VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. DALLAS STARS IN PIVOTAL WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL GAME 3 TONIGHT AT 8 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

Series Tied 1-1

Pre-Game Coverage Begins with NHL Live at 7 p.m. ET

Tomorrow – Lightning vs. Islanders Eastern Conference Final Game 3 at 8 p.m. ET on USA Network – Lightning Lead Series 2-0

“It’s a gutsy win for the Tampa Bay Lightning.” – Keith Jones on the Lightning’s Final-Second Game 2 Victory over the Islanders Last Night

Hockey Culture Interview with Arcadia University Head Coach Kelsey Koelzer Available Now

STAMFORD, Conn. – Sept. 10, 2020 – NBC Sports presents exclusive coverage of a pivotal Western Conference Final Game 3 between the Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars tonight at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Pre-game coverage begins with NHL Live at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

Vegas tied the series at 1-1 with a 3-0 shutout victory on Tuesday, behind two points from Paul Stastny and 24 saves from goaltender Robin Lehner. Tonight’s matchup will be NBC Sports’ 118^th game broadcast in the past 40 days since the NHL restart on August 1.

Kenny Albert (play-by-play), U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member Eddie Olczyk (analyst) and Emmy Award winner Pierre McGuire (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will call the matchup from Rogers Place in the NHL bubble in Edmonton, Alberta.

Kathryn Tappen will host tonight’s studio coverage alongside studio analysts Keith Jones and Patrick Sharp.

Earlier this week, Hockey Culture debuted an interview with Arcadia University head coach Kelsey Koelzer, the first black female head coach in NCAA hockey history. Koelzer and Carter discussed her childhood experiences playing hockey, thoughts on how to increase inclusivity in the sport and the importance of female voices within all levels of hockey. Highlighted quotes from the conversation are below:

Kelsey Koelzer on biases she encountered growing up playing hockey: “The first obstacle that I ever faced in hockey was being a girl as opposed to being a black player. So that’s something that I faced right off the bat, whether it was parents, players or coaches. I did feel, at times, targeting that girls will feel on the ice playing against the boys…getting through the negative comments of ‘being a girl playing a boy sport’ helped me because by the time that I faced ‘being black in a white sport,’ I was really prepared and had such thick skin that nothing was going to stop me from reaching my goals.”

Koelzer on how to increase inclusivity within the sport: “Once you get to the top level of NHL and women’s professional hockey, it’s a little too late at that point. I really think there’s a huge importance to be put on grassroots level activations…I think the NHL has made a great start in trying to expose the game to as many different people as possible…there are a lot of programs, but a lot of it stems from exposure to the younger generation.”

Koelzer on the importance of female voices in hockey: “Being a female and minority player, you know I’ve had to endure a lot to get to where I am…I can hang with the best of them…that on top of the accomplishments on the ice, being humble and still learn, take in, offer different viewpoints, is something unique that you can get from a female voice.”

Hockey Culture also features, among others, the following interviews:

• Vegas Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves
• Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi commentator Harnarayan Singh
• Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse
• Minnesota Wild forward J.T. Brown

Following is tonight’s Western Conference Final Game 3 schedule:

KEITH JONES AND ANSON CARTER DISCUSS LIGHTNING-ISLANDERS GAME 2

Following last night’s thrilling 2-1 Tampa Bay Lightning victory in the final seconds over the New York Islanders in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final, studio analysts Keith Jones and Anson Carter discussed the matchup:

Jones on Tampa Bay’s victory: “It’s a gutsy win for the Tampa Bay Lightning…anytime you win a playoff game it’s huge, but when your team steps up and a lot of guys do a lot of work based on the number of bodies you have left in the lineup, that’s a gigantic win for Tampa.”

Carter on the Islanders’ performance in Game 2: “That’s the recipe for the New York Islanders. That’s exactly how they have to play to beat this Tampa Bay Lightning team. Their fourth line, getting on the body consistently for 60 minutes, they just couldn’t weather the storm…they have to get something done on the power play.”

NBC SPORTS RADIO STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS BROADCAST SCHEDULE

In conjunction with Westwood One, NBC Sports Radio will broadcast every remaining game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including the Conference Finals and the Stanley Cup Final. The following is NBC Sports Radio and Westwood One’s Conference Finals broadcast schedule through Sunday, Sept. 13:

--NBC SPORTS--