FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 30th, 2015
DAY 16 – SECOND ROUND OF NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS BEGINS TONIGHT WITH GAME 1 DOUBLEHEADER ON NBCSN
Game 1 – (2) Capitals-(1) Rangers – Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN
Game 1 – (3) Flames-(1) Ducks – Tonight at 10 p.m. ET on NBCSN
Second Round Schedule and Commentators Announced Through Game 4
IIHF World Hockey Championship Coverage Begins Tomorrow – Team USA vs. Finland at 10 a.m. ET
STAMFORD, Conn. – April 30, 2015 – NBC Sports Group kicks off its exclusive second-round coverage of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs tonight with a Game 1 doubleheader on NBCSN, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET when Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers host Alex Ovechkin and the (2) Washington Capitals.
Coverage continues at 10 p.m. ET on NBCSN, when Johnny Gaudreau and the (3) Calgary Flames visit Ryan Getzlaf and the (1) Anaheim Ducks in Game 1 of their second-round series.
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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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All Stanley Cup Playoff games will be presented on NBC, NBCSN, USA Network, CNBC and NHL Network. NBC Sports Live Extra – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets – will provide streaming coverage of games airing on NBC, NBCSN, USA Network and CNBC via “TV Everywhere.”
For more information on NBC Sports Group’s overall NHL Playoff coverage, please click here.
THE PASS – THURSDAY, APRIL 30 (All times ET)
| Time | Coverage | Network | Commentators |
| 6:30 p.m. | NHL Live | NBCSN | Liam McHugh, Mike Milbury, Keith Jones |
| 7:30 p.m. | Game 1 – (2) Washington at (1) N.Y. Rangers | NBCSN | John Forslund, Pierre McGuire |
| 10 p.m. | Game 1 – (3) Calgary at (1) Anaheim | NBCSN | Dave Strader, Brian Engblom |
TONIGHT, APRIL 30
Tonight’s Game 1 doubleheader coverage on NBCSN begins at 6:30 p.m. ET with hour-long pre-game coverage on NHL Live. Liam McHugh hosts NHL Live tonight, alongside analysts and former players Mike Milbury and Keith Jones.
GAME 1 – (2) CAPITALS-(1) RANGERS – TONIGHT AT 7:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
The Capitals and Rangers renew their playoff rivalry tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET, with Game 1 of their second-round series on NBCSN. The Caps advanced in the bracket following a 2-1 Game 7 win against the New York Islanders on Monday night, while the Rangers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in five games.
The two teams have split their last four playoff series dating back to 2009, and three of those four series have required seven games. In their most recent series in 2013, Henrik Lundqvist posted shutouts in Games 6 and 7 to help the Rangers overcome a 3-2 series deficit. The Rangers won three of four games against the Capitals in the regular season, despite five goals from Alex Ovechkin.
John Forslund (play-by-play) and Inside-the-Glass analyst Pierre McGuire will have the call from Madison Square Garden in New York.
GAME 1 – (3) FLAMES-(1) DUCKS – TONIGHT AT 10 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
Calder Trophy candidate Johnny Gaudreau and the Calgary Flames begin their second-round series in Anaheim tonight against the top-seeded Ducks at 10 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Calgary defeated the Vancouver Canucks for their first postseason series victory since 2004, as Gaudreau recorded three points (1g/2a) in a 7-4 come-from-behind Game 6 win to advance. The Ducks eliminated the Winnipeg Jets in four games, erasing three third-period deficits en route to the sweep.
The Ducks have recorded a 14-4-2 record in their last 20 games against the Flames, dating back to 2010. Calgary goaltender and former Duck Jonas Hiller, who spent seven seasons in Anaheim, will start Game 1 in net for the Flames.
