Washington Capitals Make Eastern Conference Final Debut In Ovechkin Era Vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
By: Tori Hartshorn May. 11, 2018
NBC Sports' exclusive coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs continues tonight with Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN, as Alex Ovechkinand the Washington Capitals face Steven Stamkos and the top-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning. Pre-game coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET with NHL Live.
NBC Sports presents Game 1 of the Western Conference Final on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on NBC, as Marc-Andre Fleury and the expansion Vegas Golden Knights visit Patrik Laine and the Winnipeg Jets, who defeated the defending Western Conference champion NASHVILLE Predators in a decisive Game 7 last night to advance.
NBC Sports.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 remaining games.
THE PASS - FRIDAY, MAY 11 - SUNDAY, MAY 13 (All times ET)
FRIDAY, MAY 11
| Time | Coverage | Network | Commentators |
| 7 p.m. | NHL Live | NBCSN | Liam McHugh, Eddie Olczyk, Keith Jones |
| 8 p.m. | Game 1 - Washington at Tampa Bay | NBCSN | Mike 'Doc' Emrick, Mike Milbury, Brian Boucher |
| Midnight | "KNIGHT FEVER"* | NBCSN | N/A |
*Following conclusion of NHL Overtime
SATURDAY, MAY 12
| Time | Coverage | Network | Commentators |
| 7 p.m. | Game 1 - Vegas at Winnipeg | NBC | Kenny Albert, Joe Micheletti, Pierre McGuire |
| NHL Live (Intermission Reports) | NBC | Liam McHugh, Eddie Olczyk, Keith Jones |
SUNDAY, MAY 13
| Time | Coverage | Network | Commentators |
| 7 p.m. | NHL Live | NBCSN | Kathryn Tappen, Eddie Olczyk, Keith Jones |
| 8 p.m. | Game 2 - Washington at Tampa Bay | NBCSN | Mike 'Doc' Emrick, Mike Milbury, Brian Boucher |
NBC SPORTS GROUP'S UPCOMING CONFERENCE FINAL SCHEDULE
The following is NBC Sports Group's Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Final schedule through Thursday, May 24:
| Date | Coverage | Network | Time (ET) |
| Fri., May 11 | Game 1 - Washington at Tampa Bay | NBCSN | 8 p.m. |
| Sat., May 12 | Game 1 - Vegas at Winnipeg | NBC | 7 p.m. |
| Sun., May 13 | Game 2 - Washington at Tampa Bay | NBCSN | 8 p.m. |
| Mon., May 14 | Game 2 - Vegas at Winnipeg | NBCSN | 8 p.m. |
| Tues., May 15 | Game 3 - Tampa Bay at Washington | NBCSN | 8 p.m. |
| Wed., May 16 | Game 3 -Winnipeg at Vegas | NBCSN | 9 p.m. |
| Thurs., May 17 | Game 4 - Tampa Bay at Washington | NBCSN | 8 p.m. |
| Fri., May 18 | Game 4 -Winnipeg at Vegas | NBCSN | 8 p.m. |
| Sat., May 19 | Game 5 - Washington at Tampa Bay* | NBC | 7:15 p.m. |
| Sun., May 20 | Game 5 - Vegas at Winnipeg* | NBC | 3 p.m. |
| Mon., May 21 | Game 6 - Tampa Bay at Washington* | NBCSN | 8 p.m. |
| Tues., May 22 | Game 6 - Winnipeg at Vegas* | NBCSN | 9 p.m. |
| Wed., May 23 | Game 7 - Washington at Tampa Bay* | NBCSN | 8 p.m. |
| Thurs., May 24 | Game 7 - Vegas at Winnipeg* | NBCSN | 8 p.m. |
*If necessary
NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app - NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and Connected TVs - will live stream all games airing on NBC, NBCSN, USA Network, CNBC, and Golf Channel, all via "TV Everywhere" throughout the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
For more information on NBC Sports Group's overall Stanley Cup Playoff coverage, please click here.
JETS-PREDATORS GAME 7 CAPS OFF MOST-WATCHED SECOND ROUND IN STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF HISTORY; 2018 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS ARE MOST-WATCHED IN SIX YEARS
Winnipeg's 5-1 victory over NASHVILLE last night averaged a Total Audience Delivery of 1.611 million viewers on NBCSN, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app, making it the most-watched Western Conference Second Round game in three years (Chicago-Minnesota, 5/7/15, 1.688 million); the most-watched cable game of the 2018 playoffs to date, excluding the Pittsburgh-Washington series; and up 14% vs. Edmonton-Anaheim's Second Round Game 7 last year (1.408 million).
