The schedule is out… a quick breakdown and some observations…

October – 6 Home – 7 Away
November – 8 Home – 5 Away
December – 6 Home – 9 Away
January – 6 Home – 7 Away
February – 3 Home – 4 Away
March – 10 Home – 7 Away
April – 2 Home – 2 Away

> The compressed schedule shows itself as the Predators have 17 games in March!

> Longest road trip is a five gamer in October that takes the Preds from Washington to Boston to Ottawa to Chicago to Minnesota.

> The “CMA Road Trip” is a little shorter then previous years. Only four games (ANA, LAK, SJS, STL) in a seven day span.

> The Preds have a 5 game homestand in November and three 4 gamers, one each in December, January and February

> Weird quirk in the schedule has the Preds playing their last home game before the Olympic break on Saturday Feb 6… their next home game is Tuesday March 2nd, a 24 day break in between home games.

> First game against Detroit is on Monday night November 23rd… with a 5pm start time… it could mean a Versus game… Other games against the Wings are 12/12, 3/27 (Home), 1/29, 3/5, and 4/3 (Away).

> Predators get the benefit of finishing the season with 9 of their last 13 inside the friendly confines of the Sommet Center.

> Notable home games… Buffalo on 10/10, Montreal on 11/14, Tampa Bay on 12/15, Toronto on 1/18, Philadelphia on 3/16.

> Some varied home start times this year… 11/23 – Red Wings at 5pm… 3/7 – Canucks at 2pm…

> Potential National TV Games – 2/14 - Preds @ Pittsburgh, Noon start time… 3/14 Preds @ Los Angeles, 2pm start… 4/3 – Preds @ Detroit, 1pm start time.

> Schedule quirks – Nine road game in an 26 day span between 10/17 and 11/12… only two home games in that stretch, followed by an eight home game in 16 day stretch as part of a 13 of 17 games at home stretch that goes from 11/14 – 12/15, broken up by a Thanksgiving Eve trip to Colorado, a two gamer in Chicago and Minnesota, and a quickie to Columbus. 13 games in Nov/Dec will be quite a challenge for the Preds sales office during the meat of football season.

> December could be rough... after that 13 of 17 home stretch the Preds finish the month with six of seven on the road, but do get to spend Christmas in Nashville as the team returns from Vancouver the night of 12/22 and plays at home on 12/26.

> Personal Schedule Quirk… the Preds play on my birthday, my wife’s birthday, our wedding anniversary and both of my boys’ birthdays… The only one missing is my daughter… Who knows… it could be a good sign… the only way the Preds could play on her birthday is if the make it to the Stanley Cup Finals! :)

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Our special HBR podcast from the development camp is posted at hockeybuzzradio.com

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You are invited to follow me on Twitter. Search for PredPAPaul… Not only will I be updating when I get news or updates… I’ll also be updating during Pred home games in season with information and explanations from the PA box.

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HockeyBuzz Radio is on hiatus until October… we’ll be weighing on conditioning camp and may even put up a podcast or two during the summer. Keep checking in at www.hockeybuzzradio.com for the latest on the upcoming season and regular columns from hockey writer Mark McGee.

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