharks will look to protect home ice in Game 2 against the (3) Vegas Golden Knights.

CNBC begins its coverage of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs tonight with a Game 2 doubleheader, beginning at 7 p.m. ET with the (WC2) Columbus Blue Jackets visiting the (1) Tampa Bay Lightning, followed by the (3) St. Louis Blues and (2) Winnipeg Jets at 9:30 p.m. ET.

This weekend’s coverage also features the first three games of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs on NBC, beginning Saturday at 3 p.m. ET with coverage of Game 2 of the (WC1) Carolina Hurricanes-(1) Washington Capitals series, followed by a primetime Original Six clash on Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET, when the (2) Boston Bruins host the (3) Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 2 of their series.

Sunday’s coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on NBC features Game 3 of the (2) New York Islanders-(3) Pittsburgh Penguins series at 12 p.m. 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 and CNBC via “TV Everywhere” throughout the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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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 – FRIDAY, APRIL 12-SUNDAY, APRIL 14 (All times ET)

 

FRIDAY, APRIL 12

Time Coverage Network Commentators
7 p.m. Game 2 – (WC2) Columbus at (1) Tampa Bay CNBC John Forslund,
Pierre McGuire
7:30 p.m. Game 2 – (3) Pittsburgh at (2) N.Y. Islanders NBCSN Kenny Albert, AJ
Mleczko, Brian Boucher
9:30 p.m. Game 2 – (3) St. Louis at (2) Winnipeg CNBC Gord Miller,
Ray Ferraro
10:30 p.m. Game 2 – (3) Vegas at (2) San Jose NBCSN Alex Faust,
Mike Johnson

SATURDAY, APRIL 13

3 p.m. Game 2 – (WC1) Carolina at (1) Washington NBC Brendan Burke,
Pierre McGuire
6 p.m. Game 2 – (WC1) Dallas at (1) Nashville CNBC Chris Cuthbert,
Joe Micheletti
8 p.m. Game 2 – (3) Toronto at (2) Boston NBC Mike “Doc” Emrick, Mike
Milbury, Brian Boucher
10:30 p.m. Game 2 – (WC2) Colorado at (1) Calgary NBCSN Gord Miller,
Ray Ferraro

SUNDAY, APRIL 14

12 p.m. Game 3 – (2) N.Y. Islanders at (3) Pittsburgh NBC Kenny Albert, AJ
Mleczko, Pierre McGuire
7 p.m. Game 3 – (1) Tampa Bay at (WC2) Columbus NBCSN John Forslund,
Brian Boucher
7:30 p.m. Game 3 – (2) Winnipeg at (3) St. Louis CNBC Chris Cuthbert,
Joe Micheletti
10 p.m. Game 3 – (2) San Jose at (3) Vegas NBCSN Alex Faust,
Mike Johnson

 

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

NBC SPORTS SEES VIEWERSHIP INCREASES AND MILESTONES DURING FIRST TWO NIGHTS OF STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

DAY 2

Across the first two nights on NBCSN and USA Network, the Stanley Cup Playoffs have posted a 0.42 overnight rating, up 5% vs. the first two nights of 2018 (NBCSN/CNBC/USA; 0.40).

Maple Leafs-Bruins  Game 1 delivered the top overnight rating of the night with a 0.53 on NBCSN, up 18% vs. the same matchup in the comparable window last year (0.45).

Note: Final viewership for Day 2 is not currently available.

DAY 1

Opening Night of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs across NBCSN, USA Network, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app had a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 519,000, which ranks as NBC Sports’ most-watched Stanley Cup Playoffs Opening Night in three years (2016, TAD of 680,000; 3 games). Compared to last year’s three-game lineup, Opening Night was up +3% (TAD of 506,000).

With a Total Audience Delivery of 758,000 average viewers, the Penguins-Islanders overtime game ranks as NBC Sports’ second-most watched Opening Night game delivery on record (behind 2012 with Philadelphia/Pittsburgh: 844,000 viewers) and was up 13% vs. NBCSN’s comparable game last year (Flyers-Penguins, 717,000 average viewers).

Across NBC Sports streaming platforms, Wednesday night was the most streamed Stanley Cup Playoffs Opening Night on record. The four games delivered a total of 206,000 unique devices and 17.4 million live minutes, up 20% and 36%, respectively, from 2018’s Opening Night (3 games).

REGULAR SEASON

The two-night increases for the Stanley Cup Playoffs follow a regular season that delivered viewership increases across all NBC Sports platforms. Combined viewership of the 2018-19 NHL regular season across NBC, NBCSN, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – which included a record 112 games as well as a record number of doubleheaders and games featuring Canadian and Western Conference teams –averaged a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 424,000 viewers, up 2% vs. the 2017-18 regular-season (105 games, 417,000).

