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The Nashville Predators have hit the road for their first extended road trip of the season, one of two season long five game roadies in the season. This traditional late October / early November road trip always seems to be a catalyst for the team, an extended period of time together helps solidify the team and gets them on the same page… and this season, they have the events of the past weekend to build from.

However, as Peter Laviolette said before leaving for California "We could pick up a lot of momentum if we win games, so we have to go play them and win them," Yeah… that’s kinda important.

Tonight’s opponent is the Anaheim Ducks, a team not off to the kind of start they expected. Sounds familiar… Seven games in, the Ducks are 2-3-2 and are coming off an overtime loss to San Jose in the Shark Tank last night. They are getting marginal goaltending, have big holes in their blueline and are led in scoring by the usual subjects, Ryan Getzlaff and Corey Perry.

Expect John Gibson in net tonight after Jonathan Bernier went down with an upper body injury after the first period of last night’s game, Ryan Getzlaff also left the game with an injury but his status for tonight is unknown as I write this. The Preds continue to list Cody Bass, Miikka Salomaki and Anthony Bitetto on IR, Austin Watson, Harry Zolnierchyk and Matt Irwin are with the team to round out the 22 man roster.

The Predators have a red hot power play and are coming off their best offensive output of the season, including some oomph from five-on-five play. These next five games are all in the conference against teams that are having struggles of their own and given the start that the rest of the division has gotten off to, Nashville will need to pull some serious points out of this road trip. Tonight is the first game of their third set of back-to-back games in the first two weeks of the season. The Predators won’t see another back-to-back until the first weekend of December.

Game time is 9:30pm Central, coverage on Fox Sports Tennessee and 102.5 the Game.

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Join us for some extended pregame as SlapShot Radio is live at 7pm on 102.5 the Game with Pete Weber live from Honda Center. Our guests are Ducks radio voice Steve Carroll, also live from Honda Center and the author of “One Night Only: Conversations with the NHL’s One-Game Wonders,” Ken Reid from Sportsnet. Penalty Box Radio will take it from 8pm to pregame with Darren McFarland at 8:30pm. Puck drop at 9:30…

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Random Notes

- This is Nashville’s first visit to Anaheim since their game seven victory in round one of the playoffs last season.

- No word yet as to who is starting tonight in net, but I would not be surprised if Rinne goes back to back.

- Four games on the NHL schedule tonight, all times Central – 6pm – MTL @ NYI. 7pm – BOS @ NYR. 8:30pm – WSH @ EDM. 9:30pm – NSH @ ANA.

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Tweets by @PredPAPaul


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SSR’s season nine is on, our next show is Wednesday at 7pm on 102.5 the Game. SlapShot Radio is the longest running hockey show in the mid-south and Pete Weber and I bring you the best in hockey talk all season long. Our guests include the author of “One Night Only” Ken Reid from Sportsnet and Anaheim Ducks radio voicer Steve Carroll.

SlapShot Radio has been delivering great hockey talk to the most energetic and engaged fans in radio and advertising with us drives results. Our premier sponsors include day one sponsor Dr. Jane Bacon at Hermitage Family and Cosmetic Dentistry … make your appointment at (615) 872-7762, and Mark Lonsway at ReMax Fine Homes, call him for all your real estate needs at (615) 207-7799.

Advertisers… reach out to me in order to access our activated listener base though great advertising deals available when you email me at paul(@)slapshotradio(dot)com

You can also keep up with all the goings on with SlapShot Radio by following the show on Twitter @SlapShotRadio1 … Also... make sure to "like" SlapShot Radio on Facebook... here's the link.

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