WEDNESDAY NIGHT HOCKEY Starts Tonight on NBCSN

NBC Sports drops the puck on the 2018-19 NHL regular-season tonight on NBCSN, as Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals begin their title defense against Brad Marchand and the Boston Bruins in the debut of Wednesday Night Hockey at 7:30 p.m. ET. Coverage continues at 10:30 p.m. ET, when Erik Karlsson makes his debut with the San Jose Sharks against Ryan Getzlaf and the Anaheim Ducks.

NHL Live hosted by Kathryn Tappen, analysts Keith Jones and Jeremy Roenick, and NHL insider Bob McKenzie, will originate on-site from outside Capital One Arena to capture the scene prior to the raising of Washington's first-ever Stanley Cup championship banner.

Emrick, who returns for his 14th season as NBC Sports' lead NHL play-by-play commentator, U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member Eddie Olczyk and 'Inside-the-Glass' analyst Brian Boucher will call Bruins-Capitals from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. John Forslund and Emmy Award-winning 'Inside-the-Glass' analyst Pierre McGuire will have the call of Ducks-Sharks from SAP Center at San Jose in California.

Wednesday Night Hockey will present some of the most intriguing matchups of the 2018-19 NHL regular-season in primetime throughout the year.

Following is tonight's schedule:

Date	Coverage	Network	Time (ET)
Wed., October 3	NHL Live	NBCSN	6 p.m.
	Wednesday Night Hockey - Boston at Washington	NBCSN	7:30 p.m.
	Wednesday Night Hockey - Anaheim at San Jose	NBCSN	10:30 p.m.
	NHL Overtime	NBCSN	1 a.m.*

*Immediately following game coverage

BRUINS-CAPITALS AT 7:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Washington Capitals return to the ice for the first time after vanquishing the Vegas Golden Knights in five games in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final to capture their first-ever title. Captain Alex Ovechkin embarks on his 14th season following a career year in 2017-18, as he led the NHL in both postseason (15) and regular-season goals (49). In addition, Ovechkin surpassed 600 goals for his career and became the second player in the "Expansion Era" to lead the NHL in goals at 32 years or older. Washington is now led by first-year head coach Todd Reirden, who replaced BARRY Trotz following his resignation.

Led by Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak, the Boston Bruins begin their season after falling to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Second Round of last year's playoffs in five games. The Bruins have yet to advance past the Second Round since losing to the Blackhawks in the 2013 Stanley Cup Final. One of the most formidable lines in the league, Marchand, Bergeron and Pastrnak combined for 228 points, 99 goals and 129 assists last season. Pastrnak recorded a career-high 80 points and 35 goals in 82 games.

DUCKS-SHARKS AT 10:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

Anaheim finished second in the Pacific Division last season and qualified for the playoffs for the sixth straight year, tied with the Minnesota Wild for the second-longest active streak in the NHL. Rickard Rakell set a career-high in both points (69) and goals (34), while Getzlaf led the team with 50 assists.

Led by two-time Norris Trophy-winner Erik Karlsson, who was recently acquired in a trade with the Senators, the Sharks boast one of the league's top defensive units. Karlsson and Brent Burns will become the ninth pair of Norris Trophy-winning defensemen to skate together on the same blue line. Karlsson and Burns were the only two defensemen in the league to lead their teams in scoring last year.

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