This Sunday, NBC will have Game 1 of a dream Original Six matchup between Chicago and Detroit. Two top ten markets. NBC has to be happy with that.
DETROIT HOSTS CHICAGO IN “ORIGINAL SIX” CONFERENCE FINAL MATCHUP, SUNDAY ON NBC
“Chicago is a team that’s trying to be Detroit but Detroit is Detroit.” – NBC’s McGuire
NEW YORK – May 15, 2009 – The defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings host their longtime "Original Six" rival the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final Sunday, 3 p.m. ET on NBC. Hockey Hall of Famer Mike "Doc" Emrick (play-by-play), Eddie Olczyk (analyst) and Pierre McGuire (inside-the-glass reporter) call the action. McGuire will pull double duty, hosting NBC's studio show alongside analyst Mike Milbury on site at the Joe Louis Arena.
The Blackhawks have captivated the Windy City in reaching the Conference Final for the first time in 14 years. Detroit is seeking to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the second year in a row. The teams opened NBC's 2009 schedule on New Year's Day in the NHL Winter Classic from historic Wrigley Field, which became the most-viewed NHL regular season game in 34 years.
Chicago boasts some of the best young talent in the NHL in linemates Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, defensmen Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith, backed by Stanley Cup-winning netminder Nikolai Khabibulin.
Detroit is loaded upfront, led by Pavel Datsyuk, Marian Hossa, Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen (ranks T3rd with eight playoff goals), with Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom on defense.
PIERRE MCGUIRE ON CHICAGO-DETROIT: "Chicago plays an amazingly fast-paced game; their speed is very underrated. They are brash, but in a good way. Chicago is a team that's trying to be Detroit but Detroit is Detroit. Detroit is seasoned and obviously knows how to win but the gap is very, very close."
ON NBC SPORTS' COVERAGE:
ESPN.com: "The NHL has never looked or sounded better in its free, on-the-air history."
NBCSPORTS.COM and NHL.COM PRESENT "STAR-CAM": NBCSports.com and NHL.com will offer a "Star-cam" in conjunction with NBC broadcasts, which will follow one player on each team throughout each of his shifts. Following the game, NBCSports.com will present a post-game show with game highlights and highlights from "Star-cam" and "Net-cam," along with analysis from McGuire and Milbury.
STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS ON NBC: NBC Sports will broadcast coverage of the Conference Finals this Sunday and next Sunday, May 24 at 3 p.m. ET, along with up to five Stanley Cup Final games (Games 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7).
The NHL Eastern Conference Finals begin on Monday.
