NBC Sports Group Cable Networks to Provide Side-By-Side Telecasts of 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs

NBC Sports Group's comprehensive coverage of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs begins with five first-round games on Wednesday night, the first night of two months of Stanley Cup Playoff hockey - and "There's Nothing Like Playoff Hockey." In order to televise as many as five games on a given day/night during the first round, NBC Sports Group will present matchups on NBC, NBCSN and NHL Network, as well as NBCUniversal's USA Network, the No. 1 cable entertainment network, and CNBC, NBCUniversal's business channel.

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 and CNBC, all via "TV Everywhere."

NBCSN, USA Network, and NHL NETWORK will combine to present five Game 1 matchups on Wednesday. NBCSN's Game 1 coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET, when the (WC1) New York Rangers visit the (1) Montreal Canadiens, and shifts west at 9:30 p.m. ET, when the (2) Minnesota Wild host the (3) St. Louis Blues.

USA Network's Game 1 doubleheader begins Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET, when the defending Stanley Cup champion (2) Pittsburgh Penguins host the (3) Columbus Blue Jackets, and continues at 10 p.m. ET, when the (2) Edmonton Oilers welcome the (3) San Jose Sharks. NHL Network's Game 1 coverage on Wednesday features the (3) Boston Bruins at the (2) Ottawa Senators at 7 p.m. ET.

Coverage begins Wednesday night at 6 p.m. ET with NHL LIVE on NBCSN. On most nights of the first round, NBC Sports Group will produce two versions of NHL LIVE (one for NBCSN, one for USA Network/CNBC) from separate studios at its International Broadcast Center located in Stamford, Conn. NHL LIVE will feature a combination of hosts Liam McHugh, Kathryn Tappen, and Paul Burmeister, and analysts and former players Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, Jeremy Roenick and Anson Carter.

NBC SPORTS 2017 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS CONFERENCE CALL TRANSCRIPT

NBC Sports NHL commentators Mike "Doc" Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire, and Jeremy Roenick, as well as Executive Producer Sam Flood, previewed the upcoming 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs on a media conference call earlier this afternoon. Click here for a full transcript of today's Stanley Cup Playoffs preview.

GAME 1 BROADCAST TEAMS

NBC Sports Group has announced Game 1 broadcast pairings for the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Four-time Emmy Award-winning play-by-play commentator Mike "Doc" Emrick, U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member and analyst Eddie Olczyk, and Emmy Award-winning 'Inside-the-Glass' analyst Pierre McGuire will serve as the lead commentary team throughout the postseason and into the Stanley Cup Final. Following are NBC Sports Group's Game 1 broadcast teams.

Game 1 Matchup Play-by-Play Analysts
NYR-MTL Gord Miller Ray Ferraro
BOS-OTT Bob Cole Greg Millen
CBJ-PIT Mike "Doc" Emrick Pierre McGuire
STL-MIN John Forslund Brian Boucher
SJ-EDM Brendan Burke Mike Johnson
TOR-WSH Dave Strader Brian Boucher
NSH-CHI Kenny Albert Pierre McGuire
CGY-ANA Rick Ball John Garrett
NBC Sports Group's first-round broadcast teams will also include Chris Cuthbert, Joe Micheletti, and Eddie Olczyk.

NBCSN, CNBC, USA NETWORK, NBCSPORTS.COM, AND THE NBC SPORTS APP TO PROVIDE SIDE-BY-SIDE COVERAGE OF FIRST-ROUND GAMES IN LOCAL MARKETS FOR FIRST TIME

For the first time since NBC Sports Group acquired NHL rights prior to the 2005-06 season, coverage of Stanley Cup Playoff first-round games on NBCUniversal cable networks (NBCSN, CNBC, USA Network) as well as NHL Network, will air side-by-side in local markets alongside regional sports network game telecasts. In addition, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will provide streaming coverage of every first-round game. Prior to this season, NBC Sports' national first-round cable telecasts were blacked out in all local U.S. markets. (Local television and streaming blackouts will still apply in Boston and Pittsburgh in the first round).

In order to televise as many as five games on a given day/night, NBC Sports Group will utilize NBC, NBCSN, USA Network, CNBC and the NHL NETWORK to carry first-round games. Local blackouts for games on cable will no longer apply (excluding Boston and Pittsburgh, where no streaming will be available), so fans in all markets will have the ability to watch their team on NBC Sports' national telecasts and digital platforms. Click here for more information.

