Day 62 – Game 6 – Tonight at 8 p.m. ET on NBC – Blackhawks Lead Series 3-2
First Time in 64 Years First Five Games Decided by One Goal; No Team Has Held Multi-Goal Lead in Series
“The pace of this series has been frenetic.” – Pierre McGuire
“If they were to win, I don’t think it’s far-fetched at all to use the word dynasty.” – McGuire
NBC Presents Record Number of NHL Games in Primetime During 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs
STAMFORD, Conn. – June 15, 2015 – Captain Jonathan Toews and the Chicago Blackhawks can win their third Stanley Cup Final in six years with a victory tonight, when they host Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 at 8 p.m. ET at United Center on NBC. Pre-game coverage begins on NBCSN tonight at 6:30 p.m. ET with a 90-minute edition of NHL Live.
For the first time in 64 years, the first five games of the Stanley Cup Final have been decided by one goal (Montreal vs. Toronto; 1951). In addition, for the first time in Stanley Cup Final history, neither team has led by more than one goal at any point in the series.
The Blackhawks won Saturday night’s pivotal Game 5 by a score of 2-1 in Tampa, as Antoine Vermette scored his second game-winning goal of the series two minutes into the third period, and Corey Crawford made 31 saves, including 15 saves in the final stanza.
A win tonight would give Chicago its third Stanley Cup championship in six years (2010 & 2013), and would be the first of those three to be clinched on home ice. No team has won three Stanley Cups in a six-year span since the Detroit Red Wings in 1997, 1998 and 2002. A Lightning victory tonight would force a winner-take-all Game 7 on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET on NBC in Tampa.
Three-time Emmy Award-winning play-by-play commentator and Sports Illustrated 2014 Media Person of the Year Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick, U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member and analyst Eddie Olczyk, and Emmy Award-winning Inside-the-Glass analyst Pierre McGuire will call tonight’s Game 6 from United Center in Chicago, Ill.
Host Liam McHugh will anchor NHL Live from inside the arena, alongside analysts and former players Mike Milbury and Keith Jones. Dave Briggs will host coverage from a set outside the arena alongside analysts and former players Jeremy Roenick and Anson Carter. In addition, analyst and former goaltender Brian Boucher and NHL insiders Bob McKenzie and Darren Dreger serve as contributors for NBC Sports Group’s pre- and post-game studio coverage throughout the Final.
PIERRE MCGUIRE DISCUSSES LIGHTNING-BLACKHAWKS STANLEY CUP FINAL
Following are quotes from Emmy Award-winning Inside-the-Glass analyst Pierre McGuire previewing tonight’s Game 6, discussing how the Blackhawks have moved within one win of their third Stanley Cup in six seasons, as well the high level of play in this year’s Final.
McGuire on high level of play in Lightning-Blackhawks Final: “The pace of this series has been frenetic. It’s been phenomenal. Both teams should be extremely proud of where they are right now and how well they’ve played, because there haven’t been any bad performances from either team.”
McGuire on impact of Blackhawks’ experience in Games 4 and 5: “There’s no question that their experience came to the forefront in Game 4, especially at the end when Tampa was putting on the full-court press. Chicago found a way to maintain their composure. Game 5 was their best start, and that’s where that experience comes in. They built off of that momentum in Game 4. This team knows how to win. Through all of the years together, they understand how to do it.”
McGuire on potential of Blackhawks’ third Stanley Cup in six years: “If they were to win –three Cups in six years, plus all the appearances in the Conference Final – I don’t think it’s far-fetched at all to use the word dynasty. This is a team that really understands their legacy, in terms of their relationship with the city of Chicago, and where they stand in the history of the NHL. There’s a lot to be said about how this team has been managed, how this team has been coached, and the leadership of the team, especially since Toews and Kane came into the league.”
McGuire on Lightning’s Steven Stamkos: “Steven doesn’t feel pressure. Steven gives pressure. He has always had the weight of the world on his shoulders, because he’s always been a marquee player. I think he relishes the pressure and he wants the pressure. It hasn’t been an easy series for him, due in large part to how great Duncan Keith has played, and because of how aware Chicago is of his presence.”
NBC PRESENTS RECORD NUMBER OF NHL GAMES IN PRIMETIME DURING 2015 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
Saturday night’s primetime Game 5 showdown on NBC marked the seventh Stanley Cup Playoff primetime game this year, and eighth primetime game on the network including the regular season, both records for the network. Tonight’s Game 6 will be the 16th overall Stanley Cup Playoff game on NBC this postseason, tying the record set in 2012.
Three postseason series have been decided on NBC, including the Blackhawks-Ducks Western Conference Final, as Chicago defeated Anaheim in Game 7 in primetime. In addition, Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final was the most-watched non-overtime Game 1 in 18 years (5.5 million avg. viewers), and Game 2, which immediately followed Belmont Stakes coverage, averaged 6.6 million viewers to become the most-watched Stanley Cup Final Game 2 on record.
Following is the television schedule for the 2015 Stanley Cup Final, all times Eastern and subject to change.
| DATE | GAME | NETWORK | TIME | COMMENTATORS |
| Mon., June 15 | Game 6 – Tampa Bay at Chicago | NBC | 8 p.m. | Mike “Doc” Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire |
| Wed., June 17 | Game 7 – Chicago at Tampa Bay* | NBC | 8 p.m. | Mike “Doc” Emrick, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire |
*if necessary
GAMES TELEVISED SO FAR
For the fourth consecutive year, NBC, NBCSN, USA Network, CNBC and NHL Network are combining to televise every Stanley Cup Playoff game nationally.
| Network | Games |
| NBC | 15 |
| NBCSN | 54 |
| USA Network | 8 |
| CNBC | 10 |
| NHL-N | 1 |
| Total | 88 |
One-goal Games: 48
OT games: 19
COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL COVERAGE
Comprehensive coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs will be provided daily via NBC Sports Regional Networks, available in more than 50 million U.S. households. Comcast SportsNet Chicago will provide the hometown fans of the Chicago Blackhawks with comprehensive coverage throughout their Stanley Cup Playoff run, including pre- and post-game shows and extensive on-line coverage via Comcast SportsNet’s team of NHL Insiders.
NBC SPORTS LIVE EXTRA COVERAGE
NBC Sports Live Extra – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets and connected TVs – will stream comprehensive coverage of the Stanley Cup Final 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,Windows Store, Roku Channel Store and Apple TV.
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–
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