FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013
LOS ANGELES KINGS ATTEMPT TO HOLD HOME ICE ADVANTAGE AS DETROIT RED WINGS FIGHT FOR POSTSEASON SPOT, ON NBC SPORTS NETWORK’S “WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIVALRY” AT 7:30 P.M. ET
NBC and NBC Sports Network Conclude 2012-13 Regular Season With Eight NHL Games Over Five Days, Including Tripleheader on Saturday
Devils-Rangers, Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC
Sharks-Kings, Saturday Night at 10:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network
NHL Live, Weeknights at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network
NEW YORK – April 23, 2013 —NBC and NBC Sports Network conclude the 2013 NHL regular season this week with seven games over four days, including a tripleheader on Saturday. Games include teams ranging from conference leaders – Chicago (Western) and Pittsburgh (Eastern) – to those fighting for their playoff lives – Detroit, Minnesota, and New York Rangers.
Tomorrow night on the final installment of the inaugural season of Wednesday Night Rivalry, Henrik Zetterberg and the Detroit Red Wings (50 pts.) host Dustin Brown and the Los Angeles Kings (57 pts.) at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Mich., on NBC Sports Network’s Wednesday Night Rivalry at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Kings, who are in fourth place in the Western Conference, have clinched a spot in the playoffs and are fighting to keep their home-ice advantage on the San Jose Sharks (55pts.), who are in fifth place in the conference standings. The Red Wings, currently ninth in the West, have lost six of their last 10 games, and need as many points as possible to keep their playoff hopes and 21-year postseason streak alive. Emmy Award-winning play-by-play commentator Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick, analyst Eddie Olczyk and ‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst Pierre McGuire will call the game.
Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. ET with NHL Live, NBC Sports Group’s NHL pregame show. Liam McHugh hosts NHL Live from Studio 2 at NBC Sports Group’s International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., and will be joined by analysts and former NHL players Mike Milbury and Keith Jones.
EDDIE OLCZYK ON KINGS-RED WINGS:
“The defending Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings have already clinched a playoff spot and, just like last season, the team is continuing to get stronger at just the right time. Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard is playing playoff caliber hockey, but the rest of the Red Wings need to step up if they want to keep the team’s 21-year postseason streak alive. The Kings want to keep their home-ice lead on San Jose and the Red Wings need every point they can get to make the playoffs.”
PIERRE MCGUIRE ON KINGS-RED WINGS:
“The Los Angeles Kings are playing great hockey, a robust brand that involves skill and speed. The Detroit Red Wings need every point to qualify for the Playoffs. This is a Game 7 during the regular season for Detroit, and goalie Jimmy Howard is going to have to be extra special. This is it for the Red Wings and the Kings know it.”
In addition to NBC Sports Network’s Wednesday Night Rivalry matchup between the Kings and Red Wings, NBC and NBC Sports Network will also deliver coverage of seven other games over four days, including a Saturday tripleheader:
• San Jose Sharks-Phoenix Coyotes, Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network
• Pittsburgh Penguins-New Jersey Devils, Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network
• Calgary Flames-Chicago Blackhawks, Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network
• New Jersey Devils–NY Rangers, Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC
• Detroit Red Wings-Dallas Stars, Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network
• San Jose Sharks-Los Angeles Kings, Saturday night at 10:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network
• Ottowa Senators-Boston Bruins, Sunday night at 7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network
SHARKS-COYOTES, WEDNESDAY NIGHT
In bonus coverage on Wednesday night at 10 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network, the San Jose Sharks (55 pts.) travel to Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Ariz. to take on the Coyotes (46 pts.). The Sharks are in fifth place in the Western Conference standings and trail the defending Stanley Cup Champion Kings by just two points, in a race for home-ice advantage. Randy Hahn (play-by-play), Drew Remenda (analyst) and Brodie Brazil (reporter) will call the game.
PENGUINS-DEVILS, THURSDAY NIGHT
On Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET, the New Jersey Devils (44 pts.) host the Pittsburgh Penguins (70 pts.) at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. The Penguins sit on top of the Eastern Conference standings and are three points shy of holding the best record in the NHL (Chicago-73). Dave Strader (play-by-play) and Brian Engblom (‘Inside-the-Glass’) will call the game.
