NBC Sports Group's push for the Stanley Cup Playoffs is underway, with less than 36 hours until the puck drops on its comprehensive coverage of the 2015 postseason. It all begins tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN with pre-game coverage on NHL Live, followed by four Game 1 matchups across NBCSN, usa network and NHL Network.
Two-time Stanley Cup winner and current Florida Panthers forward Shawn Thornton will join NHL LIVE as a guest analyst this Thursday and Friday. Thornton recently completed his 18th season of professional hockey and first season with the Panthers. The veteran forward earned his first Stanley Cup win as a member of the Anaheim Ducks during the 2006-07 season, and was a member of the Boston Bruins' 2010-11 Stanley Cup-winning squad.
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, Russ Thaler and Dave Briggs, and analysts and former players Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, Jeremy Roenick and Anson Carter.
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