FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, January 22nd, 2018

NBC SPORTS PRESENTS LIVE COVERAGE OF 2018 HONDA NHL® ALL-STAR WEEKEND LIVE FROM TAMPA ON SUNDAY AT 3:30 P.M. ET ON NBC

Coverage of the NHL All-Star Weekend Begins Saturday with 2018 GEICO NHL® Skills Competition at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Second Straight Year NBC Sports Showcases 3-on-3 Event on Network Television

Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick & Brian Boucher Discuss the 2018 NHL All-Star Weekend

Auston Matthews and Toronto Maple Leafs Face Patrick Kane and Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday Night Rivalry at 8 p.m. ET

This Week’s Coverage Begins Tonight with Lightning-Hawks on NBCSN at 8:30 p.m. ET

STAMFORD, Conn. – January 22, 2018 – NBC Sports surrounds the 2018 NHL All-Star Weekend in Tampa, Fla., with comprehensive live coverage on NBCSN and NBC, culminating with the 2018 Honda NHL® All-Star Game on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC, the second consecutive year NBC Sports has showcased the exciting 3-on-3 tournament on network television.

Coverage of the NHL All-Star Weekend begins Saturday with the GEICO NHL® All-Star Skills Competition from Amalie Arena at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

In addition, NBCSN’s Wednesday Night Rivalry travels to Chicago this week, as Patrick Kane and the Blackhawks host Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN. This week’s NHL coverage on NBCSN begins tonight when Chicago hosts NHL points leader Nikita Kucherov and the Atlantic Division-leading Lightning at 8:30 p.m. ET. NBCSN’s coverage also includes a pair of games in Detroit this week. Henrik Zetterberg and the Red Wings host Claude Giroux and the Flyers on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by Red Wings-Blackhawks on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming platforms for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs – will provide streaming coverage of NHL All-Star Weekend.

Five-time Emmy Award-winner Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick (play-by-play), former player, general manager and head coach Mike Milbury (analyst), and Brian Boucher (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will call the All-Star Game on Sunday. Kathryn Tappen anchors studio coverage with analysts and former players Jeremy Roenick and Keith Jones, as well as Milbury. Kenny Albert (play-by-play), Roenick and Boucher will provide commentary for the All-Star Skills Competition on Saturday.

2018 HONDA NHL® ALL-STAR GAME – SUNDAY AT 3:30 P.M. ET ON NBC

The 2018 Honda NHL® All-Star Game will feature the high-octane 3-on-3 format for the third consecutive season, pitting the four divisions (Metropolitan, Atlantic, Central, and Pacific) against each other in a tournament format. The captains for each division are Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals) in the Metropolitan, Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay Lightning) in the Atlantic, P.K Subban (Nashville Predators) in the Central, and Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) in the Pacific.

2018 GEICO NHL® ALL-STAR SKILLS COMPETITION – SATURDAY AT 7:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The 2018 GEICO NHL® All-Star Skills competition will feature six events that will showcase the NHL’s top talent. Each of the 44 All-Stars will compete in at least one of the six rounds of skill-based contests.

  • Enterprise NHL Fastest Skater
  • Dunkin’ Donuts NHL Passing Challenge
  • Geico NHL Save Streak
  • Gatorade NHL Puck Control Relay
  • PPG NHL Hardest Shot
  • Honda NHL Accuracy Shooting


EMRICK & BOUCHER ON THE 2018 NHL ALL-STAR WEEKEND:

Emrick on the excitement of the 3-on-3 format: “If you live hockey every day, you dream up all-time fantasy teams.  Do you put Ovechkin and Crosby together with Letang as a threesome for the Metropolitan?  Certainly Kucherov and Stamkos for the Atlantic?  Who gets to play with McDavid for the Pacific?  Does Braden Holtby get another shutout for the Metropolitans like he did in Los Angles?  Hey, it’s an offensive show — but I’m ready for skill, great 3-on-3 hockey, and hoping for some surprises.”

