“The Blackhawks and their fans are in for a great spring season due to skill, heart, focus, and professionalism. They are a true must-watch team.” – Pierre McGuire

Friday Night Ice: College Hockey on NBC Sports Network Features No. 4 Maine at New Hampshire at 7:30 p.m. ET

NEW YORK – March 6, 2013 — Wednesday Night Rivalry continues tonight on NBC Sports Network featuring the Colorado Avalanche against the undefeated Chicago Blackhawks at 8 p.m. ET. The Blackhawks won a franchise-record 10th straight game last night by defeating the Minnesota Wild bringing their 2013 record to 20-0-3. The Avalanche will travel to Chicago to try and break the Blackhawks current record-setting streak.

Emmy Award-winning play-by-play commentator Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick, analyst Eddie Olczyk and ‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst Pierre McGuire will call the game live from United Center in Chicago, Ill.

PIERRE MCGUIRE: “The Chicago Blackhawks are the real deal because of stars like Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, and Duncan Keith. They have one of the best young leaders in all of professional sports in Jonathan Toews. The Blackhawks and their fans are in for a great spring season due to skill, heart, focus, and professionalism. They are a true must-watch team.”

JEREMY ROENICK: “Colorado has its work cut out for them. Perfect timing to get Ryan O’Reilly back in the lineup. They are going to need him and everyone at their best to beat a red hot Chicago Blackhawks. Colorado has been playing better as of late but can’t seem to get a break. I’m sure they would love to end the Blackhawks streak.”

ADDITIONAL GAMES

NBC and NBC Sports Network’s NHL coverage will continue on Sun., Mar. 10 with the N.Y. Rangers facing off against the Washington Capitals at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC, followed by the Buffalo Sabres against the Philadelphia Flyers at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network. Tuesday, March 12, the Pittsburgh Penguins will host the Boston Bruins at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network.

Emrick (play-by-play), Olczyk (analyst) and McGuire (‘Inside-the-Glass’) will call the action in Washington, D.C., while Dave Strader (play-by-play) and Brian Engblom (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will call Sunday night’s and Tuesday night’s coverage.

Next week’s Wednesday Night Rivalry will feature Philadelphia at New Jersey at 7:30 p.m. ET.

COLLEGE HOCKEY

In addition to the NHL, NBC Sports Network will resume Friday Night Ice, its college hockey programming, with No. 4 Maine at New Hampshire at 7:30 p.m. ET, live from Whittemore Center in Durham, New Hampshire. John Walton will serve as play-by-play announcer alongside ‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst Ken Hodge.

NBC and NBC Sports Network’s Upcoming Hockey Schedule (all times ET, subject to change):

For more information about NBC Sports Group shows and properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios and headshots, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–

Philadelphia at Pittsburgh at 7:30 p.m. ET followed by St. Louis at Colorado at 10 p.m. ET

NBC & NBC Sports Network Experience Viewership Increases

Friday Night Ice: College Hockey Action Friday on NBC Sports Network features No. 14 Yale at No. 1 Quinnipiac at 7:30 p.m. ET and No. 6 North Dakota at No. 10 Denver at 10 p.m. ET

NEW YORK – Feb. 19, 2013 — Wednesday Night Rivalry continues tomorrow on NBC Sports Network with a doubleheader featuring the Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers at 7:30 p.m. ET, immediately followed by St. Louis at Colorado at 10 p.m. ET.

The Penguins are currently first in the Eastern Conference with 22 points, while the Flyers are looking to gain ground (15 points). Last year, the Flyers eliminated their in-state rival, the Penguins, in the first round of the playoffs (4-2) in a series in which the two teams combined for 56 goals in six games. The Blues have won their last three games and look for another win against the Avalanche in this week’s Western Conference showdown.

Emmy Award-winning play-by-play announcer Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick, analyst Eddie Olczyk and Pierre McGuire (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will be live from Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Penn. John Forslund (play-by-play) and Brian Engblom (Inside-the-Glass analyst) will call the action from the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo.

MIKE MILBURY: “Anybody that has seen the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers in the past knows that there is no love lost between the two teams. That means that fans will get a spirited effort from both clubs. On one side, you have Sidney Crosby, one of the most talented players in the league who is on quite a run right now, and on the other is Claude Giroux who single-handedly buried the Penguins last spring.”

