NBC Sports Presents Rangers-Islanders 'Battle For New York' Tonight

NBC Sports presents "The Battle For New York" this week on Wednesday Night Rivalry at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN, when John Tavares and the New York Islanders host Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers in the Rangers' first-ever visit to Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

This week's NHL action starts with an NBCSN doubleheader tomorrow night, beginning at 8 p.m. ET, when Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks host Zach Parise and the Minnesota Wild. The second half of Tuesday night's doubleheader features an interconference matchup, when Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins visit Joe Pavelski and the San Jose Sharks at 10:30 p.m. ET. In addition to NHL coverage, NBCSN will present COLLEGE HOCKEY action on Saturday night at 6 p.m. ET, when Massachusetts faces No. 20 Notre Dame.

NBC Sports Live Extra - NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets and connected TVs - will stream this week's NHL and COLLEGE HOCKEY coverage.

Three-time Emmy Award-winning play-by-play commentator Mike 'Doc' Emrick, U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member and analyst Eddie Olczyk, and Emmy Award-winning 'Inside-the-Glass' analyst Pierre McGuire will have the call for Rangers-Islanders at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Kenny Albert (play-by-play) and McGuire will call Wild-Blackhawks, Randy Hahn (play-by-play) and Bret Hedican ('Inside-the-Glass') will call Penguins-Sharks, and Steve Schlanger (play-by-play) and Brian Boucher ('Inside-the-Glass') will provide commentary for UMass-Notre Dame.

Pre-game coverage on NHL LIVE begins at 7 p.m. ET tomorrow and Wednesday. Kathryn Tappen anchors tomorrow's studio coverage alongside analysts and former players Jeremy Roenick and Brian Boucher. Liam McHugh hosts on Wednesday with analysts and former players Mike Milbury and Keith Jones. NHL insider Bob McKenzie will join NBCSN's Wednesday Night Rivalry coverage to provide the latest in-depth news from around the league. In addition, Kathryn Tappen will interview John Tavares as part of Wednesday's NHL LIVE pre-game coverage on NBCSN.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT RIVALRY - RANGERS-ISLANDERS - WEDNESDAY AT 8 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Rangers and Islanders renew one of the fiercest rivalries in NHL history on Wednesday night, as the Blueshirts make their first-ever trip across the East River to face the Islanders in Brooklyn. Last year, the Isles won three of five meetings against the Rangers to win the season series. John Tavares continues to lead the Islanders (12-8-4, 28 pts; 4th in Metropolitan Division) offensively, and scored the game-winning goal in the team's 3-2 comeback win against the Lightning in Tampa on Saturday. Since the 2011-12 season, Tavares has averaged better than a point per game in the regular season, with 301 points (132g/169a) in 292 games, and boasts 21 points in 21 games this year.

The Rangers are looking to snap a three-game losing streak after starting the season with a 16-3-2 record. Mats Zuccarello continues to pace the club with 10 goals and 21 points, and defensively the Rangers lead the league in goals against per game (2.04) this season. The Islanders host Colorado tonight, while the Rangers, who are currently second in the Metropolitan Division, host Carolina this evening.

WILD-BLACKHAWKS - TUESDAY AT 8 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Blackhawks (13-8-3, 29 pts; 3rd in Central Division) host the Wild (11-7-4, 26 pts; 5th in Central Division) tomorrow night on NBCSN in a matchup that has intensified over the past three seasons. Chicago and Minnesota have met in each of the last three Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Blackhawks eliminating the Wild each time, including a sweep in the second round last postseason. Patrick Kane has carried the Blackhawks offensively and has recorded a point in 19 straight games (11g/20a), breaking the record of 18 straight games with at least one point by an American-born player, previously held by Eddie Olczyk and Phil Kessel.

Minnesota, currently fifth in the Central Division, is coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Western Conference-leading Dallas Stars, and welcomes the return of captain Zach Parise, who played in his first game on Friday night after missing eight games due to injury. Despite having appeared in just 14 games, Parise still ranks second on the club with seven goals.

PENGUINS-SHARKS - TUESDAY AT 10:30 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Sharks host the Penguins tomorrow night in their second of two meetings this season. San Jose (14-9-0, 28 pts; 2nd in Pacific Division) won the previous meeting between the two teams on Nov. 21 in Pittsburgh, as Patrick Marleau eclipsed the 1000-point mark for his career with two assists in a 3-1 win. Pittsburgh (13-8-2, 28 pts; 3rd in Metropolitan Division) has required overtime in its last three games, and has been strong defensively to start the 2015-16 campaign, allowing the fourth-fewest goals in the NHL (53). The Penguins are coming off a 3-2 shootout loss at home to Edmonton, while the Sharks enter play following a 5-2 win at home over Calgary.

COLLEGE HOCKEY - MASSACHUSETTS VS. NO. 20 NOTRE DAME - SATURDAY AT 6 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

NBCSN continues its coverage of the 2015-16 COLLEGE HOCKEY season with a Hockey East matchup between Massachusetts and No. 20 Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish (6-4-4) are coming off a 3-1 win over Western Michigan in the Shillelagh Tournament at Notre Dame, while the Minutemen were swept in a home-and-home series by No. 3 Quinnipiac. Last year, Notre Dame won four of five matchups against Massachusetts, including two of three meetings in the Hockey East Tournament, outscoring Massachusetts by a combined score of 26-12.

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