FLORIDA PANTHERS DEFENSEMAN KEITH YANDLE TO SERVE AS GUEST STUDIO ANALYST ON APRIL 15-16

Florida Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle will join NBC Sports’ Stanley Cup Playoff coverage as a guest studio analyst on Monday, April 15, and Tuesday, April 16. A 13-year NHL veteran, Yandle played parts of nine seasons with the Coyotes organization, including the first seven games of his NHL career during the 2006-07 season, when he skated alongside former Coyote and current NHL on NBC analyst Jeremy Roenick. Yandle was Florida’s representative at the 2019 NHL All-Star Game, and recently completed his third season as a member of the Panthers where he currently serves as an alternate captain.


TONIGHT – APRIL 12

NHL Live, hosted by Kathryn Tappen, Patrick Sharp and Keith Jones, begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Liam McHugh, Jeremy Roenick, Eddie Olczyk and Anson Carter will anchor CNBC’s studio coverage.

NBCSN presents Game 2 of Penguins-Islanders at 7:30 p.m. ET, following the Islanders’ thrilling 4-3 overtime victory in Game 1. Josh Bailey scored the game-winner in overtime in Game 1 on Wednesday night, while goaltender Robin Lehner made 41 saves. NBCSN’s doubleheader continues at 10:30 p.m. ET, with Game 2 of the Golden Knights-Sharks series. The Sharks won 5-2 on Wednesday night, highlighted by a goal and assist each from Brent Burns and Evander Kane.

Game coverage on CNBC starts at 7 p.m. ET, when the Lightning look to bounce back and even their series against the Blue Jackets. Tampa Bay jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period of Game 1, but the Blue Jackets stormed back to score four straight goals to secure a 4-3 victory on Wednesday. CNBC’s doubleheader continues at 9:30 p.m. ET, when the Jets look to even their series at home against the Blues. The Blues defeated the Jets by a score of 2-1 on Wednesday night, as Tyler Bozak scored the go-ahead goal for St. Louis late in the third period.


SATURDAY, APRIL 13

NBC begins its 2019 Stanley Cup Playoff coverage with a pair of Game 2 matchups on Saturday, beginning with Hurricanes-Capitals at 3 p.m. ET, followed by Maple Leafs-Bruins at 8 p.m. ET. The Capitals jumped out to a 1-0 series lead with a 4-2 victory on Thursday night behind a two-goal performance from Nicklas Backstrom. The Maple Leafs defeated the Bruins 4-1 in Game 1 of their series on Thursday, highlighted by two goals from Mitch Marner.

CNBC will present Game 2 between the Stars and Predators at 6 p.m. ET. The Stars defeated the Predators on Wednesday by a score of 3-2, led by a goal and an assist from Miro Heiskanen and 30 saves from goaltender Ben Bishop. NBCSN will conclude the day’s coverage with Game 2 of Avalanche-Flames at 10:30 p.m. ET. Mike Smith recorded a 26-save shutout to propel Calgary to a 4-0 win in Game 1 on Thursday night.


SUNDAY, APRIL 14

NBC continues its 2019 Stanley Cup Playoff coverage on Sunday with a matinee at 12 p.m. ET, when the Penguins host the Islanders in Game 3 of their First Round series.

NBCSN’s Sunday Game 3 doubleheader begins at 7 p.m. ET with Lightning-Blue Jackets, followed by Sharks-Golden Knights at 10 p.m. ET. Sunday’s Stanley Cup Playoff coverage on CNBC will feature Game 3 of the Jets and Blues from St. Louis at 7:30 p.m. ET.


NBCSPORTS.COM STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF HUB SERVES AS HOME FOR SCORES, SCHEDULES AND HIGHLIGHTS

The Stanley Cup Playoff Hub on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will be the home for everything fans need to know about the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Stanley Cup Playoff Hub will feature up-to-the-minute scores, updated schedules, and highlights following the conclusion of each game.

In addition, ProHockeyTalk on NBCSports.com will provide previews and recaps throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs. ProHockeyTalk writers Sean Leahy, James O’Brien, Adam Gretz and Scott Billeck will deliver comprehensive coverage for the postseason. Following each night’s games, The Buzzer will recap the action and top moments of the evening around the league. Each morning, The Wraparound will set the table for that night’s slate of games.


COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL COVERAGE

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, as well as the MyTeams by NBC Sports app. NBC Sports Regional Networks serve the hometown fans of the San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins and the Washington Capitals. Bruins Insider Joe Haggerty, Caps Insiders Brian McNally and J.J. Regan, and Sharks Reporters Chelena Goldman and Marcus White will provide insight and analysis during First Round game coverage, pre- and post-game shows, online and on the myTeams app.

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.


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–