BRIAN ENGBLOM: “The St. Louis Blues are a terrific, well-balanced team with a mobile defense and four amazing strong lines up front. Colorado is a young team that has been battling some injuries. Because of that, the special teams will be a big factor. St. Louis will be a favorite in this match up.”

ADDITIONAL GAMES

NBC Sports Network’s NHL coverage will continue on Sun., Feb. 24 with the Tampa Bay Lighting facing off against the Pittsburgh Penguins at 7:30 p.m. ET. On Mon., Feb. 25, the Dallas Stars take on the Nashville Predators at 8 p.m. ET, followed by Tuesday’s coverage of the Boston Bruins at the N.Y. Islanders at 7:30 p.m. ET. Emrick (play-by-play) and McGuire (‘Inside-the-Glass’) will call the action in Pittsburgh, while Dave Strader (play-by-play) and Engblom (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will call Monday and Tuesday night’s coverage.

Next week’s Wednesday Night Rivalry will feature another doubleheader with Washington at Philadelphia at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by Detroit at Los Angeles at 10 p.m. ET.

VIEWERSHIP

NBC and NBC Sports Network are experiencing significant viewership increases this season. Through four games, the NHL on NBC is averaging 1.86 million viewers, up 39% over last year’s regular season, excluding the Winter Classic (1.34 million). (Note: final viewership for Hockey Day in America is not yet available).

Additionally, through 13 NHL games this season, NBC Sports Network has averaged 462,000 viewers, making it the best start in network history*, and an increase of 39% over last year’s full regular-season average (332,000). Three of the most-watched NHL games in the network’s history have been Wednesday Night Rivalry games, a series that debuted this season. Top games include Boston/N.Y. Rangers on Jan. 23, with 956,000 viewers, (most-watched in NBC Sports Network* history); Chicago/Minnesota on Jan. 30, with 827,000 viewers, (third most-watched) and Boston/Montreal on Feb. 6 with 771,000 viewers (fourth most-watched).

*NBC Sports Network was previously known as VERSUS (2006-2011) and OLN before that.

COLLEGE HOCKEY

In addition to the NHL, NBC Sports Network will resume Friday Night Ice, its college hockey programming, with No. 14 Yale at No. 1 Quinnipiac at 7:30 p.m. ET, live from TD Bank Sports Center in Hamden, Conn. Later that night, No. 6 North Dakota will take on No. 10 Denver at 10 p.m. ET. John Walton will serve as play-by-play announcer for Yale-Quinnipiac alongside ‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst Ken Hodge, while the team of Steve Schlanger (play-by-play) and Brian Engblom (analyst) will call the game in Denver.

NBC and NBC Sports Network’s Upcoming Hockey Schedule (all times ET, subject to change):

For more information about NBC Sports Group shows and properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios and headshots, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–

“The Central Division has had the heaviest, fiercest and heated rivalries because of the toughness of the players.” – Jeremy Roenick

Friday Night Ice: College Hockey Action Friday on NBC Sports Network features No. 13 Boston University at Maine at 7 p.m. ET

Weekly Coverage in Addition to NBC Sports Group’s presentation of “Hockey Day in America” this Sunday

NEW YORK – Feb. 12, 2013 — Wednesday Night Rivalry continues tomorrow on NBC Sports Network when Central Division rivals, the St. Louis Blues and Detroit Red Wings, meet at 7:30 p.m. ET, live from Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Mich. The teams have already met three times this season with Detroit taking home two wins against the Blues, who defeated the Red Wings in the last game on Jan. 19. Currently, the Blues are just two points behind Detroit (15 points) in the Western Conference.

Emmy Award-winning play-by-play announcer Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick, analyst Eddie Olczyk and Pierre McGuire (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will be on-site for NBC Sports Network’s game tomorrow.

JEREMY ROENICK: “The Central Division has had the heaviest, fiercest and heated rivalries because of the toughness of the players. The division was by far the most physical in the NHL, and the Blues and Red Wings rivalry started to escalate in the late 90’s with the higher echelon of players coming to the forefront. That’s what I always enjoy watching, not only for the raw talent, but raw toughness.”

