Day One Of NBCSN's Coverage of 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs Begins Tonight With Three Games

NBC Sports Group's comprehensive coverage of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs begins with three Game 1 matchups across NBCSN and CNBC tonight, the first night of two months of Stanley Cup Playoff hockey - and "There's Nothing Like Playoff Hockey."

Tonight's coverage on NBCSN and CNBC includes a Game 1 doubleheader on NBCSN, beginning at 7 p.m. ET, when the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion (2) Pittsburgh Penguins host their in-state rival (3) Philadelphia Flyers. Coverage continues on NBCSN at 10 p.m. ET, when (WC1) Los Angeles Kings visit the expansion (1) Vegas Golden Knights, which won the Pacific Division in the franchise's inaugural season this year.

CNBC's Stanley Cup Playoff coverage begins tonight with a Western Conference Game 1 matchup featuring the (3) Minnesota Wild and (2) Winnipeg Jets at 7 p.m. ET.

Pre-game coverage begins tonight at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN with NHL Live.

THE PASS - WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11 (All times ET)

Time	Coverage	Network	Commentators
6 p.m.	NHL Live	NBCSN	Liam McHugh, Mike Milbury, Eddie Olczyk, Keith Jones
7 p.m.	Game 1 - (3) Philadelphia at (2) Pittsburgh	NBCSN	John Forslund, Pierre McGuire
7 p.m.	Game 1 - (3) Minnesota at (2) Winnipeg	CNBC	Gord Miller, Darren Pang
	NHL Live (Intermission Reports)	CNBC	Kathryn Tappen, Keith Jones, Anson Carter
10 p.m.	Game 1 - (WC1) Los Angeles at (1) Vegas	NBCSN	Chris Cuthbert, Ray Ferraro, Jeremy Roenick

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app - NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and Connected TVs - will live stream all games airing on NBC, NBCSN, USA Network, CNBC, and Golf Channel, all via "TV Everywhere" throughout the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs/

For more information on NBC Sports Group's overall Stanley Cup Playoff coverage, please click here.

TONIGHT - APRIL 11 - NHL LIVE BEGINS AT 6 P.M ET ON NBCSN

NHL Live, hosted by Liam McHugh, Mike Milbury and Eddie Olczyk, begins at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Kathryn Tappen, Keith Jones and Anson Carter will anchor CNBC's studio coverage throughout the Wild-Jets game, and Jones will join NBCSN's studio coverage during the Kings-Golden Knights game.

(3) PHILADELPHIA FLYERS AT (2) PITTSBURGH PENGUINS - GAME 1 AT 7 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Flyers and Penguins will square off in The Battle for Pennsylvania for the first time in the postseason since 2012, when the Flyers defeated the Penguins in an electrifying six game series. The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins dominated the season series against the Flyers, winning all four matchups by a combined score of 20-11. Pittsburgh scored five goals in each game, led by Sidney Crosby, who had nine points (2g/7a) in the season series. Flyers captain Claude Giroux, who clinched his first-career 100-point season on Saturday with a hat trick against the Rangers, had four assists against the Penguins.

(3) MINNESOTA WILD AT (2) WINNIPEG JETS - GAME 1 AT 7 P.M. ET ON CNBC

Winnipeg won three of four meetings against Minnesota this season, however the most-recent matchup took place nearly three months ago (Jan. 13). Since that time, Winnipeg has posted a 26-7-3 record. The Jets' explosive offense was led by Patrik Laine's 44 goals, while goalie Connor Hellebuyck set a record for U.S.-born goaltenders with 44 wins. Minnesota is making its sixth consecutive playoff appearance, and was led this season by veteran Eric Staal, who paced the Wild in goals (42) and points (76).

(WC1) LOS ANGELES KINGS AT (1) VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS - GAME 1 AT 10 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Vegas Golden Knights were one of the biggest stories in the 2018 regular season, becoming the first-ever expansion team to win its division and make the playoffs in its first season. Vegas' historic inaugural regular season was highlighted by career performances across the board, including veteran goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who posted personal season bests in goals-against average (2.24) and save percentage (.927). The Kings allowed the fewest goals per game (2.46) in the regular season, and were led by Anze Kopitar, who set career highs in goals (35), assists (57), and points (92). The season series was even between the Kings and Golden Knights, with each team winning twice.

ANALYST JEREMY ROENICK TO REPORT ON-SITE FROM LAS VEGAS DURING GAME 1 OF KINGS-GOLDEN KNIGHTS ON WEDNESDAY

NHL on NBC analyst Jeremy Roenick will serve as on-site reporter in Las Vegas, Nev., during NBC Sports' coverage of Game 1 of the Los Angeles Kings-Vegas Golden Knights first-round series on Wednesday night on NBCSN.

Roenick will rove throughout the night at T-Mobile Arena, showcasing the unique elements of hockey in Vegas and illustrating the passion of the Vegas fanbase that has continued to grow through the Golden Knights' inaugural season. Coverage will also include reports from the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs Party outside of T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday night, as well as a feature on Roenick's time training with members of Cirque du Soleil, where Golden Knights players participated in a workout in February.

HULU NAMED PRESENTING SPONSOR OF NBC SPORTS' NHL LIVE THROUGHOUT STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Hulu, the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) and the National Hockey League (NHL®) announced a new partnership in which Hulu becomes an official sponsor of the NHLPA and the NHL for the entirety of the 2018 Stanley Cup® Playoffs and Final.

The comprehensive partnership features a national marketing campaign for Hulu across all League touchpoints including NBC Sports, the NHL's digital and social channels, as well as camera-visible, in-stadium inventory within all U.S. venues. To celebrate opening night of the 2018 Stanley Cup® Playoffs, Hulu will also be sponsoring the NHL's 2018 Stanley Cup® Playoffs Party held in Las Vegas on April 11. The "2018 Stanley Cup® Playoffs Party featuring Logic and presented by Hulu" will be free and open to fans outside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas at 5 p.m. PT.

The collaboration with Hulu also includes integration within all NBC broadcasts with on-air presenting sponsorship of NBC Sports' NHL LIVE pre-game show for the Stanley Cup® Playoffs as well as integration within the broadcast opening. Click here for more information.

COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL COVERAGE

Through the NBC Sports Regional Networks, comprehensive coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs will be provided daily via NBC Sports Regional Networks, available in more than 35 million U.S. households. NBC Sports Regional Networks serve the hometown fans of the Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins and the Washington Capitals, with first-round game coverage, pre- and post-game shows, and extensive on-line coverage via NBC Sports' team of NHL Insiders.

For teams that advance past the first round, NBC Sports Regional Networks will deliver extensive pre- and post-game coverage as well as breaking news and analysis throughout each team's playoff run.

STREAMING COVERAGE ON NBCSPORTS.COM AND THE NBC SPORTS APP

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app - NBC Sports Group's live streaming platforms for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs - will provide live streaming coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs 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.

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app are powered by Playmaker Media and available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox, and Chromecast.

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