NBC SPORTS GROUP'S COVERAGE OF 2014 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS BEGINS WEDNESDAY NIGHT WITH TRIPLE-HEADER ACROSS NBCSN AND CNBC

"There is no better reality TV in the world than watching the road to the Stanley Cup Final." - Eddie Olczyk

NBCSN's Coverage Begins Wednesday with (4) Blue Jackets-(1) Penguins at 7:30 p.m. ET, Followed by (4) Stars-(1) Ducks at 10 p.m. ET

Game 1 of (3) Canadiens-(2) Lightning Airs Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET on CNBC

Pre-Game Coverage Begins with NHL Live at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN

STAMFORD, Conn. - April 14, 2014 - NBC Sports Group's coverage of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs begins with a triple-header of games on Wednesday night, the first night of two months of Stanley Cup Playoffs hockey across NBC, NBCSN, CNBC and NHL Network. NBC Sports Live Extra - NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets - will live stream all games airing on NBC, NBCSN and CNBC, the vast majority via "TV Everywhere."

In order to televise as many as five games on a given day/night during the first round, NBC Sports Group will present matchups on NBC, NBCSN, NHL Network, and NBCUniversal's business channel CNBC in primetime. First-round games on cable are subject to local blackouts.

Wednesday night's Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage features a doubleheader on NBCSN, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET when Sidney Crosby and the Atlantic Division-champion (1) Pittsburgh Penguins host the (4) Columbus Blue Jackets. Emmy Award-winning play-by-play commentator Mike "Doc" Emrick and Emmy Award-winning 'Inside-the-Glass' analyst Pierre McGuire will have the call from CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.

The action continues on NBCSN at 10 p.m. ET, as Ryan Getzlaf and the (1) Anaheim Ducks, who finished the regular season with the best record in the Western Conference, host Tyler Seguin and the (4) Dallas Stars at 10 p.m. ET. John Walton (play-by-play) and Butch Goring (analyst) will call the action from the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

NBC Sports Group's 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage on CNBC begins Wednesday night when Steven Stamkos and the (2) Tampa Bay Lightning host the (3) Montreal Canadiens at 7 p.m. ET. Jim Hughson, Craig Simpson, Glenn Healy and David Amber will have the call from the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Fla. Commentators for upcoming games will be announced in daily releases throughout the first round.

On most nights of the first round, NBC Sports will produce two versions of NHL Live (one for NBCSN, one for CNBC) from separate studios at its International Broadcast Center located in Stamford, Conn. NHL Live will feature a combination of hosts Liam McHugh, Russ Thaler and Kathryn Tappen, and analysts and former players Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, Jeremy Roenick and Anson Carter.

Following is NBC Sports Group's Stanley Cup Playoffs first-round television schedule through Wed., April 30, including all potential Game 5, 6 and 7 matchups. (NOTE: Games airing on NBCSN, CNBC and NHL Network are subject to local blackouts in the first round; all times ET and subject to change):

Date Coverage Network Time (ET)

Wed., April 16 Game 1 - (3) Montreal at (2) Tampa Bay CNBC 7 p.m. Game 1 - (4) Columbus at (1) Pittsburgh NBCSN 7:30 p.m. Game 1 - (4) Dallas at (1) Anaheim NBCSN 10 p.m.

Thu., April 17 Game 1 - (3) Philadelphia at (2) N.Y. Rangers CNBC 7 p.m. Game 1 - (3) Chicago at (2) St. Louis NBCSN 8 p.m. Game 1 - (4) Minnesota at (1) Colorado CNBC 9:30 p.m. Game 1 - (3) Los Angeles at (2) San Jose NBCSN 10:30 p.m.

Fri., April 18 Game 2 - (3) Montreal at (2) Tampa Bay CNBC 7 p.m. Game 1 - (4) Detroit at (1) Boston NBCSN 7:30 p.m. Game 2 - (4) Dallas at (1) Anaheim NBCSN 10 p.m.

Sat., April 19 Game 2 - (3) Chicago at (2) St. Louis NBC 3 p.m. Game 2 - (4) Columbus at (1) Pittsburgh NBCSN 7 p.m. Game 2 - (4) Minnesota at (1) Colorado NBCSN 9:30 p.m.

Sun., April 20 Game 2 - (3) Philadelphia at (2) N.Y. Rangers NBC Noon Game 2 - (4) Detroit at (1) Boston NBC 3 p.m. Game 3 - (2) Tampa Bay at (3) Montreal NBCSN 7 p.m. Game 2 - (3) Los Angeles at (2) San Jose NBCSN 10 p.m.

Mon., April 21 Game 3 - (1) Pittsburgh at (4) Columbus NBCSN 7 p.m. Game 3 - (1) Colorado at (4) Minnesota NHL Network 7 p.m. Game 3 - (2) St. Louis at (3) Chicago CNBC 8:30 p.m. Game 3 - (1) Anaheim at (4) Dallas NBCSN 9:30 p.m.

Tue., April 22 Game 4 - (2) Tampa Bay at (3) Montreal NHL Network 7 p.m. Game 3 - (1) Boston at (4) Detroit NBCSN 7:30 p.m. Game 3 - (2) N.Y. Rangers at (3) Philadelphia CNBC 8 p.m. Game 3 - (2) San Jose at (3) Los Angeles NBCSN 10 p.m.

