NBC Sports to Air Coverage of STANLEY CUP Final Tonight

The battle for one of sports' most iconic trophies between two of the country's most iconic cities begins tonight on NBC at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, as the Los Angeles Kings host the New York Rangers in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. The series marks the first major professional sports league final between New York and Los Angeles in 33 years. NBC Sports Live Extra - NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets - will provide coverage starting at 7 p.m. ET.

Kenny Albert (play-by-play), Eddie Olczyk (analyst), and Emmy Award-winner Pierre McGuire ("Inside the Glass" analyst) will have the call of Game 1 from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles beginning at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Emmy Award-winner Mike "Doc" Emrick, who will miss Game 1 due to a death in his family, will return for the remainder of the series beginning with Game 2 on Saturday.

Coverage of Game 1 begins on NBCSN at 7 p.m. ET with NHL Live on-site at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Host Liam McHugh and analysts Mike Milbury, Jeremy Roenick and Jones will anchor NHL Live from inside the arena, while Dave Briggs and Anson Carter will provide commentary from a set outside of STAPLES Center.

The Rangers' last Stanley Cup title came in 1994, when New York defeated the Vancouver Canucks in seven games for its first Stanley Cup since 1940. The Kings defeated the New Jersey Devils in six games in 2012 for their first championship, and made their Stanley Cup debut in 1993 against the Canadiens.

Although this is their first encounter in the Stanley Cup Final, the Rangers have faced the Kings twice in Stanley Cup Playoff history. New York defeated Los Angeles both times in preliminary round series in 1979 and 1981.

Following is the television schedule for the 2014 Stanley Cup Final, all times Eastern and subject to change.

DATE	GAME	MATCHUP	NETWORK	TIME
Wed., June 4	Stanley Cup Final - Game 1	N.Y. Rangers at Los Angeles	NBC	8:00 p.m.
Sat., June 7	Stanley Cup Final - Game 2	N.Y. Rangers at Los Angeles	NBC	7:15 p.m.#
Mon., June 9	Stanley Cup Final - Game 3	Los Angeles at N.Y. Rangers	NBCSN	8:00 p.m.
Wed., June 11	Stanley Cup Final - Game 4	Los Angeles at N.Y. Rangers	NBCSN	8:00 p.m.
Fri., June 13	Stanley Cup Final - Game 5*	N.Y. Rangers at Los Angeles	NBC	8:00 p.m.
Mon., June 16	Stanley Cup Final - Game 6*	Los Angeles at N.Y. Rangers	NBC	8:00 p.m.
Wed., June 18	Stanley Cup Final - Game 7*	N.Y. Rangers at Los Angeles	NBC	8:00 p.m.

* if necessary

#Game 2 coverage will commence immediately following NBC Sports' coverage of the Belmont Stakes.

NEW YORK VS. LOS ANGELES - OFF THE ICE

The 2014 Stanley Cup Final between the Rangers and Kings is the first professional sports league final between New York and Los Angeles in 33 years. Bragging rights will be settled on the ice, but the New York vs. Los Angeles comparison has been an ongoing debate for decades. Below, a look at New York vs. Los Angeles - off the ice.

NEW YORK VS. LOS ANGELES - OFF THE ICE
CATEGORY	NEW YORK	LOS ANGELES
Nicknames	The Big Apple, The City That Never Sleeps	The City of Angels, Tinseltown
Tres Chic	Madison Avenue	Rodeo Drive
Music To Our Ears	Radio City Music Hall	Hollywood Bowl
On Stage/On Screen	Broadway	Hollywood
On The Diamond	Joe Torre	Tommy Lasorda
On The Court	Walt "Clyde" Frazier	Earvin "Magic" Johnson
Whodunnit?	Olivia Benson	Joe Friday
Today's Forecast	All four seasons, sunrises	Mostly sunny, sunsets
Fun In The Sun	Coney Island	Santa Monica Pier
In The Arena	Fans whistle into "Potvin S#!%s!" chant	Eric Cartman leads "Go Kings Go!" chant
Gretzky's Ours!	Three years, played last game as a Ranger	Eight years, led L.A. to first Cup Final
Hot Dogs!	Nathan's Famous	Pink's
Pastrami On Rye?	Katz's Delicatessen	Langer's Delicatessen
We Make A Mean...	Slice of pizza	Fish Taco
Don't Call It...	New Yawk	Cali

2014 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS MOST-WATCHED SINCE 1997 THROUGH THREE ROUNDS

Through three rounds, the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs are the most-watched in 17 years. NBC, NBCSN and CNBC have combined to average 1.187 million viewers for 86 games, up 11% vs. last year (1.074 million for 78 games) and the most since FOX, ESPN and ESPN2 combined to average 1.237 million for the first three rounds in 1997.

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