PIERRE MCGUIRE: “The Red Wings have embraced a grinding style that they apply with passion. Coach Mike Babcock has done a great job getting his players to buy in. Last year Blue’s Coach Ken Hitchcock got his players to buy into the same style. Can he do it again? If so, this game will be about hard hits, strong board play and excellent goaltending.”

MIKE ‘DOC’ EMRICK: “Fierce rivalries stem from being too familiar. Already the Red Wings and Blues have played three games in three weeks. 20 goals scored, misconducts with no suspensions have resulted in bad feelings. If you wear the Blue Note or the Winged Wheel, pictures on the dressing room wall of past matches and your ancestors who played in them remind you of what it all means.”

This Sunday, NBC Sports Group will celebrate the third annual “Hockey Day in America” by delivering nine hours of hockey coverage on NBC and NBC Sports Network, including numerous features that tell the story of America’s passion for hockey, weaved within an NHL tripleheader that features six U.S. teams. Coverage begins Sunday at Noon ET on NBC with NHL Live originating from Trump Rink in New York City’s Central Park. NBC Sports Network’s coverage that day will see the N.Y. Rangers host the Washington Capitals at 6 p.m. ET.

For more information about “Hockey Day in America” please visit NBCSportsPressBox.com.

NBC Sports Network’s NHL coverage will continue on Tues., Feb. 19 with the San Jose Sharks at the St. Louis Blues at 8 p.m. ET. Dave Strader (play-by-play) and Pierre McGuire (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will call the action in St. Louis, as well as Sunday’s coverage from New York

Next week’s Wednesday Night Rivalry will feature a doubleheader with Philadelphia at Pittsburgh at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by St. Louis at Colorado at 10 p.m. ET.

COLLEGE HOCKEY

In addition to the NHL, NBC Sports Network will resume Friday Night Ice, its college hockey programming, with No. 13 Boston University at Maine at 7 p.m. ET, live from Harold Alfond Sports Arena in Orono, Maine. Steve Schlanger will serve as play-by-play announcer alongside with ‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst Ken Hodge.

NBC and NBC Sports Network’s Upcoming Hockey Schedule (all times ET, subject to change):

For more information about NBC Sports Group shows and properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios and headshots, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–

Teams will meet for the 888^th Time

“There is no love lost in this storied rival.” – Eddie Olczyk

NBC’s ‘Game of the Week’ to feature Los Angeles against Detroit this Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET

NBC Sports Network to Televise Three Games, Sunday – Wednesday

Friday Night Ice: College Hockey Action Friday on NBC Sports Network features No. 7 North Dakota at No. 15 Nebraska-Omaha at 7:30 p.m. ET

NEW YORK – Feb. 5, 2013 — Wednesday Night Rivalry continues tomorrow on NBC Sports Network with coverage of one of the oldest rivalries in NHL history, the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens, at 7:30 p.m. ET, live from Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. The Bruins and the Canadiens will meet for the 888^th time. Currently, the Bruins are the top team in the Northeast Division and the Eastern Conference (13 points) while the Canadiens are only a point behind (12 points).

Emmy Award-winning play-by-play announcer Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick and Pierre McGuire (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will be on-site at the in Montreal for NBC Sports Network’s game tomorrow. For NBC’s game on Sunday, featuring the Stanley Cup Champion L.A. Kings traveling to
Detroit to take on the Red Wings, Emrick and McGuire will be joined by Eddie Olczyk (analyst).

JEREMY ROENICK: “The Montreal-Boston rivalry might be my favorite of all because of my Boston upbringing, and the days of Guy Lafleur and Rick Middleton, among others. It’s not as much the fighting, but the intensity and close one-goal games that made the hatred so intense. Great hockey, period.”

PIERRE MCGUIRE: “Boston is fast, physical and skilled. The Canadiens made some significant off-season changes. The most important moves involved adding the muscle and hustle of Brandon Prust and Colby Armstrong. The environment in Montreal will be electric, and the Canadiens and their fans see their hot start as a sign that they can beat the super-skilled Bruins. This game will have a ton of great goaltending, heavy hits and huge emotion.”

