Keystone State Showdown – Penguins Face Flyers in Pair of Matchups on NBC and NBCSN This Week
Kings Visit Blackhawks Tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN in Western Conference Final Rematch
Bruins Visit Red Wings on Thursday Night at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN
Sharks Host Avalanche on NBCSN’s Wednesday Nightcap at 10:30 p.m. ET
STAMFORD, Conn. – March 30, 2015 – NBC Sports Group presents six NHL matchups this week, capped by a Central Division showdown on Sunday night at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, when T.J. Oshie and the St. Louis Blues visit Jonathan Toews and the Chicago Blackhawks in a potential Stanley Cup Playoff preview.
NBC and NBCSN will also feature a pair of matchups in the Keystone State rivalry this week between Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Claude Giroux and the Philadelphia Flyers. Crosby and the Pens will host Giroux’s Flyers on NBCSN’s Wednesday Night Rivalry at 8 p.m. ET, followed by a showdown in Philadelphia on NBC’s NHL Game of the Week Sunday at noon ET.
This week’s NHL action kicks off tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, when the Blackhawks hostJonathan Quick and the Los Angeles Kings. Coverage also features Milan Lucic and the Boston Bruins and Jimmy Howard and the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, as well as Gabriel Landeskog and the Colorado Avalanche against Logan Coutureand the San Jose Sharks on NBCSN’s Wednesday Nightcap at 10:30 p.m. ET, followingWednesday Night Rivalry.
NBC Sports Live Extra – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets – will provide streaming coverage of this week’s NHL matchups.
NHL Live, NBCSN’s pre- and post-game NHL studio show, begins one hour prior to this week’s matchups on NBCSN. Liam McHugh and Kathryn Tappen will host this week’s coverage alongside analysts and former players Mike Milbury, Keith Jones and Jeremy Roenick. NHL insider Bob McKenzie will join NBCSN’s Wednesday Night Rivalry coverage to provide the latest in-depth news from around the league.
BLUES-BLACKHAWKS – SUNDAY NIGHT AT 7:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
The Blues and Blackhawks face off in the latest chapter of their bitter rivalry this Sunday night on NBCSN, as both teams look to earn points in a game with important playoff implications. The Blues (46-22-7, 99 pts) currently trail Nashville by three points for the Central Division lead, and hold a three-point lead over the Blackhawks (45-24-6, 96 pts). If the playoffs began today, the Blues and Blackhawks would be matched up in the first round for the second straight season. Last year, Chicago stormed back from a 2-0 series deficit to earn a 4-2 first-round series win over St. Louis.
This marks the fourth of five meetings this season between the two clubs. Chicago has won two of three matchups, including a 4-2 win in St. Louis on Feb. 8 on NBC’s NHL Game of the Week, led by two third-period goals from Marian Hossa. Chicago enters the week following a 4-3 win over Winnipeg last night, capped by Jonathan Toews’ game-winning goal with 30.8 seconds left in regulation.
Dave Strader (play-by-play), U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member Eddie Olczyk (analyst) andInside-the-Glass analyst Brian Engblom will have the call from United Center in Chicago, Ill.
During last night’s Sharks-Penguins game on NBCSN, fans saw just how close NBC Sports Group’s Inside-the-Glass analysts are to the action, when Brian Engblom was hit with a deflected puck and required stitches. Engblom returned shortly thereafter for the remainder of the game telecast, and had the honor of interviewing Sidney Crosby, who deflected the puck that hit Engblom, after Pittsburgh’s win.
Click here to see for video of Engblom’s injury, return, and post-game interview with Crosby.
FLYERS-PENGUINS – WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIVALRY AT 8 P.M. ET ON NBCSN;
NHL GAME OF THE WEEK ON SUNDAY AT NOON ET ON NBC
The Flyers and Penguins renew one of the fiercest rivalries in hockey with two matchups this week, beginning in Pittsburgh on Wednesday Night Rivalry at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN. The Penguins (42-23-11, 95 pts) have earned a point in four of their last five games (3-1-1), and earned a 3-2 shootout win on Sunday night on NBCSN to remain ahead of the New York Islanders and keep their hold on second place in the Metropolitan Division.
The Flyers (30-29-17, 77 pts) make their second straight Wednesday Night Rivalry appearance, following a 4-1 win over Chicago last week. Philadelphia has won both of its matchups against Pittsburgh this season, including a 3-2 overtime win in their last meeting on Jan. 20. The two clubs will meet once again on Sunday at noon ET on NBC in the NHL Game of the Week.
Penguins-Flyers features two players vying for the NHL scoring title. Sidney Crosby currently leads the league with 79 points (25g/54a), while Philadelphia’s Jakub Voracek sits in third with 76 points (21g/55a), looking to become the first Flyer to lead the league by himself in scoring.