FLAMES-BLACKHAWKS, FRIDAY NIGHT
In bonus coverage on Friday night, the league-leading Chicago Blackhawks (73 pts.), who started the season with a record-breaking 22-game point streak, host the Calgary Flames (42 pts.) at the United Center in Chicago, Ill.. Pat Foley (play-by-play) and Eddie Olczyk (analyst) will call the game at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network.
DEVILS-RANGERS, SATURDAY
NHL on NBC coverage will continue on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET with an important Atlantic Division matchup between the New Jersey Devils (44 pts.) and New York Rangers (52 pts.). The Rangers currently hold the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, but New York is tied with the Ottawa Senators (52 pts.) in points and only hold a one-point lead over the Winnipeg Jets (51 pts.). Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick (play-by-play), Eddie Olczyk (analyst) and Pierre McGuire (‘Inside-the-Glass’) will call the action from Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y.
RED WINGS-STARS, SATURDAY NIGHT
Saturday night on NBC Sports Network, the Detroit Red Wings will travel to American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas., to take on the Stars (48 pts.) at 7 p.m. ET in a game that could determine the final playoff spot in the West. Dave Strader (play-by-play) and Brian Engblom (‘Inside-the-Glass’) will call the game.
SHARKS-KINGS, SATURDAY NIGHT
In the late game on Saturday night, the defending Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings host the San Jose Sharks at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif., at 10 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. The Kings and Sharks are separated by only two points and this game could determine who has home-ice advantage in the playoffs. Randy Hahn (play-by-play), Drew Remenda (analyst) and Brodie Brazil (reporter) will call the game.
SENATORS-BRUINS, SUNDAY NIGHT
In bonus coverage on Sunday night, the Ottowa Senators (52 pts.) travel to TD Bank Garden in Boston, Mass. to take on the Boston Bruins (59 pts.). The Bruins are in second place in the Eastern Conference and have clinched a spot in the playoffs, but the team is trying to stay ahead of Northeast Division rival Montreal Canadiens (59 pts.). The Senators are currently in eight place in Eastern Conference standings, but are in a very close race with the New York Rangers (52 pts.) and Winnipeg Jets (51 pts.)
NHL LIVE and NHL OVERTIME
NHL studio programming throughout the 2013 season will originate from NBC Sports Group’s new, state-of-the-art International Broadcast Center located in Stamford, Conn. NHL Live, NBC Sports Network’s pregame show, will air prior to every game, usually beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.
NHL Overtime airs most weeknights at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. NHL Overtime is hosted by Bill Patrick and former NHL C Jeremy Roenick. NHL Overtime examines all NHL games played each night and features news, highlights, and analysis.
NBC Sports Network’s Upcoming Hockey Schedule (all times ET, subject to change):
| DATE | GAME |
TIME (ET) |
NETWORK |
| Wed., April 24 | NHL Live |
6:30 p.m. |
NBCSN |
| Wed., April 24 | Los Angeles at Detroit |
7:30 p.m. |
NBCSN |
| Wed., April 24 | San Jose at Phoenix |
10 p.m. |
NBCSN |
| Thurs., April 25 | NHL Live |
6:30 p.m. |
NBCSN |
| Thurs., April 25 | Pittsburgh at New Jersey |
7:30 p.m. |
NBCSN |
| Thurs., April 25 | NHL Overtime |
11:30 p.m. |
NBCSN |
| Fri., April 26 | NHL Live |
6:30 p.m. |
NBCSN |
| Fri., April 26 | Calgary at Chicago |
8:30 p.m. |
NBCSN |
| Fri., April 26 | NHL Overtime |
11:30 p.m. |
NBCSN |
| Sat., April 27 | New Jersey at New York |
3 p.m. |
NBC |
| Sat., April 27 | Detroit-Dallas |
7 p.m. |
NBCSN |
| Sat., April 27 | San Jose-Los Angeles |
10:30 p.m. |
NBCSN |
| Sun., April 28 | Ottowa-Boston |
7 p.m. |
NBCSN |
NHL VIEWERSHIP:
Through 12 games, NHL coverage on NBC has drawn 1.5 million average viewers, up 15% from the full 2011-12 regular-season average (1.3 million, excluding Winter Classic). Through 52 games, NBC Sports Network has drawn 404,000 average viewers, up 22% from the full 2011-12 regular-season average.
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