NBC SPORTS GROUP STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF GAME 1 COVERAGE

WEDNESDAY

(WC1) NEW YORK RANGERS AT (1) MONTREAL CANADIENS - GAME 1 AT 7 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

This marks the first time the Rangers and Canadiens have met in the postseason since the 2014 Eastern Conference Final, when New York defeated Montreal in six games to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. Canadiens goaltender Carey Price missed the majority of that series, after suffering an injury in a collision with Rangers forward Chris Kreider in Game 1. Montreal won all three matchups this season with New York to sweep the season series. The Canadiens went 16-7-1 in the final five weeks of the season under head coach Claude Julien, who replaced Michel Therrien in late February.

(3) BOSTON BRUINS AT (2) OTTAWA SENATORS - GAME 1 AT 7 P.M. ET ON NHL NETWORK

Boston and Ottawa meet in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time ever, as both clubs qualified for the playoffs this year after missing the 2016 postseason. The Bruins surged in the final two months with an 18-8-1 record under interim head coach Bruce Cassidy, led offensively by Brad Marchand, who finished the season tied for fourth in the NHL with 39 goals. Ottawa's playoff push was led by goaltender Craig Anderson, who finished the year tied for third in the league with a .926 save percentage. The Senators defeated the Bruins by a score of 2-1 in a shootout on Thursday to clinch a postseason berth, their fourth win in against Boston in four regular season matchups this season.

(3) COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS AT (2) PITTSBURGH PENGUINS - GAME 1 AT 7:30 P.M. ET ON USA NETWORK

The Blue Jackets take on the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins for the first time since their first-round encounter in 2014, when Pittsburgh defeated Columbus in six games. Pittsburgh finished the season with the second-most points in the league (111) behind Washington, and led the league in goals scored (278). Sidney Crosby finished the season as the NHL's leading goal-scorer (44). Columbus's Cam Atkinson scored a career-high 35 goals this season, while netminder Sergei Bobrovsky led the NHL in goals against average (2.06) and save percentage (.931). The two clubs split the four-game season series, with the home team winning all four games.

(3) ST. LOUIS BLUES AT (2) MINNESOTA WILD - GAME 1 AT 9:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

St. Louis and Minnesota meet in the postseason for the second time in three seasons. In 2015, the Wild defeated the Blues in six games in their first-round matchup. Vladimir Tarasenko once again led St. Louis in scoring, tied for fourth in the NHL with 39 goals, following a 40-goal output last season. Minnesota scored the second-most goals in the league (263), and goaltender Devan Dubnyk finished the season in the top 10 in goals against average (2.25) and save percentage (.923). The Blues edged the Wild by a count of 3-2 in the season series.

(3) SAN JOSE SHARKS AT (2) EDMONTON OILERS - GAME 1 AT 10 P.M. ET ON USA NETWORK

Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in a decade and will face the defending Western Conference champion San Jose Sharks. McDavid led the NHL with 100 points this season (30g/70a), while Leon Draisaitl had a breakout season for Edmonton with 77 points (27g/50a). San Jose enters the postseason dealing with injuries to Logan Couture and Joe Thornton, but boasts a healthy Brent Burns, who led all NHL defensemen with 76 points (29g/47a) this year. The Oilers won the final three games of the five-game season series with the Sharks, including a 4-2 win in San Jose on April 6.

THURSDAY

(WC2) TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS AT (1) WASHINGTON CAPITALS - GAME 1 AT 7 P.M. ET ON USA NETWORK

Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals are coming off of their second consecutive Presidents' Trophy, following a league-leading 120 points this season. The Caps aim to bounce back from their second-round loss to Pittsburgh last postseason. Braden Holtby followed up his Vezina Trophy-winning campaign in 2015-16 by leading the league in wins (42) and shutouts (9). Rookie phenom Auston Matthews has propelled the Maple Leafs to the playoffs with 40 goals, tied for second in the NHL, along with 61-point rookie seasons by Mitch Marner and William Nylander. Toronto returns to the postseason for the first time since 2012-13, when they lost their first-round series in seven games to Boston, and have reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs for just the second time in the last 12 season.

(WC2) NASHVILLE PREDATORS AT (1) CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS - GAME 1 AT 8 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Blackhawks and Predators meet in the first round for the second time in the past three seasons. Chicago defeated NASHVILLE in six games in 2014-15 en route to their Stanley Cup title. The Blackhawks finished the season with the best record in the Western Conference (109 pts), and look to avenge their first-round loss against St. Louis in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs. NASHVILLE hopes to build on their second-round exit last season against San Jose, their third appearance in the second round in the last six seasons. Chicago's Patrick Kane followed his MVP season in 2015-16 with 89 points this season, tied with Sidney Crosby for second in the league. NASHVILLE boasts a balanced offensive attack, led by Ryan Johansen, and 12 skaters with at least 10 goals this season. Chicago has won the Stanley Cup three times in the past six seasons (2010, 2013, 2015).

