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Game Night... and an HBR Preview

November 25, 2009, 9:18 AM ET [ Comments]
Paul McCann
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Nashville Predators have gone over the river and through the woods for a Thanksgiving Eve tilt with the surprising Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center. Colorado has confounded the hockey press by getting off to a stellar start, currently standing third in the West and leading their division.

The Predators are simply one of the hottest team in the NHL right now, winning nine of their last eleven games including a current six game win streak. This stretch has seen the Preds rise from 14th in the conference to their current 7th, 2nd in the division. While Pred Nation is happy with the stretch of play in November, they are also apprehensive of the dreaded post-Detroit slump. Long-time Pred watchers are acutely aware of this phenomenon occurring as recently as last season. The Predators beat the Wings on the day after Christmas, then promptly lost five straight. Then again at the end of February again at the end of March… those two wins were each followed by a 2-3 record in the next five.

As you are prepping your Thanksgiving feast, look for couple of keys to tonight’s game…

Power Play - The team is 11-0 when scoring a power play goal.

Top Line – The Arnott/Dumont/Sullivan line has been dominant since finally getting healthy. Sullivan has 6 points over the past three games and Arnott has goals in each of the past three games. Both Sullivan and Dumont average a point a game against the Av’s over their career.

Legwand/Erat – The pressure has been on this pair since being called out before the season began. They have really stepped up their games over the past few games since they have been split. Erat has three goals and an assist in his last three games, Legwand has ten points in his last twelve.

For the Avalanche, they have come down to earth a bit since their torrid start, however they are very tough on home ice, posting a 7-2-0 record so far this season. The Av’s are led by youngster Paul Stasny, who is on a point per game pace for the season. They have gotten outstanding goaltending from Craig Anderson who is expected to be in net tonight. Colorado may also benefit from the expected return of their captain, Adam Foote who has been on the shelf for a few games with a jaw injury.

Game time is 8pm, coverage on 97.1 RQQ and on FS Tennessee in HD.

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On Tonight’s HockeyBuzz Radio…

It’s a special Thanksgiving Eve edition of HBR with a feast of national bloggers taking a look at the league as it passes the quarter pole… Pete is on the road getting ready to cover the Av’s game so we have a special co-host… writer for the Nashville Examiner and AP stringer Jim Diamond.

Our guest list…

Paul Kukla from nhl.com and the king of Kukla’s Korner will be on the NHL Hot Sheet…

Greg Wyshynsky from Yahoo’s Puck Daddy will give us his unique take somewhere on the road as he travels home for the holiday…

Eklund will join us as well to give us the latest from the NHL rumor mill…

That’s all at 6pm tonight on SportsRadio 560 WNSR. … listen online or on podcast at HockeyBuzz Radio's website.

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COMING UP ON HOCKEYBUZZ RADIO…

For the most updated guest information go to HockeyBuzz Radio's website

Wednesday – December 2nd- No show tonight due to broadcast conflicts… we’ll be back on December 9th you can listen to past shows on podcast at HockeyBuzz Radio's website.


While we may not be having a show next Wednesday, we will be having a watch party at the Flying Saucer. Come join us for third annual “Out of This World” watch party starting at 5pm.

More details to come.

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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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