Caps fans get used to the national exposure both Versus and NBC will be in Washington quite a bit starting today.
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.
At 7pm Comcast SportsNet will present the debut of “Capitals: Behind the Lens,” a special 30-minute program that offers viewers rare behind-the-scenes access to the television production surrounding the broadcast of a live Washington Capitals game.
The show takes fans inside the television truck, broadcast booth and a variety of locations within the arena on an all-access tour guided by host Russ Thaler. The program, which covers the entire game day from the morning until the final whistle, highlights the technical and logistical aspects involved in live event production, as well as the many people that play vital roles in each Capitals game broadcast.
Among the key players featured in the show are play-by-play announcer Joe Beninati, analyst Craig Laughlin, reporter Al Koken, executive producer and game director Bill Bell and producer Steve Farrell. Many of the other men and women that are vital to each broadcast are also highlighted, including camera operators, technicians and engineers.
As the talent, production team and crew describe their unique roles and responsibilities surrounding the broadcast, numerous game highlights are provided to illustrate how their individual contributions create and enhance the final product that is being sent to homes throughout the region.