Dave Strader (play-by-play) and Brian Engblom (Inside-the-Glass analyst) will call the action from the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
SECOND ROUND SCHEDULE AND COMMENTATORS ANNOUNCED THROUGH GAME 4
Following is NBC Sports Group’s telecast and game commentator schedule through Friday, May 8, subject to change:
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THURSDAY, APRIL 30 |
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| Time (ET) | Coverage | Network | Commentators |
| 7:30 p.m. | Game 1 – (2) Washington at (1) N.Y. Rangers | NBCSN | John Forslund, Pierre McGuire |
| 10 p.m. | Game 1 – (3) Calgary at (1) Anaheim | NBCSN | Dave Strader, Brian Engblom |
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FRIDAY, MAY 1 |
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| 7 p.m. | Game 1 – (2) Tampa Bay at (1) Montreal | NBCSN | Kenny Albert, Joe Micheletti |
| 9:30 p.m. | Game 1 – (4) Minnesota at (3) Chicago | NBCSN | Mike “Doc” Emrick, Pierre McGuire |
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SATURDAY, MAY 2 |
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| 12:30 p.m. | Game 2 – (2) Washington at (1) N.Y. Rangers | NBC | Kenny Albert, Joe Micheletti, Pierre McGuire |
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SUNDAY, MAY 3 |
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| 6 p.m. | Game 2 – (2) Tampa Bay at (1) Montreal | NBCSN | Kenny Albert, Joe Micheletti |
| 8:30 p.m. | Game 2 – (4) Minnesota at (3) Chicago | NBCSN | Mike “Doc” Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire |
| 10 p.m. | Game 2 – (3) Calgary at (1) Anaheim | CNBC | Dave Strader, Brian Engblom |
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MONDAY, MAY 4 |
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| 7:30 p.m. | Game 3 – (1) N.Y. Rangers at (2) Washington | NBCSN | John Forslund, Pierre McGuire |
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TUESDAY, MAY 5 |
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| 8 p.m. | Game 3 – (3) Chicago at (4) Minnesota | NBCSN | Mike “Doc” Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire |
| 9:30 p.m. | Game 3 – (1) Anaheim at (3) Calgary | USA Network | Dave Strader, Brian Engblom |
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 6 |
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| 7 p.m. | Game 3 – (1) Montreal at (2) Tampa Bay | USA Network | Chris Cuthbert, Joe Micheletti |
| 7:30 p.m. | Game 4 – (1) N.Y. Rangers at (2) Washington | NBCSN | John Forslund, Pierre McGuire |
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THURSDAY, MAY 7 |
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| 7 p.m. | Game 4 – (1) Montreal at (2) Tampa Bay | NBCSN | Kenny Albert, Joe Micheletti |
| 9:30 p.m. | Game 4 – (3) Chicago at (4) Minnesota | NBCSN | Mike “Doc” Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire |
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FRIDAY, MAY 8 |
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| 7 p.m. | Game 5* – (2) Washington at (1) N.Y. Rangers | NBCSN | John Forslund, Pierre McGuire |
| 9:30 p.m. | Game 4 – (1) Anaheim at (3) Calgary | NBCSN | Dave Strader, Brian Engblom |
* if necessary
IIHF WORLD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP COVERAGE BEGINS TOMORROW – TEAM USA VS. FINLAND AT 10 A.M. ET
NBC Sports Group begins its extensive coverage of the 2015 IIHF World Hockey Championship tomorrow at 10 a.m. ET on NBCSN, when Team USA faces off against Finland in its tournament opener.
NBCSN and NBC Sports Live Extra will combine to present more than 40 hours of coverage from the IIHF World Hockey Championship, including all Team USA games. This year’s Team USA roster features 2015 Hobey Baker Award-winner Jack Eichel, widely regarded as a top prospect in this year’s NHL Draft.
Click here for more information on NBC Sports Group’s IIHF World Hockey Championship coverage.
GAMES TELEVISED SO FAR
For the fourth consecutive year, NBC, NBCSN, USA Network, CNBC and NHL Network are combining to televise every Stanley Cup Playoff game nationally.
| Network | Games |
| NBC | 8 |
| NBCSN | 23 |
| USA Network | 6 |
| CNBC | 9 |
| NHL-N | 1 |
| Total | 47 |
One-goal Games: 22
OT games: 10
COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL COVERAGE
Comprehensive coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs will be provided daily via NBC Sports Regional Networks, available in more than 50 million U.S. households. Comcast SportsNet Chicago and Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic will provide the hometown fans of the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals, respectively, with comprehensive coverage throughout their teams’ Stanley Cup Playoff runs, including pre- and post-game shows and extensive on-line coverage via Comcast SportsNet’s team of NHL Insiders.
NBC SPORTS LIVE EXTRA COVERAGE
NBC Sports Live Extra – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets – will stream comprehensive coverage of games airing on NBC, NBCSN, USA Network and CNBC on NBC Sports Live Extra 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. The NBC Sports Live Extra app is available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play and Windows Store.
For more information about NBC Sports Group shows and properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios and headshots, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com.
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