NBC Sports Group To Present Every Stanley Cup Playoff Game For Seventh Consecutive Season

For the seventh consecutive year, every NHL Stanley Cup Playoff game will be presented nationally across NBC Sports platforms and select NBCUniversal networks. During April, May, and June, NBC Sports Group will televise as many as 105 playoff games, and possibly more than 260 hours of programming. The excitement of Stanley Cup Playoff hockey - and "There's Nothing Like Playoff Hockey" - begins one week from today, Wednesday, April 11.

This year is the 13th consecutive season that NBC and NBCSN will combine to cover the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and NBC is scheduled to present up to 19 exclusive Stanley Cup Playoff games. Overall, coverage will be presented on NBC, NBCSN and NHL Network, as well as NBCUniversal's USA Network, the No. 1 cable entertainment network, and CNBC, NBCUniversal's widely-distributed business channel. usa network and CNBC will be utilized during first- and second-round coverage.

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app - NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs - will provide complete streaming coverage of every game of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs that is televised by NBC, NBCSN, USA Network, and CNBC.

Locally, NBC Sports Regional Networks will surround the Flyers (NBC Sports Philadelphia), Capitals (NBC Sports Washington), Bruins (NBC Sports Boston), and Sharks (NBC Sports California) with first-round game coverage and in-depth live-event news coverage. NBCSports.com will provide comprehensive online coverage of the playoffs with online-only video, contributions from NBC Sports insiders, and constant news updates from ProHockeyTalk.

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 the second consecutive postseason, NBC Sports' coverage of Stanley Cup Playoff first-round games on NBCUniversal cable networks (NBCSN, usa network and CNBC), as well as NHL Network, will air side-by-side and will be available for streaming on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app in local markets alongside regional sports network game telecasts. (Local blackouts apply in Las Vegas and Pittsburgh in the first round).

FIRST ROUND

Every first-round Stanley Cup Playoff game will be televised on a national platform.

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 NHL NETWORK to carry first-round games. Local blackouts for games on cable no longer apply (excluding Las Vegas and Pittsburgh), so fans in all markets will have the ability to watch or stream their team on NBC Sports' national telecasts and digital platforms.

NBCSN will be the primary home of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, offering coverage of one or two games virtually every night of the first round. NBC will present six exclusive first-round broadcasts during the weekends of April 14-15 and April 21-22, including a pair of Saturday primetime broadcasts on Saturday, April 14, and Saturday, April 21, at 8 p.m. ET.

USA Network, CNBC, and NHL NETWORK will also provide live coverage in primetime, airing games on a majority of nights.

SECOND ROUND

NBC Sports Group's Stanley Cup Playoff exclusivity originates with the second round and continues through the Stanley Cup Final. All games will air exclusively on NBC, NBCSN, USA Network, or CNBC, and will stream exclusively on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.

In addition, NBC will present a second-round Stanley Cup Playoff game immediately following live coverage of the KENTUCKY DERBY on Saturday, May 5. This is the third consecutive year in which NBC has aired a Stanley Cup Playoff game immediately following the Kentucky Derby.

NBCSN will serve as the primary home for second-round coverage, offering one or two games virtually every night. When necessary, usa network and CNBC will provide live coverage in primetime, although less frequently than in the first round.

CONFERENCE FINALS

NBC, NBCSN, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will provide exclusive coverage of the Eastern and Western Conference Finals. For the third consecutive season, NBC will present a primetime Conference Final game immediately following live coverage of the Preakness Stakes, on Saturday, May 19. The remaining games from both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals will be televised exclusively on NBCSN.

STANLEY CUP FINAL

For the 13th consecutive year, NBC, NBCSN, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will provide exclusive coverage of the Stanley Cup Final. NBC will broadcast Game 1, Game 4, and Games 5-7 (if necessary), with NBCSN televising Games 2-3.

STUDIO COVERAGE

Comprehensive pre-game, post-game, and intermission studio programming throughout the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs will originate from NBC Sports Group's state-of-the-art International Broadcast Center located in Stamford, Conn., except during the Stanley Cup Final, when live studio coverage will originate from the game sites.

During the first round, NBC Sports Group will operate two studio shows. On most weeknights, fans can expect NHL studio programming for games airing on NBCSN and USA Network/CNBC, sometimes simultaneously. NHL LIVE will usually begin one hour prior to game time, with post-game coverage airing immediately after the final game of the night.

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.

SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT

NBC Sports will provide NHL fans and followers the best of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs in real time via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and NBCSports on Snapchat with behind-the-scenes access to talent and the best moments of the Playoffs. With an extensive social engagement strategy, NBC Sports will hone in on the moments which remind fans that "There's Nothing Like Playoff Hockey."

• "Last Night on The Stanley Cup Playoffs" - NBC Sports will treat each night of the postseason like your favorite television dramatic series, churning out relevant, daily content highlighting the most memorable moments from each night's games;

• The "Social Sin Bin" - NBC Sports' social team will cover every minute of every playoff game, serving as the "Social Sin Bin" for all Stanley Cup Playoff social media content, spanning from on-site coverage to NBC Sports International Headquarters in Stamford, Conn.

All of the very best Stanley Cup Moments will be posted socially within seconds, not only giving hockey fans the viral moments they crave, but also tagging these moments to help spread awareness in the most timely manner.

NBC Sports' Stanley Cup Playoffs talent roster will get in on the social media action as well. From the booth and in the studios, the NHL on NBC Facebook page will bring fans inside the studio with Facebook Live segments with hosts and analysts.

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