NBC & NBCSN's Stanley Cup Playoff Coverage Highlighted by Saturday's Penguins-Capitals Game

This weekend's Stanley Cup Playoff coverage on NBC and NBCSN is highlighted by a primetime elimination game Saturday night on NBC, immediately following the 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby. Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals look to stave off elimination in Game 5 against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, who lead the series 3-1. Puck drop of Penguins-Caps Game 5 is slated for 7:15 p.m. ET.

Three-time Emmy Award-winning play-by-play commentator Mike 'Doc' Emrick and Emmy Award-winning 'Inside-the-Glass' analyst Pierre McGuire will call the game from Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member and lead NHL on NBC analyst Eddie Olczyk will be absent from hockey coverage to serve as an analyst and handicapper for Saturday's Kentucky Derby coverage.

The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs bookend Kentucky Derby coverage on NBC on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. ET, when Jamie Benn and the Dallas Stars host David Backes and the St. Louis Blues with their series tied at two games apiece.

This weekend's action kicks off tonight at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN, when John Tavares and the New York Islanders look to draw even in Game 4 against Ben Bishop and the Tampa Bay Lightning, with Tampa Bay leading the series 2-1. NBC will present Game 5 of Isles-Lightning on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.

NBCSN will also present Game 5 coverage on Saturday night at 10 p.m. ET, as Joe Pavelski and the San Jose Sharks host Shea Weber and the NASHVILLE Predators, with their series tied 2-2.

Kenny Albert (play-by-play) and McGuire will call both Islanders-Lightning Games this weekend on NBC and NBCSN. Chris Cuthbert (play-by-play) and Brian Boucher ('Inside-the-Glass) will have the call of Sharks-Predators from SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. John Forslund (play-by-play) and Joe Micheletti('Inside-the-Glass') will call Blues-Stars from American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

BLUES-STARS AND PREDATORS-SHARKS OVERTIME THRILLERS PRODUCE STRONG LOCAL RATINGS

• St. Louis - Last night's Stars-Blues Game 4 produced a 15.8 rating in St. Louis to rank as the highest-rated Blues game ever on NBCSN in the market. NBCSN was the top network in the market during the game;

• Dallas - The Stars' Game 4 OT win delivered a 3.2 rating in Dallas to rank as the highest-rated Second Round Stars game on NBCSN in Dallas. NBCSN was the top cable network in the market during the game;

• Nashville - The Predators triple-overtime win on CNBC delivered a 3.8 rating in NASHVILLE to rank as the highest-rated Predators game on cable in the market since 2012. San Jose produced a 2.7 rating.

• THE PASS - FRIDAY, MAY 6-SUNDAY, MAY 8 (All times ET)

  FRIDAY, MAY 6
  Time	Coverage	Network	Commentators
  6 p.m.	NHL Live	NBCSN	Kathryn Tappen, Jeremy Roenick, Anson Carter
  7 p.m.	Game 4 - (2) Tampa Bay at (WC1) N.Y. Islanders	NBCSN	Kenny Albert, Pierre McGuire
  SATURDAY, MAY 7
  12:30 p.m.	NHL Live	NBC	Liam McHugh, Mike Milbury,Keith Jones
  1 p.m.	Game 5 - (2) St. Louis at (1) Dallas	NBC	John Forslund, Joe Micheletti
  7:15 p.m.	Game 5 - (2) Pittsburgh at (1) Washington	NBC	Mike 'Doc' Emrick, Pierre McGuire
  10 p.m.	Game 5 - (WC1) NASHVILLE at (3) San Jose	NBCSN	Chris Cuthbert, Brian Boucher
  	NHL Live (Intermission Reports)	NBCSN	Kathryn Tappen, Jeremy Roenick, Anson Carter
  SUNDAY, MAY 8
  3 p.m.	Game 5 - (WC1) N.Y. Islanders at (2) Tampa Bay	NBC	Kenny Albert, Pierre McGuire
  	NHL Live (Intermission Reports)	NBC	Liam McHugh, Mike Milbury,Keith Jones

  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, tablets, and connected TVs - 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.

  
  GAME 4 - (2) LIGHTNING AT (WC1) N.Y. ISLANDERS - TONIGHT AT 7 P.M. ET - LIGHTNING LEAD 2-1

  The Lightning stunned the Islanders with a 5-4 overtime win in Game 3 on Tuesday night, as NIKITA Kucherov scored the tying goal in the final minute of regulation, and Brian Boyle scored the game-winner 2:48 into overtime. Islanders forward Josh Bailey returned to THE LINEUP after missing two games with an upper-body injury and scored twice for New York in the loss. Isles captain John Tavares has been held without a point in two straight games after registering 11 points (6g/5a) in the first seven games of the postseason.

  
  GAME 5 - (2) BLUES AT (1) STARS - SATURDAY AT 1 P.M. ET ON NBC - SERIES TIED 2-2

  The Stars bounced back from a 6-1 loss in Game 3 with a 3-2 overtime win on Thursday night in Game 4 to even the series at two games apiece. St. Louis' Paul Stastny netted his first goal of the postseason late in the third period to tie the game and force overtime, but Dallas' Cody Eakin scored his first goal of the playoffs 2:58 into the extra stanza to give the Stars the series-tying victory.

  GAME 5 - (2) PENGUINS AT (1) CAPITALS - SATURDAY AT 7:15 P.M. ET ON NBC - PENGUINS LEAD 3-1

  The Penguins pushed the Caps to the brink of elimination with a 3-2 overtime win in Game 4 on Wednesday night, as Patric Hornqvist scored his fifth goal of the playoffs 2:34 into the OT to give Pittsburgh the win. Alex Ovechkin registered a team-high seven shots on goal for the Capitals, but was kept off the scoresheet after netting his first goal of the series in Game 3. All four games in this series have been decided by one goal.

  GAME 5 - (WC1) PREDATORS AT (3) SHARKS - SATURDAY AT 10 P.M. ET ON NBCSN - SERIES TIED 2-2

  After dropping two games in San Jose to open the series, the Predators return to San Jose with the series tied at two, following a thrilling 4-3 triple overtime win in Game 4 in Nashville. Predators forward Mike Fisher scored the game-winning goal on a rebound midway through the third overtime. San Jose appeared to win the game in the first overtime when Joe Pavelski scored on a rebound, but the goal was nullified after Pavelski was deemed to have interfered with Preds netminder Pekka Rinne.

  GAMES TELEVISED SO FAR

  For the fifth consecutive year, NBC, NBCSN, USA Network, CNBC and NHL NETWORK are combining to televise every Stanley Cup Playoff game nationally.

  Network	Games
  NBC	9
  NBCSN	34
  USA Network	6
  CNBC	11
  NHL Network	2
  Total	62

  One-goal Games: 37

  OT games: 13

  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 43 million U.S. households. NBC Sports Regional Networks serve the hometown fans of the San Jose Sharks and Washington Capitals, delivering extensive pre- and post-game coverage as well as breaking news and analysis throughout both teams' playoff runs.

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