We are live at 7pm central on 102.5 the Game and the SlapShot Radio Network for an extended pre-game version of SlapShot Radio tonight. Our guests include Stu Hackel, hockey writer for Sports Illustrated and author of a great piece called The Education of Seth Jones, NJ Devils radio voice Matt Laughlin and one of the best beat writers in the business, Denver Post hockey scribe Adrian Dater.
We’ll get you ready for tonight’s game and the weekend ahead. Smashville 24/7’s Ryan Porth will be sitting in for Pete Weber and the fun gets going at 7pm central on 102.5 the Game and the SSR Radio Network!
The Predators are in the Mile High City for the second time this season to take on the Avalanche in a critical Central Division showdown. Colorado has continued their hot start, they come into tonight’s game 12-1-0, with their only loss coming at home against the Detroit Red Wings. There seems to be no stopping this Avalanche team as they continue to confound the entire league. Their offense has been explosive, their goaltending simply superb and the blueline has been surprisingly serviceable. Nashville comes into tonight’s game on the heels of a stirring victory Saturday night in LA, they continue to use their defense to fire off of offensively, Carter Hutton has remained solid between the pipes and the blueline has been excellent so far on this roadie.
The Predators will have to get traffic in front of embattled goaltender Semyon Varlamov who seems to be doing a great job of keeping his off ice troubles from invading his game on ice.
The injury situation is fairly clear for Colorado… Jamie McGinn is listed as questionable and Alex Tanguay is listed as out for tonight’s tilt. The Predators situation is far from clear, Mike Fisher is listed as out, and Matt Hendricks has rejoined the team since being evaluated in Nashville. He was on the ice foor day-of-game skate this morning but no word on his status for the game tonight.
Coverage is on 102.5 the Game with Willy Daunic and Stu Grimson on the call and on Fox Sports Tennessee with the Voice of the Predators, Pete Weber and of course, three time Stanley Cup champ, Terry Crisp. Puck drop should be at 8:37pm central time.
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Random Notes
- Multiple reports are coming out that Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne has an E. coli infection in his hip. Time frame for his return has been extended to 6-8 weeks from the original four. Yikes!
- Former Predator captain Jason Arnott has announced his retirement after 18 seasons in the league.
- Harrison Mooney on Puck Daddy is wondering if Steve Downie was traded because he hit Gabriel Landeskog in training camp… read it here.
- Former Predator Jordin Tootoo was waived by the Detroit Red Wings today… interesting speculation on possible destinations… talk about a Philly kind of player…
- Word is out that Teemu Selanne is returning to the Ducks lineup tonight, a week earlier than expected. So much for old folks healing slow.
- Four games tonight, all start times central time – 6:30pm start – Penguins @ Rangers. 7pm start – Jets @ Blackhawks. 8:30pm start – Predators @ Avalanche. 9pm start – Coyotes @ Ducks.
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