The Nashville Predators try to get back on the winning track against the Carolina Hurricanes tonight in Smashville. Nashville has done well against the Carolina, posting five consecutive wins and gaining points in seven straight, dating all the way back to 2003.

Carolina had great expectations to start the year, only to fall flat, fire their coach and attempt to reboot. Former Milwaukee Admiral head coach Kirk Muller has the helm now in Carolina and after only 17 games, his work ethic is beginning to rub off on the ‘Canes. They are coming into town after soundly beating the Buffalo Sabres last night in Raleigh, including an excellent performance from Eric Staal.

Carolina comes in a bit beaten up as D-man Joni Pitkanen and goaltender Brian Boucher are listed as out, Jeff Skinner is listed as doubtful with a concussion and Patrick Dwyer is listed as questionable. Nashville lists Colin Wilson as questionable.

Nashville’s opportunity is the 29th ranked Hurricane defense, it could be just what the doctor ordered for the scoring funk that Craig Smith and Martin Erat seem to in. It’s a 7pm faceoff at Bridgestone Arena, TV is Center Ice only and of course 102.5 the Game will have the radio call. Very few tickets remain in what is anticipated to be the Predators eighth straight sellout.

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Random Notes

- The Predators are now averaging 16,623 fans per home game, putting the team on pace to break the franchise average attendance record of 16,600 set during the team’s inaugural season. Bridgestone Arena capacity is 17,113.

- Pollstar lists Bridgestone Arena as the 6th busiest arena in the country, 8th busiest in North America and 20th busiest in the world in 2011. Nashville’s downtown arena came in behind Staples Center (LA), Madison Square Garden, Philips Arena (Atlanta), American Airlines Center (Dallas), Verizon Center (DC). This is second straight year for Bridgestone Arena at the number 6 spot. It is also worth noting that Nashville’s arena is the highest ranked arena with only one sports team to call it home, each of the top five have both an NBA (two in LA) and NHL team (I know, but half the year the Thrashers were still in Atlanta.)

- Still scratching my head over the NHLPA’s refusal to approve the NHL’s realignment plans for next season. Is this the first shot in a war or a minor distraction? I suppose you could read it either way.

- The NHLPA’s primary objections to the realignment plan were travel and the unequal number of teams per conference… ummm… OK. Travel sounds like it is driven by the Northeast teams that enjoy a huge advantage…

- James Mirtle had an interesting column in yesterday’s Globe and Mail calling out the growth in American born NHL players.

- The Winter Classic magic continues as the AHL hosted the third outdoor game in the league’s history last night at Philadelphia’s Citizen’s Bank Park. 45,653 fans saw the Adirondack Phantoms beat the Hershey Bears in overtime, 4-3. Former Nashville Predator Michael Leighton was in goal for the Phantoms.

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On the next SlapShot Radio, built by RiverBirch Homes

We are back on Wednesday, January 11th at 6pm on 102.5 the Game, live from Blackstone Restaurant on West End Ave. We will talk with Eric Appleby of powerscouthockey.com about the NHL’s version of “Moneyball,” we will also have a salute to Lefty Smith, the former coach of the Notre Dame hockey team who passed away last week and we will preview the Colorado game. All this on SlapShot Radio built by RiverBirch Homes.

To get a fix in the meantime… past episodes are also posted on the SlapShot Radio website.

Click here to listen or download.

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