(WC1) CALGARY FLAMES AT (1) ANAHEIM DUCKS - GAME 1 AT 10:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

Anaheim is coming off its fifth consecutive Pacific Division title, but suffered a first-round defeat to the Predators last season. Ryan Kesler had a strong season for Anaheim with 58 points, his highest output since the 2010-11 season. Calgary's Johnny Gaudreau (61 pts) posted his third-straight 60-point campaign. The Flames will need to overcome their road woes in Anaheim in order to advance - Calgary has lost 27 consecutive games against the Ducks in Anaheim, an NHL record, dating back to the 2003-2004 season.

Following is NBC Sports Group's Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round television schedule through Wed., April 19.

Date Coverage Network Time (ET)
Wed., April 12 Game 1 - (WC1) N.Y. Rangers at (1) Montreal NBCSN 7 p.m.
Game 1 - (3) Boston at (2) Ottawa NHL NETWORK 7 p.m.
Game 1 - (3) Columbus at (2) Pittsburgh usa network 7:30 p.m.
Game 1 - (3) St. Louis at (2) Minnesota NBCSN 9:30 p.m.
Game 1 - (3) San Jose at (2) Edmonton usa network 10 p.m.
Thur., April 13 Game 1 - (WC2) Toronto at (1) Washington usa network 7 p.m.
Game 1 - (WC2) NASHVILLE at (1) Chicago NBCSN 8 p.m.
Game 1 - (WC1) Calgary at (1) Anaheim NBCSN 10:30 p.m.
Fri., April 14 Game 2 - (3) Columbus at (2) Pittsburgh NHL NETWORK 7 p.m.
Game 2 - (WC1) N.Y. Rangers at (1) Montreal usa network 7 p.m.
Game 2 - (3) St. Louis at (2) Minnesota NBCSN 8 p.m.
Game 2 - (3) San Jose at (2) Edmonton NBCSN 10:30 p.m.
Sat., April 15 Game 2 - (3) Boston at (2) Ottawa NBC 3 p.m.
Game 2 - (WC2) Toronto at (1) Washington NBCSN 7 p.m.
Game 2 - (WC2) NASHVILLE at (1) Chicago NBC 8 p.m.
Game 2 - (WC1) Calgary at (1) Anaheim NBCSN 10:30 p.m.
Sun., April 16 Game 3 - (2) Minnesota at (3) St. Louis NBC 3 p.m.
Game 3 - (2) Pittsburgh at (3) Columbus CNBC 6 p.m.
Game 3 - (1) Montreal at (WC1) N.Y. Rangers NBCSN 7 p.m.
Game 3 - (2) Edmonton at (3) San Jose NBCSN 10 p.m.
Mon., April 17 Game 3 - (2) Ottawa at (3) Boston CNBC 7 p.m.
Game 3 - (1) Washington at (WC2) Toronto NBCSN 7 p.m.
Game 3 - (1) Chicago at (WC2) NASHVILLE CNBC 9:30 p.m.
Game 3 - (1) Anaheim at (WC1) Calgary NBCSN 10 p.m.
Tue., April 18 Game 4 - (1) Montreal at (WC1) N.Y. Rangers NBCSN 7 p.m.
Game 4 - (2) Pittsburgh at (3) Columbus CNBC 7:30 p.m.
Game 4 - (2) Edmonton at (3) San Jose NBCSN 10 p.m.
Wed., April 19 Game 4 - (1) Washington at (WC2) Toronto NBCSN 7 p.m.
Game 4 - (2) Ottawa at (3) Boston usa network 7:30 p.m.
Game 4 - (2) Minnesota at (3) St. Louis NBCSN 9:30 p.m.
Game 4 - (1) Anaheim at (WC1) Calgary usa network 10 p.m.
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 50 million U.S. households. NBC Sports Regional Networks serve the hometown fans of the Chicago Blackhawks, 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 CSN's 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.

NBCSPORTS.COM & NBC SPORTS APP

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will stream all Stanley Cup Playoff games to desktops, tablets, and connected TVs. The NBC Sports app will stream coverage via "TV Everywhere," giving consumers additional value to their subscription service, and making high-quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. Powered by Playmaker Media, the NBC Sports app is available on Apple iOS, Android and select Samsung devices, as well as on Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Win10, and Xbox.

Image courtesy of NBC.

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