Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Celebrating Hockey Day In America

02/16/2016 at 4:57pm EST

STAMFORD, Conn. – Feb. 16, 2016 – NBC Sports Group celebrates hockey in the United States with a Hockey Day In America tripleheader this Sunday across NBC and NBCSN, highlighted by an NHL Stadium Series matchup between Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks and Zach Parise and the Minnesota Wild, from TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn., at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

Three-time Emmy Award-winning play-by-play commentator 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 the Blackhawks-Wild NHL Stadium Series matchup on NBC.

NBC Sports’ Hockey Day In America tripleheader starts at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC, as rookie sensation Jack Eichel and the Buffalo Sabres host Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, and wraps up at 7 p.m. ET with an Original Six Sunday Night Hockey matchup on NBCSN, as Dylan Larkin and the Detroit Red Wings face Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers.

In addition to NBC Sports’ Hockey Day In America coverage on Sunday, NBCSN will present a Wednesday Night Rivalry matchup at 8 p.m. ET between the Blackhawks and Rangers, a Central Division showdown tonight at 8 p.m. ET between the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues, and Red Wings-Penguins on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.

NBC Sports Live Extra – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets and connected TVs – will stream this week’s NHL coverage on NBC and NBCSN.

HOCKEY DAY IN AMERICA – COVERAGE BEGINS SUNDAY AT NOON ET ON NBC

Hockey Day In America studio coverage will originate live from TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis throughout the day on Sunday. Liam McHugh will anchor coverage, alongside analysts and former players Mike Milbury, Keith Jones and Jeremy Roenick.

NBC and NBCSN’s Hockey Day In America presentation will include in-depth features exploring hockey’s influence and impact inAmerica. Feature stories and interviews include:

  • Hockey Is My Rehab – NBC Sports Group’s coverage of Hockey Day In America will recognize U.S. Army veteran and Minneapolis, Minn., resident Andrew Qualy. After being injured while serving in Afghanistan, Qualy returned to the United States and started the Minnesota Wounded Warriors Adult Hockey League. According to Qualy, playing in the league has been part of his rehab and the Minnesota Wounded Warriors hockey program has helped him resurrect his life. Since forming the league, Qualy has gone back to school, obtained a degree in clinical psychology and is now helping other soldiers returning from the battlefield.
  • 94-Year-Old Hockey Wonder – Just a few years shy of his 100th birthday, 94-year-old hockey wonder and Duluth, Minn., resident Mark Sertich still takes to the ice on a weekly basis to play hockey. NBC Sports travelled to Minnesota to spend some time with Sertich and find out his secret to playing hockey well into his nineties.
  • The Doctor’s Inspiration – Veteran Fort Wayne Komets’ play-by-play announcer Bob Chase is celebrating his 63rd season calling games for the ECHL Western Division leading team. In addition to a remarkable career as a broadcaster, Chase also owns the unique distinction of being Doc Emrick’s inspiration to become a play-by-play announcer. To celebrate Chase’s 90th birthday and his storied career, Emrick visited Chase on January 17 and joined him in the Komets’ broadcast booth to call a game between the Komets and the Toledo Walleye.
  • Auston Matthews – USA Hockey prodigy Auston Matthews is projected by many to be the #1 selection in the 2016 NHL Draft. NBC Sports shines a spotlight on Matthews’ development and highlights the unique path he’s currently taking as he prepares to take the next step to the NHL. After spending two years at the USA Hockey Development Program in Plymouth, Mich., Matthews recently moved to Zurich, Switzerland to play in the Pro Swiss League. NBC Sports travelled to Zurich to check in with Matthews and see how his preparations are going.

NHL STADIUM SERIES BLACKHAWKS-WILD – SUNDAY AT 3:30 P.M. ET ON NBC

The Blackhawks and Wild enter their Stadium Series matchup from vastly different positions, as Chicago battles atop the conference lead, while Minnesota hopes a change at the helm will propel them to a playoff berth. Chicago (37-18-5, 79 pts) is tied for first place in the Central Division with Dallas, while Minnesota sits in sixth place (24-22-10, 58 pts), on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.

The Blackhawks defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs by a score of 7-2 on Monday to begin the week, as Patrick Kane scored a goal and notched three assists to add to his league-leading total of 82 points. Minnesota fired head coach Mike Yeo this past weekend and named John Torchetti interim head coach. The Wild responded with a 5-2 win in Vancouver on Monday in Torchetti’s first game behind the bench. Minnesota has defeated Chicago in both of their matchups this season.

