STAMFORD, Conn. – April 16, 2018 – NBC Sports Group’s comprehensive coverage of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs continues tonight with four Game 3 matchups across NBCSN and CNBC, beginning at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN when the (2) Boston Bruins visit the (3) Toronto Maple Leafs, with the Bruins leading the series 2-0. NBCSN’s doubleheader continues at 10 p.m. ET, featuring the defending Western Conference champion (1) Nashville Predators and the (WC2) Colorado Avalanche, with Nashville leading 2-0.
CNBC’s doubleheader begins at 7:30 p.m. ET, as the (1) Tampa Bay Lightning visit the (WC2) New Jersey Devils, with Tampa Bay leading the series 2-0, followed by the (3) San Jose Sharks and (2) and Anaheim Ducks at 10:30 p.m. ET, with San Jose leading 2-0. Pre-game coverage begins tonight at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN with NHL Live.
NBC’S OPENING WEEKEND OF STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF COVERAGE UP 25% VS. 2017
- This weekend’s four Stanley Cup Playoff games on NBC averaged a 1.39 overnight rating, up 25% vs. opening weekend coverage on NBC last year (1.11);
- Through five days on NBC/NBCSN/CNBC/USA, the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs have posted a 0.60 overnight rating, up 7% vs. the first five days of the playoffs last year (0.56);
- Sunday’s PIT-PHI game on NBC produced a 1.62 overnight rating, the best delivery for the opening weekend of the playoffs since 2015 (NSH-CHI, 4/19/15; 1.65);
- Sunday’s PIT-PHI game on NBC produced a 22.8 rating in Pittsburgh to rank as NBC Sports’ highest-rated Round 1 game in the market on record (since 2006);
- Saturday’s regionalized coverage of NJ-TB and COL-NSH on NBC/CNBC delivered a 1.35 overnight rating, up 41% vs. the comparable NBC game in 2017;
- Nashville delivered a 10.2 rating for Game 2 of COL-NSH on NBC, making it the highest-rated first- or second-round game on record for the market, and up 76% vs. comparable game last year.
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“NHL Playoff Pass” on NBC Sports Group Press Box provides a quick daily overview of Stanley Cup Playoff coverage, plus information and highlights. The Pass will be published weekdays to preview that evening’s games. Friday editions will include weekend information.
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THE PASS – MONDAY, APRIL 16 (All times ET)
| Time | Coverage | Network | Commentators |
| 6:30 p.m. | NHL Live | NBCSN | Liam McHugh, Mike Milbury, Keith Jones |
| 7 p.m. | Game 3 – (2) Boston at (3) Toronto | NBCSN | John Forslund, Pierre McGuire |
| 7:30 p.m. | Game 3 – (1) Tampa Bay at (WC2) New Jersey | CNBC | John Walton, Darren Pang |
| NHL Live (Intermission Reports) | CNBC | Kathryn Tappen, Jeremy Roenick, Anson Carter | |
| 10 p.m. | Game 3 – (1) Nashville at (WC2) Colorado | NBCSN | Kenny Albert, Brian Boucher |
| 10:30 p.m. | Game 3 – (2) Anaheim at (3) San Jose | CNBC | Brendan Burke, Mike Johnson |
NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and Connected TVs – will live stream all games airing on NBC, NBCSN, USA Network, CNBC, and Golf Channel, all via “TV Everywhere” throughout the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
For more information on NBC Sports Group’s overall Stanley Cup Playoff coverage, please click here.
(2) BOSTON BRUINS AT (3) TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS – GAME 3 AT 7 P.M. ET ON NBCSN – BRUINS LEAD 2-0
The Maple Leafs look to bounce back from a 2-0 series deficit at home following a 7-3 loss to the Bruins on Saturday. Boston’s David Pastrnak recorded a hat track and three assists as part of a six-point performance in the team’s Game 2 victory, and became the youngest player in NHL history with at least six points in a playoff game, breaking the mark set by Wayne Gretzky in 1983. The top line of Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, and Patrice Bergeron combined for 14 points (3 goals/11 assists) in Game 2.
