NBC Sports Group Presents Pair of NHL Preseason Games on NBCSN

Hockey is back as NBC Sports presents a pair of NHL preseason games this week, highlighted by the 2017 Kraft Hockeyville USA matchup featuring the St. Louis Blues and the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

This week's coverage also features the first-ever NHL preseason game played in China, when the Vancouver Canucks face off against the Los Angeles Kings live from Shanghai on Thursday at 7:30 a.m. ET on NBCSN, as part of the 2017 NHL China Games.

2017 KRAFT HOCKEYVILLE USA - BLUES VS. PENGUINS SUNDAY AT 8 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

This year marks the third season of the Kraft Hockeyville USA campaign, whose mission is to help build better hockey communities across the country. The Penguins hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena in Johnstown, Pa., in 2015, while the Buffalo Sabres faced the Carolina Hurricanes at Lakeview Arena on the shores of Lake Superior in Marquette, Mich., last year.

Rostraver Ice Garden in Belle Vernon, Pa., won this year's competition, which includes $150,000 in arena upgrades, but is unable to host this year's game, which will be played at the UMPC Lemieux Sports Complex in nearby Cranbury, Pa.

NBCSN's telecast will honor the rich hockey history of the local Belle Vernon community, highlighted by a first intermission feature on the Rostraver Ice Garden, and a live interview with Chris Kostick, who wrote the winning essay on behalf of Rostraver Ice Garden.

The telecast will also feature footage from community events in Belle Vernon surrounding Kraft Hockeyville USA, including a youth hockey game hosted by the Penguins, a local parade, and the Penguins red carpet arrival at Rostraver Ice Garden, where the Penguins will conduct practice prior to the game. Sunday's game serves as a preview for the regular-season opener on NBCSN on Wednesday, Oct. 4, which will feature the Blues and Penguins at 8 p.m. ET.

Five-time Emmy Award-winning play-by-play commentator Mike 'Doc' Emrick and Emmy Award-winning 'Inside-the-Glass' analyst Pierre McGuire will call the action live from the arena. In addition, Kathryn Tappen (host) and Jeremy Roenick (analyst) will also be on-site to provide studio coverage and updates throughout the game.

CANUCKS VS. KINGS LIVE FROM SHANGHAI, CHINA - THURSDAY MORNING AT 7:30 A.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Canucks and Kings face off in the first-ever NHL preseason game played in China live on Thursday morning on NBCSN. This will be the first of two games played this week as part of the 2017 NHL China Games. Thursday's game will be played at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, followed by a second clash between the Canucks and Kings on Saturday in Beijing.

Players on the trip for the Kings include Jonathan Quick, Drew Doughty, and Anze Kopitar, while the Canucks' roster is highlighted by brothers Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin.

Brendan Burke (play-by-play) and Pierre McGuire (analyst) will call the action. Kathryn Tappen (host), Keith Jones (analyst), and Brian Boucher (analyst) will provide studio coverage.

To post a comment, you must register and login.