I did this back in July, but now there is a new schedule to analyze. After the final bits of CBA business were completed, the Nashville Predators released their 2013 schedule late Saturday evening. My first take? Interesting… a 48 game sprint does not leave a lot of wiggle room for slow starters and the schedule makers did the Preds no favors in the first part of the season.
We will have a very good idea about this team early as Nashville starts the season with 7 of their first nine on the road. After starting the season with two at home, the team takes its longest road trip of the season, seven games that takes the Preds from Minnesota to St. Louis to Anaheim to Phoenix to LA, and back to St. Louis before returning home for one game against the Stanly Cup champion Kings before heading back to Minnesota.
The team won’t be able to settle in at home until Sunday February 10th when they begin a four game homestand that features Chicago, San Jose, Phoenix and Anaheim. At that point the Preds will bounce back and forth a bit, with no real extended trips until mid-March when the team takes its second longest roadie; a five gamer that will see Dallas, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton before closing it off with a trip to Nationwide Arena in Columbus. It will be Nashville’s only Western Canada swing of the season.
While the start of the season is a killer, the finish could be an advantage as the Preds will have 12 of their last 18 at home, including a stretch of 11 out of 14 inside the friendly confines of Smashville.
There are definitely some dates that will need to be circled…
· Feb 14th vs. Phoenix – The Coyotes finally return to the scene of the crime. Nashville will want to exact a little Valentine’s Day revenge on the Desert Dogs.
· Feb 19th vs. Detroit - While Detroit games are always special, this one will feature Jordin Tootoo in a red jersey. Yikes…
· March 9th vs. Minnesota – The return of Ryan Suter… ‘nuff said.
The National TV schedule is also out, the Preds will get six appearances… that’s right… six appearances. Three on NHL Network, one on TSN and two on NBC Sports Network. Two of these games will be at home, the Sunday April 14th tilt against Detroit and the Feb 25 game against Dallas. I would assume that the final game of the season, a 2pm central start in Denver could potentially be an NBC game if it has playoff implications.
The schedule quirks are there, due to the compressed nature of this 48 game slate;
· Back-to-back home games… twice! March 8/9 see the Oilers and Wild come to town and April 14/15 with Detroit and Vancouver.
· Odd start times – Game two of the season has a 5pm start time. Looks like a Presidents Day special in Colorado with a 2pm central start for the Av’s/Preds. Saturday 4/6 is a 2pm start and Sunday April 14th vs. Detroit has a 6:30pm start.
Finally, a schedule… camp is open and the countdown to Opening Night is on!
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Random Notes
- Martin Erat was selected as the second assistant captain yesterday.
- I will be participating in the Preds and Pins event tonight (Monday) Come on out and watch the pins fly as we raise money for cancer research. Details on the Preds website.
- I like the new Christmas break in the CBA. Now, no practice, travel or games are allowed on 12/14,25 and 26.
- The NHL Draft will take place on June 3oth, will all seven rounds happening on the same day.
- Opening weekend tickets are on sale now… the rest of the season will be on sale next weekend.
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