HOCKEY IN HIGH HEELS: HOCKEY DAY IN AMERICA

Coverage begins at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC, when Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers host Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. NBC’s HDIA presentation continues at 3:30 p.m. ET, when Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins host Dylan Larkin and the Detroit Red Wings.

The action shifts to NBCSN at 6 p.m. ET, when Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks visit Jack Eichel and the Buffalo Sabres. The puck drops on the final HDIA matchup at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, when Joe Pavelski and the San Jose Sharks host Brad Marchand and the Boston Bruins.

NBC Sports’ studio team of host Liam McHugh and analysts Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, and Jeremy Roenick open pre-game coverage on NBC at Noon ET, and will anchor HDIA coverage throughout the day on-site in Pittsburgh, Pa., from MassMutual Pittsburgh Ice Rink at PPG Place.

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app — NBC Sports Group’s live streaming platforms for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs — will provide live streaming coverage of this week’s hockey matchups.

NBC SPORTS CELEBRATES HDIA WITH FEATURES EXAMINING HOCKEY’S INFLUENCE ACROSS U.S.

Throughout Hockey Day in America on Sunday, NBC Sports will shine a light on various stories that celebrate the impact that hockey has had in the U.S. Feature stories that will air throughout the day include:

• Mighty Penguins Sled Hockey & Kelsey DiClaudio – Pittsburgh native Kelsey DiClaudio was born with tethered spinal cord syndrome and was introduced to sled hockey in the second grade. DiClaudio first competed with the Pittsburgh Mighty Penguins in 2010, and now at 19 years of age, plays with the U.S. Women’s National Sled Hockey Team, and could become the first woman to compete on the men’s U.S. Sled Hockey Team at the 2018 Winter Paralympics;

• Nick Foligno and “Hockey’s Heartfelt Purpose” – Columbus Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno comes from a hockey family which includes his father Mike Foligno, who played for the Buffalo Sabres, and his brother Marcus Foligno, who currently plays in Buffalo. Hockey took a backseat when Nick’s infant daughter Milana required surgery for a life-threatening heart defect. Foligno and his wife donated $1 million to the Boston and Nationwide Children’s Hospitals, and now want to raise awareness and give back to the community at large;

• St. Louis AAA Blues & the “Heartland of Hockey” – The 2016 NHL Draft was held in Buffalo, but St. Louis became the focus of the draft when five players that all played simultaneously with the AAA Blues were drafted in the first round;

• Tony Granato Goes Back To School in Wisconsin: Tony Granato, a 13-year NHL veteran, returned to his alma mater of Wisconsin to coach the men’s hockey team. However, Granato left school early to play in the NHL, and coaches at Wisconsin are required to complete their undergraduate degrees – so Granato is now coach andstudent;

• U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Coach Bill Belisle – Now in his 42nd season as head coach at Mount St. Charles Academy in Woonsocket, R.I., 87-year-old Bill Belisle has built a hockey powerhouse in the smallest state in the union. Belisle speaks with NHL on NBC analyst Brian Boucher, one of 20 NHL players that played for Belisle, to discuss his legacy and induction into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame;

• Hilary Knight: The “Pride” of Team USA Women’s Hockey – Now a star for the NWHL’s Boston Pride, two-time Olympic silver medalist Hilary Knight is looking ahead to PyeongChang with one goal in mind – bringing back Olympic gold to the U.S. for the first time in 20 years;

• U.S. Pond Hockey Championships – Now in its seventh year, the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships features more than 2,000 players and sub-zero temperatures. NBC Sports takes a look at the hearty hockey-loving fans that make the pilgrimage to Lake Nokomis in Minnesota each year;

• Additional elements will include updates on features from previous Hockey Day in America telecasts, including U.S. Marine Josh Sweeney, Ice Hockey in Harlem, the U.S. National Team Development Program, and Jack Jablonski.

CAPITALS-RANGERS – SUNDAY AT 12:30 P.M. ET ON NBC

The Capitals (39-11-6) lead the NHL with 84 points, and have won six consecutive games. Washington defeated Anaheim 6-4 last Saturday, as six different skaters scored for the Caps, and goalie Braden Holtby won his 14th consecutive game, the second-longest streak for a goalie in NHL history. Washington has scored at least five goals in five of its last six games. The Rangers (37-18-1, 75 pts) enter tonight’s matchup against the Islanders riding a six-game winning streak following a 3-2 win in Columbus against the Blue Jackets.

Kenny Albert (play-by-play) and Brian Boucher (‘Inside-the-Glass’) will call Capitals-Rangers from Madison Square Garden in New York.

RED WINGS-PENGUINS – SUNDAY AT 3:30 P.M. ET ON NBC

The Penguins (35-13-7, 77 pts) are tied with Columbus for second place in the Metropolitan Division. Sidney Crosbycontinues to lead the NHL in goals (30), and is tied with Brent Burns for second in the league in points (61), two points behind Connor McDavid (63). Pittsburgh boasts three players (Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel) in the Top 10 in points this season. Detroit (22-25-10, 54 pts) is coming off a 2-0 loss to St. Louis on Wednesday Night Rivalry and faces Washington on Saturday.

Four-time Emmy Award-winner Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick (play-by-play), U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member Eddie Olczyk(analyst), and Pierre McGuire (‘Inside-the-Glass’) will have the call of Red Wings-Penguins from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa.

BLACKHAWKS-SABRES – SUNDAY AT 6 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

Chicago (35-17-5, 75 pts) has won five consecutive games heading into this week, including a 5-1 win against Edmonton on Saturday. Richard Panik scored twice, and Patrick Kane recorded a goal and two of his team-leading 39 assists, which are third-most in the NHL. Buffalo (24-23-10, 58 pts) defeated the Senators 3-2 in Ottawa on Tuesday, and host Colorado tonight on NBCSN. The Blackhawks beat the Sabres 4-3 in overtime in their only meeting this season, as Kane netted the game-winner 56 seconds into overtime.

Gord Miller (play-by-play) and Joe Micheletti (‘Inside-the-Glass’) will call the game from KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

BRUINS-SHARKS – SUNDAY AT 8:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

Boston (29-23-6, 58 pts) is in third place in the Atlantic Division and has won three consecutive games since Bruce Cassidy took over as head coach. The first of those games was a 6-3 victory against the Sharks, as David Pastrnakscored twice and Patrice Bergeron added a goal and three assists. San Jose is coming off a 6-5 overtime loss to Florida on NBCSN’s Wednesday Nightcap and is led by defenseman Brent Burns, who is tied for second in the NHL in points (61).

Randy Hahn (play-by-play), Andy Brickley (analyst), and Bret Hedican (‘Inside-the-Glass’) will call Bruins-Sharks from SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.

THE ROAD THROUGH WARROAD: HOCKEYTOWN USA, PRESENTED BY ENTERPRISE – SUNDAY AT 12 A.M. ETON NBCSN

NBCSN caps its Hockey Day in America celebration with the premiere of The Road Through Warroad: HockeyTown USA, which will air Sunday night at 12 a.m. ET. The film tells the story of Warroad, Minnesota – a small town of less than 2,000 people that has produced seven Olympic hockey players, five NHL players, including Washington’s T.J. Oshie, and more than 80 Division I college hockey players.

Following is this Sunday’s Hockey Day in America telecast schedule on NBC and NBCSN:

*immediately following game coverage
**subject to local blackout

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