Three days in, two on ice practice sessions are in the books and it is already time to see what this team has. In an unusual bit of scheduling, the Nashville Predators drop the puck on the NHL preseason today with a doubleheader at Sunrise, Florida. That’s not a typo… a doubleheader… The team flies out this morning for the twin bill and may need a bigger plane than normal to carry two squads.

At practice over the weekend I asked Predator TV analyst (and Stanley Cup winning coach) Terry Crisp about this, inquiring if a coach likes getting to the games so quickly. His response was an emphatic “yes.” Crisp explained that he thought it was better to get an idea of what the younger players could do in game situations, at something closer to game speed. He did say that special teams tend to take a hit as there really isn’t time to install the system with all of the players in camp.

The coaching staff will get a very good look at the young blueliners today as both Ryan Suter and Shea Weber are not in the lineup, Pekka Rinne is also a scratch but all are expected to play tomorrow night in Baltimore against the Caps.

The game one roster includes rookies Ryan Ellis and Taylor Beck, among the vets scheduled to play are Jerred Smithson, Jordin Tootoo, Colin Wilson and Sergei Kostitsyn. Between the pipes, Jeremy Smith and Chet Pickard.

Game two will see the preseason debut of Craig Smith along with prospects Ryan Thang, Austin Watson Gabriel Bourque and Teemu Laakso. Vets ion the lineup will be Kevin Kline, David Legwand, Patric Hornqvist and the Pred debut of Niclas Bergfors. Goaltenders will be Atte Engren and Anders Lindback.

Game times are 2pm and 6:30pm Central. There is no broadcast coverage for today’s games.

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Random Notes

- Battle of the Blades featured a salute to Wade Belak last night on their season debut.

- The hype is building in Baltimore as the Predators will take on the Washington Capitals tomorrow night at the 1st Mariner Arena. It will be the first professional hockey game in Baltimore in 14 years. As someone who used to go to Skipjack games while I was in college, it’s nice to see Baltimore support this game.

- Memo to Harrison Mooney at Puck Daddy… Carrie Underwood’s been coming to Predator games long before she even met Mike Fisher…

- Wow… it looks really weird seeing Jaromir Jagr in orange and black.

- The Kings/Drew Doughty standoff is an interesting one (I wonder if we would be talking about something similar is the Preds didn’t take Weber to arbitration…) but the more interesting confrontation may be the Kyle Turris / Phoenix Coyote showdown… to this observer, it sure looks like Turris wants out.

- Preseason hockey on NHL Network tonight… Ottawa/Toronto at 6pm.

- Jets fans went nuts over the weekend… packing the MTS Iceplex in suburban Winnipeg for the first sessions of Jets training camp.

- Sidney Crosby hit the ice over the weekend for no-contact drills.

- Please, if you haven’t had the chance… drop a small donation to the Andie and Alex Belak Scholarship Fund. Checks should be made payable to Woodmont Christian Church/Belak and sent to 3601 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215.

- 24 days to Opening Night in Smashville

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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, but we are having a bit of fun by getting your input on Gnash introductions, weigh in on Twitter and who knows, we may use your introduction for the best mascot in the NHL at the next Preds game!

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