(1) TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING AT (WC2) NEW JERSEY DEVILS – GAME 3 AT 7:30 P.M. ET ON CNBC – LIGHTNING LEAD 2-0
CNBC presents Game 3 of Tampa Bay-New Jersey at 7:30 p.m. ET, as the Devils look for their first win of the series on home ice. Alex Killorn scored twice and Nikita Kucherov tallied three points (1g/2a) in the Lightning’s 5-3 win over the Devils in Game 2 to extend their series lead 2-0.
(1) NASHVILLE PREDATORS AT (WC2) COLORADO AVALANCHE – GAME 3 AT 10 P.M. ET ON NBCSN – PREDATORS LEAD 2-0
The series shifts to Colorado at 10 p.m. ET as the Avalanche look to bounce back from a 5-4 loss to the Predators on Saturday in Game 2. Kevin Fiala netted a goal and an assist in the victory, as Nashville built three two-goal leads to extend the series lead 2-0. Through two games, Filip Forsberg leads all scorers with two goals. Nashville has won 12 consecutive games vs. Colorado dating back to April 5, 2016, including all six meetings this year.
(2) ANAHEIM DUCKS AT (3) SAN JOSE SHARKS – GAME 3 AT 10:30 P.M. ET ON CNBC – SHARKS LEAD 2-0
San Jose returns home for Game 3 after winning the first two games of the series in Anaheim, including a 3-2 win over the Ducks on Saturday. Logan Couturenotched a goal and assisted on the game-winner in the second frame. This is the fourth time the Sharks have won the first two games of a series on the road; San Jose went on to win the series each time.
BROTHERS JOE AND PAT MICHELETTI TEAMED UP TO CALL GAME 3 OF JETS-WILD ON SUNDAY
Severe weather wreaked havoc for travelers across the country on Sunday, but the elements led to a broadcasting memory during NBC Sports’ presentation of Game 3 between the Minnesota Wild and Winnipeg Jets. Both play-by-play commentator Gord Miller and Inside-the-Glass analyst Joe Micheletti encountered travel delays en route to St. Paul for Game 3. With both announcers’ arrivals in St. Paul in doubt, NBC Sports went to the bench and had Joe’s brother, Pat Micheletti, serve as a booth analyst for the game. Luckily, both Miller and Joe Micheletti arrived just prior to puck drop, and NBC Sports kept Pat in the booth to work with Miller and his brother, who handled Inside-the-Glass duties.
Similar to Joe, Pat Micheletti played college hockey at the University of Minnesota, and also appeared in 12 games for the NHL’s Minnesota North Stars in the 1980s. Pat currently serves as a hockey analyst and host on KFAN Radio in St. Paul, and took to Twitter to celebrate the opportunity to work a Stanley Cup Playoff game for NBC Sports with his brother.
“To be able to work a hockey game with my brother Joe is beyond words for me! So thankful for him and the rest of my family! Something we will never forget calling an NHL playoff game together!” tweeted Micheletti following the telecast of Minnesota’s 6-2 win.
COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL COVERAGE
Through the NBC Sports Regional Networks, comprehensive coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs will be provided daily via NBC Sports Regional Networks, available in more than 35 million U.S. households. NBC Sports Regional Networks serve the hometown fans of the Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins and the Washington Capitals, with first-round game coverage, pre- and post-game shows, and extensive on-line coverage via NBC Sports’ team of NHL Insiders.
For teams that advance past the first round, NBC Sports Regional Networks will deliver extensive pre- and post-game coverage as well as breaking news and analysis throughout each team’s playoff run.
STREAMING COVERAGE ON NBCSPORTS.COM AND THE NBC SPORTS APP
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 the Stanley Cup Playoffs 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.
NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app are powered by Playmaker Media and available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox, and Chromecast.