EDDIE OLCZYK: “There is no love lost in this storied rival. The Bruins are one of the deepest teams in the NHL and can play anyway they want. In Montreal, there have been lots of changes on and off the ice. They are getting healthy with Max Pacioretty and Carey Price the keys to this team’s playoff hopes.”

MIKE ‘DOC’ EMRICK: “For 89 years these two teams from the Original Six, who have had hardly any change in uniforms, have the same battle scars but different faces. Every game at the Bell Centre is sold out for an emotional atmosphere. This game matters.”

LIAM MCHUGH: “Bruins-Canadiens doesn’t just have select pieces of what constitutes a great NHL rivalry, it has every essential ingredient. Take a pair of Original Six clubs, situate them fairly close to one another, have them meet 33 times in the playoffs, throw them in the same division, have their fan bases despise each other and, oh yeah, add in some of the nastiest on-ice moments in league history. That’s Boston-Montreal.”

NBC resumes its NHL coverage this Sunday, Feb. 10, with the Game of the Week featuring the L.A. Kings against the Detroit Red Wings at 12:30 p.m. ET.

UPCOMING NBC SPORTS NETWORK COVERAGE

NBC Sports Network’s coverage will continue on Sun., Feb. 10 with the New Jersey Devils at the Pittsburgh Penguins at 7:30 p.m. ET. Dave Strader (play-by-play) and Brian Engblom (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will call the action in Pittsburgh. On Tues., Feb. 12, Strader (play-by-play) will team with Pierre McGuire (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) as they travel to Boston to call the Bruins game as they host the N.Y. Rangers at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Next week’s Wednesday Night Rivalry will see the Detroit Red Wings host the St. Louis Blues at 7:30 p.m. ET.

COLLEGE HOCKEY

In addition to the NHL, NBC Sports Network will resume Friday Night Ice, its college hockey programming, when No. 15 Nebraska-Omaha hosts No. 7 North Dakota at 7:30 p.m. ET, from CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb. Steve Schlanger will serve as play-by-play announcer alongside with ‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst Ken Hodge.

NBC and NBC Sports Network’s Upcoming Hockey Schedule (all times ET, subject to change):

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–

NBC’s ‘Game of the Week’ to feature Pittsburgh against Washington this Sunday at 12:30 p.m. ET

NBC Sports Network to Televise Three Games, Monday – Wednesday

Friday Night Ice: College Hockey Action Friday on NBC Sports Network features Dartmouth at Union at 7:30 p.m. ET

NEW YORK – Jan. 30, 2013 — Wednesday Night Rivalry continues tonight on NBC Sports Network with coverage of the Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild at 8 p.m. ET, live from Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. The Blackhawks are currently undefeated and first in the Western Conference, while the Wild are third in the West and look to gain momentum with a win at home.

NBC resumes its NHL coverage this Sunday, Feb. 3, with the Game of the Week featuring Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins against Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Emmy Award-winning play-by-play announcer Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick, Eddie Olczyk (analyst) and Pierre McGuire (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will be on-site at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. for NBC’s game on Sunday, and tonight’s game in St. Paul, Minn.

UPCOMING NBC SPORTS NETWORK COVERAGE

NBC Sports Network’s coverage will continue on Mon., Feb. 4 with the Dallas Stars at the Colorado Avalanche at 9 p.m. ET. Dave Strader (play-by-play) and Brian Engblom (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will call the action in Denver. On Tues., Feb. 5, John Forslund (play-by-play) will team with Pierre McGuire (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) as they travel to Philadelphia to call the Flyers as hosting the Tampa Bay Lighting at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Next week’s Wednesday Night Rivalry will see the Montreal Canadiens host their Northeast Division rivals the Boston Bruins at 7:30 p.m. ET.

COLLEGE HOCKEY

In addition to the NHL, NBC Sports Network will resume Friday Night Ice, its college hockey programming, tomorrow night when Union College hosts Dartmouth at 7:30 p.m. ET, from Messa Rink in Schenectady, N.Y. Steve Schlanger will serve as play-by-play announcer alongside with ‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst Ken Hodge.

NBC and NBC Sports Network’s Upcoming Hockey Schedule (all times ET, subject to change):

For more information about NBC Sports Group shows and properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios and headshots, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–