It’s Game Night in La-La Land as the Nashville Predators invade the Staples Center for their first of four matches against the Los Angeles Kings this season. LA has been predicted by many a pundit to challenge for Western Conference supremacy this season after adding some key pieces to an already powerful lineup and getting RFA Drew Doughty signed after very contentious negotiations.

The Kings come into tonight’s game with only one roster player listed as questionable, that is Colin Fraser. Drew Doughty is now off of IR (he played last night in San Jose.) Doughty took a puck to the face a few games back and is now the latest example of why players should consider wearing visors. Without the visor, Doughty could’ve been much more seriously hurt and would probably still be on the shelf. The Predators list Nick Spaling on IR, Kevin Klein and Sergei Kostitsyn are both listed as questionable.

The Kings are on a five game winless streak and last won on Oct. 27th at home vs. the Dallas Stars. Tonight begins a four game home stand for LA and is in the middle of a seven home in nine game stretch and seems to be another team doing fine on the road (3-2-2) but not as good at home (3-3-1.) They dropped a 4-2 decision to the Sharks last night in San Jose.

Nashville enters the Southland riding a modest two game win streak, winning four of their last five games and gaining at least a point in all five. Patric Hornqvist and David Legwand are leading the way for the Preds. Hornqvist is on a five game goal scoring streak and David Legwand is off to the best start of his career with a team-leading 14 points.

So, what should a Pred fan look for tonight? First off, a caffeine source as game time is 9:30pm central. Second, look for the Predators to play a very similar game to Saturday night’s against the Sharks. They cannot afford to get in a run and gun with this very skilled Kings team. Certainly skate with ‘em, but they won’t outchance them. It should be a good one, get a nap in beforehand or come up with a great excuse to go in late tomorrow… Coverage on 102.5 the Game and Fox Sports Tennessee.

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Random Notes

- Have I mentioned that hockey fan and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Alice Cooper was joining us for SlapShot Radio this week? :-) Also, we have a guest co-host as Stu Grimson will be filling in for Pete who will be prepping to call the Anaheim game.

- Never too early to compare seasons… at this point last season, the Preds were 5-5-3 with 13 points, this year they are at 7-4-2 with 16 points.

- Three… it’s a magic number… (sorry, couldn’t resist the obvious Multiplication Rock reference) The Predators are 6-0-1 when they score three or more goals…

- It looks like the Boston Bruins have finally figured out that the season has started, they dismantled the Islanders last night… that’s two games in a row where they looked like they were interested.

- Ken Hitchcock coaches his first game for St. Louis tonight as the Blues welcome the Chicago Blackhawks to town. This should be a very good one.

- After the shake up in St. Louis, speculation is now turning to the next team that may need a wake up call. Maybe Carolina… or Columbus?

- Georges Laraque is sparing no one in his book… first we hear of the steroid problem that he believes is rampant in the NHL… now he comes out and says something that will really get things stirred up. He calls Wayne Gretzky “one of the worst coaches I’ve ever had.” Yikes!

- I wonder if Dustin Byfuglien is missing Atlanta yet? The Winnipeg media has been all over the big blueliner for his slow start to this season. Jets coach Claude Doel spent a large chunk of his media availability defending his player yesterday.

- OT: Smokin’ Joe Frazier died yesterday at 67. The former champ who fought out of Philadelphia for most of his career was a fighter that you just had to appreciate. Epic battles both in and out of the ring, Joe Frazier adopted Philly as his home, and city took him into their heart. Godspeed Joe, rest easy. Thoughts and prayers to his family.

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On the next SlapShot Radio

We'll have a very special interview with hockey fan and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Alice Cooper!
We'll get an update on the coaching change in St. Louis with Andy Strickland from TrueHockey.com, discuss the impact on Columbus with Aaron Portzline from the Columbus Dispatch and preview Nashville's 1,000 game with The Voice of the Montreal Canadiens, John Bartlett
That’s all on this week’s SlapShot Radio Wednesday at 6pm on 102.5 the Game.

Past episode podcasts are posted on the SlapShot Radio website.

Click here to listen or download.

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