This from The Group. NBC Sports and Versus will combine for as many as six NHL Conference Quarterfinal games. Four games will be shown Saturday on the two networks. Versus gets a tripleheader with NBC airing one game. This is a preview of what we’ll see with The Group when the new contract with the NHL kicks in. Here’s the schedule of what games will be on NBC Sports and Versus.
NBC SPORTS GROUP TO AIR AT LEAST SIX NHL CONFERENCE QUARTERFINAL GAMES THIS WEEKEND ON NBC AND VERSUS, INCLUDING QUADRUPLE-HEADER ON SATURDAY
Two Possible Series-Clinching Games to be Showcased on NBC Sports – Capitals Attempt to Eliminate Rangers in Game 5 on Saturday; Flyers-Sabres Face Off in Game 6 on Sunday
NEW YORK – April 21, 2010 – The NBC Sports Group will present at least six, and as many as seven, NHL Conference Quarterfinal games this weekend on both NBC and VERSUS with a quadruple-header on Saturday.
Two Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series can be decided this weekend during NBC Sports’ second weekend of NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage. The Washington Capitals can advance to the Conference Semifinals if they beat the New York Rangers in Game 5 of their series on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET. Game 6 between the Philadelphia Flyers and Buffalo Sabres on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET could send one of those teams to the Conference Semifinals and one home.
Mike “Doc” Emrick (play-by-play) and Eddie Olczyk (analyst) will be in the booth for both NBC games this weekend with Pierre McGuire stationed inside-the-glass for Saturday’s game and Darren Pang manning the inside-the-glass position on Sunday. Liam McHugh will host NBC’s studio shows alongside analyst Mike Milbury.
VERSUS: VERSUS’ wall-to-wall postseason coverage continues tonight with Game 4 of the Boston-Montreal series at 7 p.m. ET, followed by Game 5 of the Chicago-Vancouver series at 10 p.m. ET. Despite an amazing comeback from the Blackhawks in Game 4, The Canucks still lead the series 3-1 and will look to finish the series tonight. Friday’s coverage will include Game 5 of the Buffalo-Philadelphia series at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by Game 5 of the Nashville-Anaheim series at 10 p.m. ET.
Coverage on VERSUS continues this weekend with a triple-header on Saturday beginning with Game 5 of the Tampa Bay-Pittsburgh series at 12 p.m. ET. The Penguins are up 3- 1 and are looking to send the Lightning home for the summer. Later that night following Rangers-Capitals game on NBC, VERSUS will televise Game 5 of the Montreal-Boston series at 7 p.m. ET, followed by Los Angeles-San Jose Game 5 at 10:30 p.m. ET. Sunday’s coverage will include Game 6 of Anaheim-Nashville and possibly other series as determined by the outcome of Thursday and Friday night games.
NBC SPORTS QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE (all times ET)
Saturday, April 23
3 p.m. – N.Y. Rangers at Washington, Game 5 EasternSunday, April 24
3 p.m. – Philadelphia at Buffalo, Game 6 (Eastern)VERSUS QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE (all times ET)
Thursday, April 21
7 p.m. – Boston at Montreal, Game 4 (Eastern)
10 p.m. – Chicago at Vancouver, Game 5 (Western)
12:30 a.m. – (JIP) San Jose at Los Angeles, Game 4 (Western)Friday, April 22
7:30 p.m. – Buffalo at Philadelphia, Game 5 (Eastern)
10 p.m. – Nashville at Anaheim, Game 5 (Western)Saturday, April 23
12 p.m. – Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh, Game 5 (Eastern)
7 p.m. – Montreal at Boston, Game 5 (Eastern)
10:30 p.m. – Los Angeles at San Jose, Game 5 (Western)Sunday, April 24
TBD – Anaheim at Nashville, Game 6 (Western)Monday, April 25
TBDTuesday, April 26
TBDWednesday, April 27
TBD*Games subject to change as best-of-seven series may be over; (JIP) – joined in progress
SPORTSNETS: Comcast SportsNet California, Chicago, Mid-Atlantic and Philadelphia will televise all of their teams’ respective games in the Quarterfinal round, except for those airing on NBC. If their respective teams advance to the second round, the Comcast SportsNets will also present Semifinal coverage, except for games chosen to air exclusively on VERSUS or NBC.
DIGITAL: NBCSports.com and VERSUS.com have combined forces to create a single, robust destination for hockey fans beginning Wednesday for the NHL Playoffs. The NBC Sports Group consolidated NHL content from both the NBCSports.com and VERSUS.com’s hockey sections onto the rapidly-growing NBCSports.com site. One of the key content areas is ProHockeyTalk, one of NBCSports.com’s popular “Sports Talk” platforms that also include ProFootballTalk, CollegeFootballTalk, HardBallTalk, ProBasketballTalk and ProGolfTalk.
During the playoffs on NBCSports.com, fans will be able to follow all the NHL Playoffs action with live streaming of NBC games, NHL videos, cross-platform promotions, social media and more. Some of the consolidated features on NBCSports.com include:
- Online-only videos featuring VERSUS and NBC Sports hockey commentators previewing upcoming playoff games and wrapping-up all of the NHL action that day.
- “Star-Cam,” which follows marquee players in NBC games, and “Net-Cam,” which provides a unique perspective from behind the goalie.
- ProHockeyTalk, which recently had its most-trafficked month ever, will update NHL Playoff news around the clock.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Fans can also keep up with the NHL playoffs through a variety of NBC Sports and VERSUS social media platforms throughout the postseason. Content will include:
- Behind the Scenes: Through the joint “NHL on NBC and VERSUS” Facebook page and @NHLonNBC_VS on Twitter, fans will receive exclusive behind-the-scenes photos, interviews and video.
- Commentator Tweets: Various NBC and VERSUS commentators will provide Twitter content throughout the playoffs, including occasional in-game Tweets.
- Fan Questions: Fans will have the opportunity to ask questions to NBC and VERSUS commentators via Facebook and Twitter.
- Team Tabs: Fans who “Like” the joint NBC and VERSUS Facebook page will have the opportunity to play a variety of games and upload fan photos based around each of their favorite teams who made the playoffs. As teams advance in the playoffs, new and more difficult games will challenge fans.
- News: Fans can follow NBC and VERSUS Facebook and Twitter accounts to receive the most up to date scores, reports and stories from around the NHL and ProHockeyTalk.
There you have it.
