The Chicago Blackhawks advanced to the 2015 Stanley Cup Final with a 5-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 7. Marian Hossa scored the eventual game-winning goal for Chicago, while goaltender Corey Crawford made 35 saves.
Three-time Emmy Award-winning play-by-play commentator and
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED 2014 Media Person of the Year Mike 'Doc' Emrick, U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member and analyst Eddie Olczyk, and Emmy Award-winning Inside-the-Glass analyst Pierre McGuire called tonight's Game 7 matchup.
NBC and NBCSN's
NHL LIVE studio team featured host Liam McHugh, and analysts Mike Milbury, Keith Jones and Brian Boucher.
Following are quotes from tonight's Game 7 coverage
BETWEEN the Blackhawks and Ducks:
PRE-GAME
Keith Jones on the series and the matchup: "I can't wait for it to start. I don't want it to end. I'm hoping for overtime tonight."
Mike Milbury on Ryan Kesler in Game 7: "This is the moment that he was brought in for. This is the moment he is meant to make a difference for the Anaheim Ducks. This is the guy who is going to help them win a Stanley Cup."
Doc Emrick on Game 7: "The best of seven has reached seven. It's the Blackhawks against the Ducks. What a series it has been."
FIRST PERIOD
Emrick on first period: "Many who paid the price of admission would not have guessed a start like this. Yet, this is certainly not the finish."
FIRST INTERMISSION
Jones on Joel Quenneville's line-change 3 seconds into the first Period: "He has done an amazing job to start this game. Quenneville quickly gets the matchup he wants. The Chicago Blackhawks do a great job defensively, then Toews goes down the other end and scores a huge goal against the Getzlaf line."
SECOND PERIOD
Pierre McGuire on the Blackhawks: "Their bench is well orchestrated right now. They are like an unbelievable symphony working perfectly in concert with each other."
Eddie Olczyk on goal by Ryan Kesler: "The Ducks have a little bit of life. Very late. VERY late in the second period."
SECOND INTERMISSION
Jones on Ryan Getzlaf: "Horrible. He's going to be livid. He's going to be livid with himself. Ryan Getzlaf has been at his absolute worst in this game. He's an outstanding player who is having an awful night."
Milbury on Corey Crawford: "He has been terrific. He's been solid except for one miscue. This game needed some big saves early, and Corey Crawford was able to deliver. He looks like a Hungry Hippo down there."
THIRD PERIOD
McGuire on goal by Brent Seabrook: "Every time there's a big goal scored by Chicago, seemingly 7 in white is in the picture."
Emrick on the Blackhawks: "It is the killer instinct that teams talk about. The Blackhawks have it. Much of it has come from the experience of being this deep, this many times."
Emrick on the Stanley Cup Final: "The Blackhawks will face the Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final of 2015."
Emrick on the Ducks: "For the Ducks there is nothing to do now but rest, recover and come back in the fall."
POST GAME
Jones on Jonathan Toews: "It's remarkable to watch him play. He's not the biggest guy in the league, he's not the most skilled guy in the league, but he's the best guy in the league when it comes to clutch moments."
Milbury on Jonathan Toews: "The consistent level of excellence is unmatched in any player I've ever seen. Every time the Blackhawks need something to happen, Toews seems to be in the middle of it."
Milbury on Duncan Keith: "Duncan Keith to me has been as good as he's ever been. Showing his quickness, showing his experience, showing his all-around skill."
The Stanley Cup Final begins Wednesday, June 3 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC, when the Tampa Bay Lightning host the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 1 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. The Lightning return to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2004, while the Blackhawks advance to their third Stanley Cup Final in six years.
Following is
NBC Sports Group's television schedule for the 2015 Stanley Cup Final:
Date Game Teams Network Time (ET)
Wed., June 3 Stanley Cup Final - Game 1 Chicago at Tampa Bay
NBC 8 p.m.
Sat., June 6 Stanley Cup Final - Game 2^ Chicago at Tampa Bay
NBC 7:15 p.m.
Mon., June 8 Stanley Cup Final - Game 3 Tampa Bay at Chicago
NBCSN 8 p.m.
Wed., June 10 Stanley Cup Final - Game 4 Tampa Bay at Chicago
NBCSN 8 p.m.
Sat., June 13 Stanley Cup Final - Game 5* Chicago at Tampa Bay
NBC 8 p.m.
Mon., June 15 Stanley Cup Final - Game 6* Tampa Bay at Chicago
NBC 8 p.m.
Wed., June 17 Stanley Cup Final - Game 7* Chicago at Tampa Bay
NBC 8 p.m.
*if necessary
^following coverage of The Belmont Stakes
