Return to Play preview specials set to premiere on NBCSN, NHL platforms

NEW YORK/TORONTO -- The National Hockey League (NHL) will help fans prepare for the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers™, which begin Saturday, Aug. 1, with two one-hour specials - "NHL Return to Play Preview: Eastern Conference" and "NHL Return to Play Preview: Western Conference." Produced by NHL Original Productions, host Kathryn Tappen and analysts Brian Burke, Keith Jones and Kelly Hrudey will preview the restart of the season with 2019-20 season recaps as well as highlights and analysis of each conference. Watch the promo here.

"NHL Return to Play Preview: Eastern Conference" will premiere today at 4 p.m. ET on NBCSN; NHL.com; and the NHL's YouTube, Facebook and IGTV platforms, immediately followed by "NHL Return to Play Preview: Western Conference" at 5 p.m. ET.

Sportsnet and NHL Network™ will present the preview shows over two nights in primetime. "NHL Return to Play Preview: Eastern Conference" will air on Saturday, July 25, at 8 p.m. ET and on Sunday, July 26, at 7 p.m. ET on SN360 and NHL Network, respectively. SN360 and NHL Network will broadcast "NHL Return to Play Preview: Western Conference" on Sunday, July 26, at 8 p.m. ET, and on Monday, July 27, at 8 p.m. ET, respectively.

The 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers™ featuring the 16 teams that are contesting best-of-five series to determine the eight teams advancing to the 2020 Stanley Cup® Playoffs, commonly referred to as the Qualifying Round, will begin Saturday, Aug. 1. Each best-of-five series features one set of back-to-back games, occurring between Games 2 and 3, Games 3 and 4, or Games 4 and 5 (if necessary).

The 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers™ featuring the top four teams from each conference to determine seeding in the 2020 Stanley Cup® Playoffs, commonly referred to as the Round Robin, will begin Sunday, Aug. 2, with two games - one in each hub city.

The 12 participating Eastern Conference teams will play at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, while the 12 participating Western Conference teams will compete at Rogers Place in Edmonton.