Boucher: “The addition of 3-on-3 has been one of the best things for the game, whether we’re talking about regular-season overtime or the exciting format of the All-Star Game. As the minutes wind down, the intensity ratchets up, and I think it’s just the competitive nature of these players. You’re playing a game you want to win. The 3-on-3 allows them to bring out the best attributes in their game.”

Boucher on Tampa Bay hosting the All-Star Game: “It’s a pretty darn good hockey market. The fans in Tampa know a good product when they see it. This is a great hockey city, it’s a place where people want to come and enjoy a game. It’s going to be a great venue for the All-Star Game, and I anticipate the fans in Tampa are going to be watching some great hockey well into the Playoffs this year with the team the Lightning have.”

Boucher on handicapping the All-Star Game: “You could flip a coin, but I like the Atlantic Division the most. I’m not sure it gets any better than their talent up front, but of course any team is capable of winning it. It’s hard to go against the Metro Division, but with four Lightning players, plus their head coach, I think the Atlantic will get a little bit of a home-ice advantage and a push from the fans.”

WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIVALRY – MAPLE LEAFS-BLACKHAWKS AT 8 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Maple Leafs (26-17-5, 57 pts) scored three goals in the third period to defeat the Senators, 4-3, on Saturday. Matthews registered his 20th goal of the year in the final period, and currently leads the team in both goals and points (35). Toronto sits third in the Atlantic Division, five points behind Boston for second.

The Blackhawks (22-18-6, 50 pts) look to rebound from a two-game losing streak after starting the month 4-2-0. Kane leads the team in both points (48) and goals (20) through 46 games.

Emrick (play-by-play), Milbury (analyst) and Ray Ferraro (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will call the action from United Center in Chicago.

LIGHTNING-BLACKHAWKS – TONIGHT AT 8:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Lightning (31-12-3, 65 pts) lead the Atlantic Division outright despite having lost three consecutive games. Kucherov leads the NHL with 61 points and is currently tied for second in goals (27), respectively. Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy leads the league in wins (27).

Rick Peckham (play-by-play) and Brian Engblom (analyst) will call the action from United Center in Chicago.

FLYERS-RED WINGS – TUESDAY AT 7:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Flyers (23-16-8, 54 pts) are 7-2-0 in January, with key wins coming against the Devils, Blues and Capitals. Travis Konecny scored the game-winner in overtime to lift Philadelphia past Washington, 2-1, on Sunday on NBC and extend its winning streak to three games. Claude Giroux currently leads the team in points (55), while Jakub Voracek leads the NHL in assists (45).

The Red Wings (18-20-7, 43 pts) look to bounce back from two consecutive losses to the Hurricanes and Stars. Through 45 games, Dylan Larkin leads the club in points (36) and assists (29).

Chris Cuthbert (play-by-play) and Boucher (analyst) will call the action from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich.

BLACKHAWKS-RED WINGS – THURSDAY AT 7:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The two former division rivals face off for the second time in less than two weeks. The Red Wings blanked the Blackhawks, 4-0, on Sunday, Jan. 14, on NBC.     

Alex Faust (play-by-play) and Boucher (analyst) will have the call from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich.

Following is NBC Sports’ NHL All-Star Weekend television schedule:

Date Coverage Network Time (ET)
Mon., Jan. 22 NHL Live NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Chicago NBCSN 8:30 p.m.
NHL Overtime NBCSN 11:15 p.m.
Tues., Jan. 23 NHL Live NBCSN 6:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Detroit NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
NHL Overtime NBCSN 10:15 p.m.
Weds., Jan. 24 NHL Live NBCSN 7 p.m.
Wednesday Night Rivalry – Toronto at Chicago NBCSN 8 p.m.
NHL Overtime NBCSN 10:45 p.m.
Thurs., Jan. 25 NHL Live NBCSN 6:30 p.m.
Chicago at Detroit NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
NHL Overtime NBCSN 10:15 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 27 NHL Live NBCSN 7 p.m.
2018 GEICO NHL All-Star Skills Challenge NBCSN 7:30 p.m.
  NHL Overtime NBCSN 9:30 p.m.
Sun., Jan. 28 2018 Honda NHL All-Star Game NBC 3:30 p.m.

–NBC SPORTS–