NBC Hypes Sunday’s Bruins/Caps; No Edzo For This Sunday

NEW YORK – April 7, 2010 – The Washington Capitals, who are vying for the NHL’s best regular-season record, host the Boston Bruins, who are fighting for an Eastern Conference playoff berth, on the final day of the NHL regular season, Sunday, April 11 at Noon ET on NBC Sports.

Mike “Doc” Emrick (play-by-play), who is nominated for a 2010 Sports Emmy Award, and Pierre McGuire (inside-the-glass reporter) call the action. McGuire will pull double duty, hosting NBC’s studio show alongside analyst Mike Milbury on site at Verizon Center.

With only five days remaining in the regular season, the Bruins currently occupy the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and are attempting to hold off the New York Rangers, who are three points behind. The Capitals are first in the Eastern Conference with 118 points and are the strongest contender to win the Presidents’ Trophy, awarded to the team with the league’s best regular-season record.

Alex Ovechkin will likely be fighting to win the league scoring title and the Maurice Richard Trophy, awarded to the top goal scorer. Ovechkin currently is tied for the league lead in goals scored with 48 with Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and ranks second in total points with 106, just one behind Vancouver’s Henrik Sedin.

MCGUIRE ON THE BRUINS: “The Bruins are scratching and clawing for a playoff position. There are a number of scenarios for them on Sunday. They could be playing to get into the playoffs. They could be in a position to move up a playoff spot. They could also be set to play the Capitals in the first round, which makes Sunday’s game a live-fire exercise. If that’s the case, Boston will want to set the tempo, breakdown tactics and establish matchups that work.”

MCGUIRE ON THE CAPITALS: “There are a lot of Washington stories on the final day of the season. Winning the Presidents’ Trophy is a huge team accomplishment. Mike Green is the leading scoring defenseman and an obvious Norris Trophy candidate. The Capitals are going to want to get Ovechkin the scoring title and the ‘Rocket’ Richard trophy no matter what. Those are individual awards but they are team awards, too.”

EDDIE OLCZYK HERITAGE NIGHT: NBC Sports analyst Eddie Olyczyk will miss the Capitals-Bruins game because he is being honored that same day in Chicago. At their April 11 game, the Chicago Blackhawks will host Eddie Olczyk Heritage Night to honor the Chicago native, former player and current Blackhawks television analyst. The first 10,000 fans to enter the United Center will receive a limited-edition Eddie Olczyk Heritage Night hat.

CLOSE GAMES: All nine of NBC Sports’ NHL games this season have been decided by one goal, and five needed extra time to determine a winner. On Sunday, April 4, the Philadelphia Flyers handed the Detroit Red Wings their first regulation loss in nearly a month with a 4-3 victory.

The Boston Bruins defeated the New York Rangers, 2-1, on Sunday, March 21 on the strength of an impressive performance by goalie Tuukka Rask. On Sunday, March 14, the Washington Capitals defeated the host Chicago Blackhawks, 4-3, in overtime. Washington was trailing 3-0 in the final period before scoring three unanswered goals and ultimately winning the game with a fourth in OT. The Red Wings defeated the Blackhawks in Chicago, 5-4, on March 7 on the strength of five second-period goals. On Feb. 7, the Capitals defeated the Penguins, 5-4, in overtime on Mike Knuble’s goal. In the game, Sidney Crosby scored twice for Pittsburgh and Alexander Ovechkin registered a hat trick for Washington.

The week prior, on Jan. 31, the Penguins were on the winning end when they defeated the Red Wings in a Stanley Cup Final rematch, 2-1, via an overtime shootout. On Jan. 24, the Penguins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, 2-1, on a power-play goal by Matt Cooke with 1:47 remaining. In NBC’s inaugural “Game of the Week” on Jan. 17, the Chicago Blackhawks needed a shootout to beat the Red Wings, 4-3, in Detroit.

The Boston Bruins needed overtime to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers, 2-1, at Fenway Park on New Year’s Day in the 2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic.

NBCSPORTS.COM: NBCSports.com will again offer “Star-cam” this season, tracking a player from both teams throughout each of their shifts. Following the game, NBCSports.com will present bonus material, including “Star-cam” and “Net-cam” and bonus analysis from NBC Sports commentators.

THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS: NBC Sports coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs begins on Saturday and Sunday, April 17-18 with a broadcast of a conference quarterfinal game each day.