PENGUINS-SABRES – SUNDAY AT 12:30 P.M. ET ON NBC

Pittsburgh (28-19-8, 65 pts; 5th in Metropolitan Division) has posted a 7-2-1 record since Jan. 21, due in large part to the play of Sidney Crosby, who has surged over the last two months to move into a tie for eighth in the NHL in points (53). The Pens enter this week’s play following a 2-1 shootout loss to the Atlantic Division-leading Panthers on Monday.

Buffalo (23-28-6, 52 pts; 7th in Atlantic Division) has won two straight games, including a 4-1 victory over the Avalanche on Sunday, as Jack Eichel netted the 17th goal of his rookie campaign in the win. Eichel is currently tied for second among rookies in points (38) and tied for third among rookies with his 17 goals. The Penguins won the only previous matchup this season against the Sabres, despite 53 shots on goal from Buffalo.

John Forslund (play-by-play) and Brian Boucher (‘Inside-the-Glass’) will call the action from First Niagara Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

SUNDAY NIGHT HOCKEY – RED WINGS-RANGERS – 7 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

NBCSN continues its Sunday Night Hockey coverage with an Original Six matchup between the Red Wings and Rangers. Detroit (29-19-9, 67 pts; 2nd in Atlantic Division) is looking to rebound from a 4-1 loss to the Islanders on Monday, following a 6-5 win against Boston on NBC’s NHL Game of the Week on Sunday. The Rangers (32-18-6, 70 pts) currently sit in second place in the Metropolitan Division, following a 3-1 win in Philadelphia on Sunday. New York has won five of its last six games. This will be the first meeting of the season between the Red Wings and Rangers.

Kenny Albert (play-by-play) and Joe Micheletti (‘Inside-The-Glass’) will have the call from Madison Square Garden in New York.


WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIVALRY – BLACKHAWKS-RANGERS – 8 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Blackhawks and Rangers clash on NBCSN’s Wednesday Night Rivalry for the first time since opening night this season. The Rangers spoiled the Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup Champion banner-raising ceremony with a 3-2 victory in Chicago on Oct. 7, as Derek Stepan capped a three-goal first period for New York, and Henrik Lundqvist made 32 saves in the victory. The two teams also faced off in a Wednesday Night Rivalry matchup in New York in the 2014-15 regular season, when Scott Darling made 25 saves in a 1-0 shutout win for Chicago on March 18.

Albert, Olczyk and McGuire will provide commentary of this week’s Blackhawks-Rangers Wednesday Night Rivalry matchup.

STARS-BLUES – TONIGHT AT 8 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

Tonight’s matchup on NBCSN features two of the top teams in the Western Conference, as the Stars visit the Blues in a pivotal Central Division clash. Dallas (37-15-5, 79 pts) is tied for first in the conference and division, and has won four straight games, including a decisive 4-2 win in Chicago on Thursday night. Stars forwards Jamie Bennand Tyler Seguin rank second and tied for third in the league in points with 64 and 63, respectively.

St. Louis (32-17-9, 73 pts) is third in the Central Division behind Dallas and Chicago, and has gone 7-2-2 in its last 11 games. The Blues have been carried by stellar goaltending by Brian Elliott, who is slated to make his 15th straight start tonight. Elliott has gone 9-3-2 in his last 14 starts, with a 1.72 goals against average, and leads the league overall with a .933 save percentage.

Albert and McGuire have the call of tonight’s Stars-Blues contest from Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo.

RED WINGS-PENGUINS – THURSDAY AT 7 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

Thursday night’s rematch of the 2008 and 2009 Stanley Cup Finals is the second meeting of the season between the two clubs, and marks Detroit’s only visit to the Steel City this season. The Penguins defeated the Red Wings by a score of 5-2 on New Year’s Eve in Detroit, as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin scored 34 seconds apart in the third period to propel Pittsburgh to victory.

Jim Jackson (play-by-play) and Boucher will provide commentary from CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.

2015-16 REGULAR SEASON COVERAGE ON NBC & NBCSN

NBC Sports Group will deliver coverage of 105 NHL regular-season games during the 2015-16 season, featuring 12 games on NBC and 93 games on NBCSN. All games will be streamed live via NBC Sports Live Extra. This year’s coverage includes 24 Wednesday Night Rivalry games, six Wednesday Nightcaps, 12 Sunday Night Hockey contests, and NHL All-Star coverage.

Click here for more information on NBC Sports Group’s comprehensive NHL coverage this season.

NBC SPORTS REGIONAL NETWORKS

NBC Sports Regional Networks, which serve top NHL markets such as Boston (Bruins), Philadelphia (Flyers), Washington D.C. (Capitals), Chicago (Blackhawks) and the Bay Area (Sharks), will air more than 300 live NHL games and surround the 2015-16 NHL season with in-depth news, analysis and original programming on the teams that matter most.

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About Kukla's Korner Hockey

Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

Email Paul anytime at [email protected]

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