Wed., April 23 Game 4 - (1) Pittsburgh at (4) Columbus NBCSN 7 p.m. Game 4 - (1) Anaheim at (4) Dallas CNBC 8 p.m. Game 4 - (2) St. Louis at (3) Chicago NBCSN 9:30 p.m.

Thu., April 24 Game 5* - (3) Montreal at (2) Tampa Bay CNBC 7 p.m. Game 4 - (1) Boston at (4) Detroit NBCSN 8 p.m. Game 4 - (1) Colorado at (4) Minnesota CNBC 9:30 p.m. Game 4 - (2) San Jose at (3) Los Angeles NBCSN 10:30 p.m.

Fri., April 25 Game 4 - (2) N.Y. Rangers at (3) Philadelphia CNBC 7 p.m. Game 5* - (3) Chicago at (2) St. Louis NBCSN 8 p.m. Game 5* - (4) Dallas at (1) Anaheim NBCSN 10:30 p.m.

Sat., April 26 Game 5* - (4) Detroit at (1) Boston NBC 3 p.m. Game 5* - (4) Columbus at (1) Pittsburgh TBD TBD Game 5* - (4) Minnesota at (1) Colorado TBD TBD Game 5* - (3) Los Angeles at (2) San Jose TBD TBD

Sun., April 27 Game 5* - (3) Philadelphia at (2) N.Y. Rangers NBC Noon Game 6* - (2) St. Louis at (3) Chicago NBC 3 p.m. Game 6* - (2) Tampa Bay at (3) Montreal TBD TBD Game 6* - (1) Anaheim at (4) Dallas TBD TBD

Mon., April 28 Game 6* - (1) Pittsburgh at (4) Columbus TBD TBD Game 6* - (1) Boston at (4) Detroit TBD TBD Game 6* - (1) Colorado at (4) Minnesota TBD TBD Game 6* - (2) San Jose at (3) Los Angeles TBD TBD

Tue., April 29 Game 7* - (3) Montreal at (2) Tampa Bay TBD TBD Game 6* - (2) N.Y. Rangers at (3) Philadelphia TBD TBD Game 7* - (3) Chicago at (2) St. Louis TBD TBD Game 7* - (4) Dallas at (1) Anaheim TBD TBD

Wed., April 30 Game 7* - (4) Columbus at (1) Pittsburgh TBD TBD Game 7* - (4) Detroit at (1) Boston TBD TBD Game 7* - (3) Philadelphia at (2) N.Y. Rangers TBD TBD Game 7* - (4) Minnesota at (1) Colorado TBD TBD Game 7* - (3) Los Angeles at (2) San Jose TBD TBD

*if necessary

NEW PLAYOFF FORMAT FEATURES EMPHASIS ON DIVISION RIVALS PRIOR TO CONFERENCE FINALS

The NHL is employing a new playoff format for the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs that allows for a fixed bracket and emphasizes division rivals in the first two rounds. Following is a breakdown of the official format:

· The top three finishers in each Division automatically qualify and are designated No. 1, 2 and 3 seeds. Among the remaining teams in each Conference, the two teams with the best records qualify as Wild Cards and are designated No. 4 seeds.

· The first two rounds are divisional brackets. No. 1 plays No. 4, and No 2. plays No. 3, with winners advancing to play each other.

· Within each Conference, the Wild Card team with the better record will be assigned to the bracket of the Divisional leader with the lesser record.

· Home-ice advantage through the first two rounds goes to the higher seeded team, regardless of regular-season records.

· For the Conference Finals and the Stanley Cup Final, home-ice advantage goes to the team with the better regular-season record

COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL COVERAGE

Through the NBC Sports Regional Networks, comprehensive coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs will be provided daily via NBC Sports' lineup of Comcast SportsNet RSNs, available in more than 50 million U.S. households. Comcast SportsNet will provide the hometown fans of the Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks and Boston Bruins with comprehensive coverage throughout their teams' Stanley Cup Playoff runs, including exclusive regional coverage of first-round games, pre- and post-game shows and extensive on-line coverage via Comcast SportsNet's 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.

NBC SPORTS LIVE EXTRA COVERAGE

NBC Sports Live Extra -- NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets -- will stream all Stanley Cup Playoff games that air on NBC, NBCSN, and CNBC, including comprehensive streaming coverage of the Stanley Cup Final. The vast majority of games will be live streamed via "TV Everywhere," the media industry's effort to make quality content available to authenticated customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms.

For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra. The NBC Sports Live Extra app for mobile devices and tablets is available at the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and on select Android handset and tablet devices within Google Play. Games airing on:

· NBC will live stream to PCs, mobile devices and tablets through NBC Sports Live Extra;

· NBCSN will live stream to PCs, mobile devices and tablets through NBC Sports Live Extra, and to the digital platforms of participating cable, satellite, and telco services, via "TV Everywhere," which is available on an authenticated basis to subscribers of participating MVPDs;

· CNBC will live stream exclusively through NBC Sports Live Extra via "TV Everywhere."