NBC SPORTS GROUP PARTNERS WITH THOMAS KELLER AND HIS AWARD-WINNING BOUCHON BAKERY TO PROMOTE THE 2014 NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Interactive Campaign to Deliver Puck Cake Desserts in Edible Brackets

STAMFORD, Conn. -- April 15, 2014 -- NBC Sports Group today announced an exclusive partnership with Chef Thomas Keller's Bouchon Bakery to celebrate the commencement of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, which begin on Wednesday, April 16 and will air across NBC, NBCSN, CNBC, and the NHL Network. NBC Sports Group collaborated with the celebrated bakery to conceive the "Puck Cake," a limited-edition variation of Bouchon Bakery's acclaimed MallowMore dessert.

NBC Sports Group and Bouchon Bakery will produce more than 6,500 of the hockey-puck-sized cakes, comprised of marshmallow and a shortbread cookie encased in a chocolate shell. Puck Cakes will be embellished with one of 18 unique, edible graphics representing the logos of the 16 NHL teams that qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the logo of NBC Sports or the logo of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Puck Cake desserts will be presented in a limited edition custom-designed NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket box, which reflects the new playoff format for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and hand delivered to athletes, celebrity hockey fans and social influencers in key markets across the country. Each playoff team will also receive their own box of "Puck Cakes" from NBC Sports Group.

"We wanted to celebrate the postseason and help promote the new single elimination bracket format of the Stanley Cup Playoffs." said John Miller, Chief Marketing Officer, NBC Sports Group. "Getting to collaborate with Thomas Keller on such a fun promotion was the icing on the cake."

"Often our inspiration is in trying capture the memory of a favorite childhood food," said Thomas Keller, Chef/Proprietor, Bouchon Bakery. "The Puck Cake is no different, as it reminds us of the classic mallomar and the nostalgia of those flavors we enjoyed while rooting for our favorite team."

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS ON TV

NBC Sports Group's coverage of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs begins Wednesday night with a triple-header of first-round games, 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."

Wednesday night's Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage includes 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. 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. Coverage on CNBC begins at 7 p.m. ET when Steven Stamkos and the (2) Tampa Bay Lightning host the (3) Montreal Canadiens.

For more information, click here: 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs Schedule

ABOUT NBC SPORTS GROUP

NBC Sports Group consists of a unique array of broadcast television, cable television, regional television, radio and digital sports assets, including NBC Sports, NBCSN, Golf Channel, NBC Olympics, 12 NBC Sports Regional Networks, two regional news networks, NBC Sports Radio and NBCSports.com.

In addition to NBC Sports Group's partnerships with the International Olympic Committee and the NFL, the company's unparalleled collection of media rights agreements include partnerships with: NHL, PGA TOUR, PGA of America, USGA, European Tour, Premier League, MLS, University of Notre Dame, Tour de France, French Open, Formula One, IndyCar, Churchill Downs, Breeders' Cup, America's Cup, and beginning in 2015, NASCAR.

ABOUT BOUCHON BAKERY

Since 2003, Bouchon Bakery has been Thomas Keller's unique take on a French boulangerie, offering sandwiches, quiche, soups and salads, as well as a wide range of artisanal viennoiserie, confections, pastries, tarts and cookies both French and American in influence. The Bouchon Bakery cookbook, coauthored by Chef Keller and Sebastien Rouxel, Executive Pastry Chef, for the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group, was on The New York Times Best Sellers List for nearly two months after its release in 2012.

Now with seven locations across the U.S. in Napa Valley, Beverly Hills, Las Vegas and New York, Bouchon Bakery showcases specialty items such as custom cakes, wedding cakes and favors, as well as various seasonal and holiday offerings available for special order. For more information about Bouchon Bakery, visit www.bouchonbakery.com. For media requests, email media@tkrg.com or call (707) 754-4199.