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Knowing Your Task

April 7, 2012, 11:05 AM ET [31 Comments]
Paul McCann
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • RSSArchiveCONTACT
I love days like this. It’s Thanksgiving for hockey fans. The last day of the regular reason and the NHL has scheduled to have all 30 teams in action. Why is it Thanksgiving? Because it is the precursor to the big holiday to come… the playoffs. Even though all 16 teams are determined for the dance, there are still seedings to be determined.

The Nashville Predators are in Denver to take on the Avalanche at Pepsi Center tonight. As they take the ice for their day of game skate, the puck will be dropping on the critical Red Wings / Blackhawks game in Chicago. Nashville will know what their task is by the end of that game. Any win by Detroit means Nashville needs to gain at least a point in tonight’s game to capture home ice advantage.

The Avalanche is left questioning their direction at this point. After a surprise run to the playoffs two years ago, the team has not lived up to expectations since then, missing the playoffs the last two seasons. They have some good young talent but seem to be struggling to add the pieces needed to get the team to the next level.

The teams come into tonight’s game relatively healthy. According to another great piece by Jim Diamond in The Examiner, Nashville’s strategy and lineup all depends on what happens in Detroit today. Game time is 8pm, coverage on Fox Sports Tennessee with Pete Weber and Terry Crisp on the call, Tom Callahan describes the action on the Predators Radio Network flagship station, 102.5 the Game.

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Random Notes…

- The Predators have an open house today, starting at 10am. Sounds like a lot of fun, so go on over and get your playoff tickets while they last… I keep hearing that there are not a lot left…

- Buddy Oakes over at Preds on the Glass has a great breakdown of building availability for the first round of the playoffs.

- Your National TV schedule today… CHI/DET – Noon on NBC, PHI/PIT – 3pm on NBC Sports Network, WAS/NYR – 5:30p on NBS Sports Network, LAK/SJS – 9:30p on NBC Sports Network. All times central.

- Hey, Hey, Hey, do the Pacific Shuffle… The Phoenix Coyotes made a strong case for the Pacific Division last night with a 4-1 win over St. Louis at Scottrade, putting a dent in the Blues hope for the one seed in the West. A Coyote win tonight clinches the division.

- NY Ranger head coach John Tortorella paid $20k for his comments about the Penguins. Hmmmm… that’s kinda cheap for his attempt to influence the refs going into the playoffs.

- Sidney Crosby fired back at both the Rangers and Flyers criticisms yesterday, calling them “garbage.”

- Jonathan Toews will not be in the lineup for the ‘Hawks in today’s game. He is targeting Game 1 of the playoffs for his return.

- Really good piece in the Nashville Scene from JR Lind’s ‘Drome column.

Today’s Impact Game

Chicago @ Detroit - It’s a simple equation for the Blackhawks… win in regulation and take the fifth seed and a first round matchup with Nashville. Any point earned by Detroit will seal a series with the Predators with home ice to be determined by the Preds/Av’s game.

SportsClubStats Update - Nashville
Seeding Potential Percentages – 4th seed – 77%, 5th seed 23%
Highest % Potential Playoff Opponent – Detroit 71.6%, Chicago 28.4%

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On the next SlapShot Radio

Scheduling of this week’s show is dependent on the playoff schedule.

Wednesday’s podcast is posted. We welcomed back ESPN.com’s Craig Custance and Dallas Stars TV Color Analyst Daryl “Razor” Reaugh, we will also previewed the huge Red Wings/Blues game with TrueHockey.com’s Andy Strickland. Wednesday’s at 6pm on 102.5 the Game.

Click here to download or listen to previous podcasts.

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