FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, February 12th, 2013

“WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIVALRY” CONTINUES ON NBC SPORTS NETWORK WITH ST. LOUIS AT DETROIT AT 7:30 P.M. ET

“The Central Division has had the heaviest, fiercest and heated rivalries because of the toughness of the players.” – Jeremy Roenick

Friday Night Ice: College Hockey Action Friday on NBC Sports Network features No. 13 Boston University at Maine at 7 p.m. ET

Weekly Coverage in Addition to NBC Sports Group’s presentation of “Hockey Day in America” this Sunday

NEW YORK – Feb. 12, 2013Wednesday Night Rivalry continues tomorrow on NBC Sports Network when Central Division rivals, the St. Louis Blues and Detroit Red Wings, meet at 7:30 p.m. ET, live from Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Mich. The teams have already met three times this season with Detroit taking home two wins against the Blues, who defeated the Red Wings in the last game on Jan. 19. Currently, the Blues are just two points behind Detroit (15 points) in the Western Conference.

Emmy Award-winning play-by-play announcer Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick, analyst Eddie Olczyk and Pierre McGuire (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will be on-site for NBC Sports Network’s game tomorrow.

JEREMY ROENICK: “The Central Division has had the heaviest, fiercest and heated rivalries because of the toughness of the players. The division was by far the most physical in the NHL, and the Blues and Red Wings rivalry started to escalate in the late 90’s with the higher echelon of players coming to the forefront. That’s what I always enjoy watching, not only for the raw talent, but raw toughness.”

PIERRE MCGUIRE: “The Red Wings have embraced a grinding style that they apply with passion. Coach Mike Babcock has done a great job getting his players to buy in. Last year Blue’s Coach Ken Hitchcock got his players to buy into the same style. Can he do it again? If so, this game will be about hard hits, strong board play and excellent goaltending.”

MIKE ‘DOC’ EMRICK: “Fierce rivalries stem from being too familiar. Already the Red Wings and Blues have played three games in three weeks. 20 goals scored, misconducts with no suspensions have resulted in bad feelings. If you wear the Blue Note or the Winged Wheel, pictures on the dressing room wall of past matches and your ancestors who played in them remind you of what it all means.”

This Sunday, NBC Sports Group will celebrate the third annual “Hockey Day in America” by delivering nine hours of hockey coverage on NBC and NBC Sports Network, including numerous features that tell the story of America’s passion for hockey, weaved within an NHL tripleheader that features six U.S. teams. Coverage begins Sunday at Noon ET on NBC with NHL Live originating from Trump Rink in New York City’s Central Park. NBC Sports Network’s coverage that day will see the N.Y. Rangers host the Washington Capitals at 6 p.m. ET.

For more information about “Hockey Day in America” please visit NBCSportsPressBox.com.

NBC Sports Network’s NHL coverage will continue on Tues., Feb. 19 with the San Jose Sharks at the St. Louis Blues at 8 p.m. ET. Dave Strader (play-by-play) and Pierre McGuire (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will call the action in St. Louis, as well as Sunday’s coverage from New York

Next week’s Wednesday Night Rivalry will feature a doubleheader with Philadelphia at Pittsburgh at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by St. Louis at Colorado at 10 p.m. ET.

COLLEGE HOCKEY

In addition to the NHL, NBC Sports Network will resume Friday Night Ice, its college hockey programming, with No. 13 Boston University at Maine at 7 p.m. ET, live from Harold Alfond Sports Arena in Orono, Maine. Steve Schlanger will serve as play-by-play announcer alongside with ‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst Ken Hodge.

NBC and NBC Sports Network’s Upcoming Hockey Schedule (all times ET, subject to change):

DATE GAME

TIME (ET)

NETWORK

Wed., Feb. 13 St. Louis at Detroit

7:30 p.m.

NBCSN

Fri., Feb. 15 No. 13 Boston University at Maine (college)

7 p.m.

NBCSN

Sun, Feb. 17 HOCKEY DAY IN AMERICA
Pittsburgh at Buffalo

Noon

NBC

Los Angeles at Chicago

3 p.m.

NBC

Washington at N.Y. Rangers

6 p.m.

NBCSN

Tues., Feb. 19 San Jose at St. Louis

8 p.m.

NBCSN