HOCKEYCENTRAL PLAYOFF PREVIEW SETS THE TABLE FOR NHL POSTSEASON WITH TWO HOUR SPECIAL ON TUESDAY

Hockeycentral Playoff Edition begins nightly postseason preview show this Wednesday

TORONTO (April 11, 2011) – Rogers Sportsnet maps out the road to the 2011 Stanley Cup with the Hockeycentral Playoff Preview on Tuesday, April 12 at 7 p.m.(ET)/4 p.m. (PT) on the Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific channels. The preview show will also be streamed live on sportsnet.ca and air on Sportsnet ONE at 10 p.m. (ET).

The two-hour special features Hockeycentral analysts and former Stanley Cup winners Nick Kypreos and Brad May, along with Doug MacLean, John Shannon and sportsnet.ca columnist Mike Brophy with hosts Daren Millard and RJ Broadhead.

The analysts will preview and make predictions for all the first-round match-ups and offer their picks on who will reach the Eastern and Western Conference Finals, as well as their Stanley Cup winner. The panel will also be joined by host Don Taylor with analysts John Garrett and Garry Valk along with Sportsnet Connected reporter Dan Murphy to preview the Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks series. The preview show will also present a sit-down with Daniel and Henrik Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks to discuss their goal of leading the club to the Stanley Cup.

Viewers can also participate in live chat during the preview show by logging on to sportsnet.ca and take part in playoff polls posted on the website. Also, sportsnet.ca columnist Mark Spector will file reports all throughout the Canucks and Blackhawks series. Playoff poolies searching for Fantasy Draft help can also tune in to watch each member of the panel select their top playoff pick as well as a sleeper pick. In addition, poolies can join the Sportsnet Playoff Fantasy Hockey pool at: http://fantasy.sportsnet.ca/sportsnet/hkplayoff11/promo

Hockeycentral Playoff Edition will launch on Wednesday, April 13 at 6 p.m. (ET)/3 p.m. (PT) on the Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific channels, setting the stage for the opening night of the playoffs and will continue to air each night.

Sportsnet Connected will also begin coverage of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs on Wednesday, April 13 at 6:30 p.m. (ET)/3:30 p.m. (PT) when reporters Murphy, Craig MacEwen and Gene Principe bring viewers all the news and highlights from the Canucks and Blackhawks. Louis Jean and Ian Mendes will cover the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins series while Ryan Leslie files reports on the Tampa Bay Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins series.

Hockeycentral Tonight continues weeknights at 11 p.m. (ET)/11 p.m. (MT)/11 p.m. (PT), offering analysis and post-game coverage during the playoffs. In addition, Hockeycentral Saturday Playoff Edition will offer a one-hour preview every Saturday at 6 p.m. (ET)/3 p.m. (PT) on the evening’s playoff match-ups.

For all the scores, highlights, breaking news and inside stories from the NHL playoffs, tune in to Hockeycentral, Sportsnet Connected and visit www.sportsnet.ca.

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