Viewership for last night's Game 7 peaked with nearly 2.1 million viewers from 9:30-9:45 pm ET. Live streaming for Game 7 delivered 135,000 uniques (+16% vs. 2017 Edmonton-Anaheim Game 7), 9.4 million minutes (+20%), and an Average Minute Audience of 54,800 viewers (+22%).
For 24 games across NBC, NBCSN, CNBC, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app, the Second Round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs averaged a Total Audience Delivery of 1.574 million viewers, making it the most-watched Second Round on record, up 15% vs. the 2017 Second Round (1.365 million), and up 22% vs. 2016 (1.291 million).
Across NBC, NBCSN, CNBC, Golf Channel, USA Network, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app, the entire Stanley Cup Playoffs to date (66 games) have averaged a TAD of 1.067 million viewers, the best in six years through two rounds (2012, 1.150 million), up 8% vs. 2017 (988,000), and up 15% vs. 2016 (925,000).
NBC Sports' streaming platforms have totaled 2.3 million uniques (up 74%), 376 million live minutes (up 26%), and an AMA of 33,000 viewers (43%).
(1) WASHINGTON CAPITALS AT (1) TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING - GAME 1 TONIGHT AT 8 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
The Lightning are in the Eastern Conference Final for the third time in four years, while the Capitals are making their first appearance in 20 years. This marks the third playoff series all-time between the two franchises and the first since 2011, when Tampa Bay swept Washington in the Conference Semifinals.
The Lightning are led by Steven Stamkos, who boasts the postseason team lead in assists (7), and NIKITA Kucherov, whose six goals and 12 points also rank first on the squad in these playoffs. In total, 15 players on Tampa Bay's roster have combined to appear in 356 games in both the Conference Final and Stanley Cup Final. Washington boasts only three players with a combined 41 games played in such series. Ovechkin makes his Eastern Conference Final debut after amassing 607 regular-season goals for his career, the second-most by any player in NHL history before making his first appearance.
(1) VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS AT (2) WINNIPEG JETS - GAME 1 SATURDAY AT 7 P.M. ET ON NBC
The expansion Vegas Golden Knights and the Winnipeg Jets, who missed the postseason last year, will clash in the Western Conference Final, beginning with Game 1 on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on NBC. The Jets defeated the defending Western Conference champion NASHVILLE Predators in Game 7, 5-1, on Thursday, led by a pair of goals by Paul Stastny. Winnipeg's Mark Scheifele enters the series with a team-high 11 goals and 16 points in the playoffs, while Vegas' Marc-Andre Fleury leads all goaltenders with four shutouts this postseason. The Golden Knights are 8-2 through 10 playoff games, the best record in NHL history through a franchise's first 10 games of a postseason.
NBCSN TO AIR UPDATED SPECIAL "KNIGHT FEVER" TONIGHT FOLLOWING NHL OVERTIME
At the conclusion of NHL Overtime, NBCSN will present an updated version of the 30-minute special entitled "KNIGHT FEVER," which recounts the brief history of the Vegas Golden Knights, including their unprecedented Western Conference playoff run. Click here for more information.NBC SPORTS WASHINGTON TO SURROUND CAPS-LIGHTNING SERIES WITH COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL COVERAGE
NBC Sports Washington will surround all seven potential third-round games with more than two hours of live Capitals news, analysis and commentary. Coverage will include pregame and postgame live from Capital One Arena for Caps home games and from Amalie Arena in Tampa for Caps road games. Caps FaceOff will be presented for a half hour leading into Caps GameTime pregame show coverage taking you right up to game time. After games, Caps Overtime will extend postgame coverage for up to an hour followingCaps Extra. The shows will be fan-focused, allowing Caps fans to participate in coverage of the day's most compelling topics and storylines. The Caps GameTime pregame show and Caps Extrapostgame show will be hosted by Rob Carlin, and will feature analyst Alan May, as well as Caps Insider Tarik El-Bashir and Caps game broadcasters Joe Beninati and Craig "Locker" Laughlin. Caps FaceOff and Caps Overtime will be hosted by 106.7 the Fan's Grant Paulsen, with guest analysts including Courtney Laughlin and "hot takes" from Caps fans across the region.
ABOUT NBC SPORTS RADIO
NBC Sports Radio is a joint venture between NBC Sports Group and Westwood One and will broadcast select games throughout the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It provides sports talk programming to radio stations nationwide and is distributed by Westwood One. Content includes hourly sports news updates, daily features, and long-form shows. On social media, join the NBC Sports Radio community on Twitter at twitter.com/nbcsportsradio. To listen live or on demand, or to find a station, visit www.nbcsportsradio.com.
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 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.
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