GAME 5 OF STANLEY CUP FINAL SATURDAY IN PRIMETIME ON NBC SPORTS

"The problem for Pittsburgh is that Detroit is so poised, so professional, that Pittsburgh has to play an almost perfect game, particularly in goal, to beat them." � NBC's McGuire

Stanley Cup Final on NBC Up 21% Over Last Year; Best in 7 Years

NEW YORK � June 4, 2009 � NBC Sports will broadcast Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins, Saturday, 8 p.m. ET from the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. In the first Stanley Cup Final rematch in 25 years, the defending champion Detroit Red Wings lead the series 2-1 with Game 4 in Pittsburgh tonight. NBC Sports, the network home of the National Hockey League, is broadcasting up to five games in the series, all in primetime (see schedule below).

Mike "Doc" Emrick (play-by-play), Eddie Olczyk (analyst) and Pierre McGuire (inside-the-glass analyst) call the action. McGuire will pull double duty in the on-location studio show alongside Mike Milbury and former NHL netminder Darren Pang. NBC Sports' coverage is produced by Sam Flood, the architect of the "Inside the Glass" analyst position.

The matchup features some of the NHL's greats, including Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal against Detroit's Marian Hossa, Henrik Zetterberg, and Nicklas Lidstrom. Hossa skated for Pittsburgh against Detroit last year. Detroit has won 11 Stanley Cup championships in their long history as an NHL "Original Six" franchise and the Penguins, two (1991 & 92). Twenty-one current Red Wings players (total of 40 times) have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup compared with just five for the Penguins.

MCGUIRE ON THE SERIES: "If the Penguins win tonight, I think it becomes a home ice series and goes the duration."

MCGUIRE ON THE PENGUINS: "They are much more mature both mentally and athletically than last year. They have better chemistry. But the X-factor is Jordan Staal. He has to be better."

MCGUIRE ON THE RED WINGS: "The problem for Pittsburgh is that Detroit is so poised, so professional, that Pittsburgh has to play an almost perfect game, particularly in goal, to beat them."

STANLEY CUP FINAL ON NBC SPORTS DELIVERS HIGHEST VIEWERSHIP IN 7 YEARS: The Stanley Cup Final on NBC Sports is off to the best network start to the event in seven years in both viewership and in household ratings according to Nielsen Media Research. Games 1 and 2 on NBC Sports (Saturday and Sunday night) averaged 4.87 million viewers, the best since 2002 (Detroit-Carolina, 5.35 million, Games 3 & 4) and 21 percent ahead of last year (4.04 million, Games 3 & 4, Wednesday and Saturday night). The two-game 2.8 average rating and 5 share was up 17 percent over NBC's first two games in 2008 (2.4/4), and was again the best network start for the Stanley Cup since 2002 (3.4/7). NBC Sports' Game 2 coverage of the Stanley Cup Final ranked No. 6 (tied) among all primetime telecasts last week in Adults 18-49.

REMAINING STANLEY CUP FINAL BROADCAST SCHEDULE

Game 4 Thursday, June 4 Detroit at Pittsburgh Versus 8 p.m. ET

Game 5 Saturday, June 6 Pittsburgh at Detroit NBC 8 p.m. ET

Game 6 * Tuesday, June 9 Detroit at Pittsburgh NBC 8 p.m. ET

Game 7 * Friday, June 12 Pittsburgh at Detroit NBC 8 p.m. ET

*if necessary