Emmy Award-winning play-by-play commentator and Sports Illustrated 2014 Media Person of the Year Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick, Eddie Olczyk and Inside-the-Glass analyst and Emmy Award-winner Pierre McGuire will call have the call from CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Wednesday night.
Emrick and McGuire will call the NHL Game of the Week from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa., on Sunday afternoon.
KINGS-BLACKHAWKS – TONIGHT AT 8:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
This week’s coverage starts tonight with a rematch of the last two Western Conference Finals, as the Kings continue to battle for a playoff berth. Los Angeles (37-24-14, 88 pts) currently sits on the outside of the playoffs looking in, one point behind Calgary for the third place in the Pacific Division, and two points behind Winnipeg for the final Wild Card spot.
The Kings had their three-game winning streak snapped in a 4-1 loss to Minnesota on Saturday, but have gone 8-3-2 in their last 13 games to pull back into the midst of the playoff race, led by Jonathan Quick, who has allowed two goals or less in 10 of his last 11 starts (6-3-2).
Pat Foley (play-by-play) and Eddie Olczyk (analyst) will have the call from United Center in Chicago, Ill.
BRUINS-RED WINGS – THURSDAY AT 7:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
The Red Wings host the Bruins on Thursday night, as Boston looks to continue its late-season charge towards a postseason berth. The Bruins (38-25-13, 89 pts) lead Ottawa by three points and Florida by four points for the final Wild Card spot. Boston earned key victories over the Rangers and Hurricanes this weekend to regain its footing in the playoff race, including a two-goal performance by Lucic in Boston’s 4-2 win over New York.
Detroit (40-23-12, 92 pts) sits three points ahead of Boston in third place of the Atlantic Division.Petr Mrazek made 23 saves in a 4-0 victory over Tampa Bay on Saturday, but allowed four goals and was pulled in favor of Jimmy Howard in a 5-4 loss to the New York Islanders on Sunday afternoon. Boston has won three of its four matchups against Detroit this season, including a 5-3 win on NBC’s NHL Game of the Week on March 8.
Dave Strader (play-by-play) and Brian Engblom (Inside-the-Glass analyst) will call the action from Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Mich.
WEDNESDAY NIGHTCAP – AVALANCHE-SHARKS – WEDNESDAY AT 10:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN
The Avalanche and the Sharks face off on Wednesday night as both teams try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Colorado (35-28-12, 82 pts) enters the week following wins over the Canucks and Sabres, while the Sharks (37-30-9, 83 pts) have earned points in three straight games. Winnipeg currently holds the final Wild Card spot with 90 points.
Randy Hahn (play-by-play) and Jamie Baker (Inside-the-Glass analyst) will have the call from the SAP Center at San Jose in San Jose, Calif.
Following is this week’s hockey schedule on NBC and NBCSN. Games are subject to local blackout.
| Date | Coverage | Network | Time (ET) |
| Mon., March 30 | NHL Live | NBCSN | 7:30 p.m. |
| Los Angeles at Chicago | NBCSN | 8:30 p.m. | |
| Wed., April 1 | NHL Rivals – Flyers-Penguins (Encore) | NBCSN | 6:30 p.m. |
| NHL Live | NBCSN | 7 p.m. | |
| Wednesday Night Rivalry – Philadelphia at Pittsburgh | NBCSN | 8 p.m. | |
| Wednesday Nightcap – Colorado at San Jose | NBCSN | 10:30 p.m. | |
| Thurs., April 2 | NHL Live | NBCSN | 6:30 p.m. |
| Boston at Detroit | NBCSN | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Sun., April 5 | NHL Game of the Week – Pittsburgh at Philadelphia | NBC | Noon |
| NHL Live | NBCSN | 6:30 p.m. | |
| St. Louis at Chicago | NBCSN | 7:30 p.m. |
2014-15 REGULAR SEASON COVERAGE ON NBC & NBCSN
NBC Sports Group will deliver coverage of 103 NHL regular-season games during the 2014-15 season, featuring 14 games on NBC and 89 games on NBCSN. All games will be streamed live via NBC Sports Live Extra. Click here for more information on NBC Sports Group’s comprehensive NHL coverage this season.
NBC SPORTS REGIONAL NETWORKS
NBC Sports Regional Networks, which serve top NHL markets such as Boston (Bruins), Philadelphia (Flyers), Washington D.C. (Capitals), Chicago (Blackhawks) and the Bay Area (Sharks), will air more than 300 live NHL games and surround the 2014-15 NHL season with in-depth news, analysis and original programming on the teams that matter most.
NBC SPORTS LIVE EXTRA
NBC Sports Live Extra – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets – will stream this week’s NHL coverage NBC Sports Live Extra 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. The NBC Sports Live Extra app is available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play and Windows Store.
-NBC SPORTS GROUP-