FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 11th, 2014
2014 STANLEY CUP FINAL NOTES & QUOTES – GAME 4 – LOS ANGELES KINGS VS. NEW YORK RANGERS
STAMFORD, Conn. – June 11, 2014 – NBC Sports Group continued its exclusive coverage of the Stanley Cup Final tonight with Game 4 between the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers on NBCSN. NBC Sports Live Extra – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets – provided comprehensive streaming coverage of Game 4.
Emmy Award-winning play-by-play broadcaster Mike “Doc” Emrick, analyst Eddie Olczyk, and Emmy Award-winning “Inside the Glass” analyst Pierre McGuire had the call of Game 4 from Madison Square Garden in New York City, where the Rangers defeated the Kings 2-1.
Coverage began at 7 p.m. ET with NBCSN and NHL Live, hosted by Dave Briggs alongside former NHL players and analysts Anson Carter and Jeremy Roenick among the fans outside the Madison Square Garden concourse.
Coverage shifted inside Madison Square Garden at 7:30 p.m. ET with host Liam McHugh and former NHL players and analysts Mike Milbury and Keith Jones.
Tonight’s pre-game coverage included a one-on-one live interview with NBC Sports’ Josh Elliott and NBC Sports tennis analyst and longtime Rangers fan John McEnroe. NHLLive also featured an interview with longtime New York Rangers fan, and Inside The Actors Studio host, James Lipton
NHL Live
(7-8 p.m. ET)
Roenick on the Rangers: “There is nothing like being up against the hurdle of being down 3-0. The Rangers need someone to go out there tonight and have an extra special performance.”
Roenick: “The Rangers are squeezing their sticks too tight. They are too nervous.”
Lipton on who in the NHL deserves a best actor award: “Anyone on the Montreal Canadiens.”
Lipton on getting to spend a night with the Stanley Cup: “I’ve won an Emmy Award, which is a great thing. We have been on the air with our show for 20 years. Having the Stanley Cup is better. It was without question one of the greatest nights of my life. The Stanley Cup has an aura that no other trophy possesses.”
Carter on Kings RW Justin Williams: “He has done everything. He brings it all for the Kings. He scores big goals and makes big plays. He makes the guys around him better. He never shies away from the big moments. In three Game 7’s, he has 5 points.”
McEnroe on the Rangers: “I would keep reminding them that LA came back from being down 3 – love in the first round. If you win this game, and steal one in LA, the momentum shifts.”
McEnroe on Game 2: “As usual, the referee robbed the Rangers in Game 2, but I don’t know anything about that. (laughing)”
McHugh: “One thing I’m not having trouble believing is that John McEnroe is finding something wrong with the officiating.”
Pre-Game
Milbury on the Kings performance in Game 3: “They sent a message that they were going to take emotional control of the matchup. They now have that.”
Jones on how the Rangers can beat Kings G Jonathan Quick: “It takes the players on the New York Rangers taking his eyes away.”
Milbury on Kings C Jeff Carter: “This guy has been a major impact player for the LA Kings.”
First Period
Olczyk on the Rangers: “At times they have had the LA Kings on the run. If they play fast, play consistent, and rely on their goaltender, the Rangers might find themselves playing a Game 5 in LA.”
Olczyk, at 13:27 in the first period, on how to score on Jonathan Quick: “Jonathan Quick’s strength are down low. There is tons of room upstairs. You are not going to score down low, to Pierre’s point, on Jonathan Quick. Especially a second chance opportunity or a scramble. You have to think high, and hard, and elevation. You have to throw those hands up towards the crossbar.”
Emrick: “Why will they not score low on Quick?”
Olczyk: “Because that is where he is. He is down on his knees taking away that area. He just goes down and says I am going to take away the bottom of the net. When you have the opportunity, you have to hold that puck a second longer, when you go up against a goal tender like Jonathan Quick who takes away the bottom of the net. When he is down there, he is not going to be able to cover the top of the net, and he’s banking on you being able to make a perfect shot. You have to hold on to that puck a second longer. Goal scorers have that patience.”
Note: Exactly one minute later, at 12:37 in the first period, Rangers Benoit Pouliot redirected John Moore’s slap shot high into the net to score the first goal of the game and give the Rangers a 1-0 lead.
First Intermission
Jones on Rangers: “I thought they were outstanding in the first period. Ryan McDonagh is playing incredibly well.”
Second Period
Olczyk on Rangers: “You have got to empty the tank. You have a 1-0 lead, and there is no tomorrow.”
Second Intermission
Milbury on Henrik Lundqvist: “It’s all on the goaltender. Henrik Lundqvist has been outstanding. He will be a busy, busy man in the third period.”
Jones on Kings: “I would not change a thing. If I’m Darryl Sutter, I keep things as is.”
Third Period
McGuire on Rick Nash: “Every time Rick Nash touches the puck, it feels like there is a force field in front of the net.”
Emrick on Kings final shot on goal: “It did not appear to cross the line. It stayed in a miniature snow fort there.”
Emrick: “Everyone here is standing.”
Emrick: “It’s going to take five.”
Emrick: “They will not be swept. In two night’s they will do it again.”
Post Game
Roenick on Lundqvist: “Henrik Lundqvist was spectacular.”
Jones on Kings:“Lundqvist was the story, but I thought the LA Kings played their best game of the series.”
–NBC SPORTS GROUP–
