The Nashville Predators are in Ottawa tonight to take on a Senators team trying to regain their early season magic. The Sens are on a seven game losing streak and they are struggling in almost all aspects of their game. This is no surprise to Ottawa fans as this team has been streak all season, opening at 1-5-0, then going on a six game win streak followed by a five game losing streak. The Senators are clinging to the 8 spot in the Eastern Conference standings.

The Predators come into tonight’s game after dropping a shootout decision to the Vancouver Canucks as a team that knows they need to keep gathering points to keep pace in the hyper competitive Central Division. Detroit is back home and continuing their winning streak there and St. Louis just keeps getting the job done.

The biggest story in tonight’s game however, is the return of Mike Fisher to Ottawa. Senators fans will finally get a chance to properly thank Fisher for his 675 games in a Sens uniform. Fisher is beloved in Ottawa, not only for his on ice performance, but for his off-ice involvement in the community. It is bound to be an emotional moment, when he first hits the ice in tonight’s game.

Both teams are relatively healthy, both teams are looking to get back into the win column, should be a good inter-conference matchup tonight, game time is 6:30pm central. Pete Weber and Terry Crisp have the call on Fox Sports Tennessee, Tom Callahan has the radio on lock with coverage on 102.5 the Game.

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SlapShot Radio's fundraiser to benefit C.A.P.E. is this Saturday at Blue Restaurant in Murfreesboro. We'll be watching the game against Boston, enjoying the great food and beverages at Blue. We'll have door prizes and the silent auction is really shaping up! We've got a Mike Fisher autographed stick, autographed photos of David Legwand, Martin Erat and Pekka Rinne. Autographed pucks from Jordin Tootoo and Cody Franson, plus great merchandise from Coleman's Dynamic Products, Predators tickets, Blue Restaurant Gifts and much more... join us Saturday to benefit CAPE and watch the game!

Big thanks to Greg Pogue for hosting us and the good folks at Blue Restaurant have announced they will be donating 20% of all food sales at the event between 11am - 3pm to CAPE! Plus, they will feature $2 draft beer and $3 draft Guinness! Along with Happy Hour pricing at the bar!!!

See you Saturday… at Blue!

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Random Notes

- The Predators are 5th in the Western Conference standings, trailing conference leading Detroit by 5 points. Nashville is tied with St. Louis but the Blues win the tiebreaker due to their games in hand. The Predators lead Chicago by four points. St. Louis has two games in hand over Nashville and Chicago and three games in hand over Detroit. The Predators have a game in hand on Detroit.

- Pekka Rinne will be in net tonight, and on Saturday as well.

- Nice to see some good press on Preds prospect Zach Budish… Click here to read about his season in Minnesota.

- Eighteen straight for the Red Wings… they are within two games of the NHL record for consecutive wins at home. Wednesday’s victory over the Oilers was the first game of a six game home stand. Next up is Anaheim, and if they win that one, the Philadelphia Flyers will have an opportunity to prevent the Red Wings from tying their record.

- Speaking of the Red Wings, they will host the 2013 Winter Classic at The Big House in Ann Arbor. Toronto will be the opponent and a record crowd of over 110,000 is expected for the New Year’s Day event.

Tonight’s Impact Games
St. Louis @ New Jersey – St. Louis got a big win in Ottawa and are looking to get a nice road string going. Their job will not be easy as the devils are red hot, winners of their last five and seven of their last ten, putting them smack dab in the middle of the eastern Conference playoff race.

SportsClubStats Update
Predators Playoff Chances – 98.2%
Highest % Potential Playoff Opponent – St. Louis 41.5%, Detroit 27.4%

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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!

Also... make sure to "like" SlapShot Radio on Facebook... here's the link.

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On the next SlapShot Radio

The SlapShot Radio podcast is posted, featuring the dean of NHL play-by-play announcers, NBC Sports' Michael "Doc" Emrick and a preview of the Ottawa Senators game with Sens radio analyst Gord Wilson. All this on the SlapShot Radio podcast… Click here to listen or download.

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